Trick 'r Treat (2008)

"Poison, Drowning, Claw, Or Knife. So Many Ways To Take A Life." An amazing, multifaceted holiday themed film full of dark humor and think-for-yourself terror. Sure to become a yearly screener for Halloween parties everywhere.

Michael Dougherty directs a patchwork of stories that loop around and become one during a relative small towns' amazing Halloween celebrations. "Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick." "The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten."

This is the first review I've ever NOT written the above summary/synopsis for on my blog. I usually like to use my own words to best describe what happened. But in this case, Warner Bros. said it best, and I really couldn't have done any better to portray to you what this movie was all about.

I first remember seeing this movie on the shelves at Wal*Mart quite some time ago, and passed it off as just another straight to DVD crapfest. Well let me tell you, this movie is arguably the best Halloween themed movie EVER. It's a travesty that this film was not in wide release at theaters all over. It really was perfect, and that's no exaggeration. The acting, cinematography, special effects (non CGI mind you), the story, the music... it was all perfect. Classified as horror, I can tell you not to expect any torture-porn style gore or anything like that. The story itself and the situations are enough to bring the fear. I'm not really sure how else to convey to you that this is a MUST SEE, no matter what the season... and if you see it on your next trip to Wally World, spend the few bucks, you'll be glad you did! And I mean come on, "The Kid" from Bad Santa is in it, what more can I say!?

As a side note, I wanted to point out a few names of the actors in the film. As it's not your standard movie with one or two stars, but a plethora of stories each led by their own "star." So here goes: Anna Paquin (TrueBLOOD), Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Tahmoh Penikett (Dollhouse), Quinn Lord, and Brett Kelly.

8.6/10

Rated: R
82 mins