Trick 'r Treat Movie Review

When pumpkins glow & candy kills, on the one night when zombie kids take their revenge & sinful women obtain their meat, Sam’s out to make sure every rule of Halloween is obeyed. 

Genre: Comedy / Horror

Director: Michael Dougherty

Cast: Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin, Samm Todd, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Britt McKillip, Lauren Lee Smith, Rochelle Aytes, Tamoh Penikett, Leslie Bibb & Brian Cox.

Run Time: 82 min.

US Release: 6 October 2009 (direct-to-video)

UK Release: 26 October 2009 (direct-to-video)

German Release: 16 October 2009 (direct-to-video)

Happy Halloween, everyone - and what an Eve this is, given that it falls on a Friday Fright Night this year! If you have followed me over the past few years, you’ll know that I have a section every Friday during this season where I talk about past horror flicks that go perfectly with the spooky spirit. Unfortunately, I had no time to review movies throughout October this year, but I am happy to share at least one Friday Fright Night review, right on Halloween itself! So, get ready for one of my favourite films this time of year! Grab your scariest costume, light your pumpkins, and walk with me through my review for Trick ‘r Treat!

— WARNING, THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS! —

On the night of All Hallows’ Eve, five interwoven stories come to bloody conclusions: A high school principal hides his murderous urges behind a pair of polite glasses. A group of teens pull a cruel prank on an innocent, nerdy outsider, only for it to backfire when an urban legend proves terrifyingly real. A pack of attractive college girls are on the prowl for willing party partners, revealing to be an initiation ritual for werewolves. Finally, an old, Halloween-hating recluse receives an uninvited guest, as the spirit of the holiday arrives to punish him for not obeying the rules.

Director and writer Michael Dougherty came up with the idea of Trick ‘r Treat after creating an animated short featuring Sam (his own invention as the spirit of Halloween), being stalked by an unseen threat. From there, the idea evolved into this production. Originally set for a release in October 2007, Warner Bros. inexplicably pushed it back for years, before finally releasing straight on home media - one of the dumbest decisions imaginable!

The screenplay is masterfully structured in an anthology format, gradually revealing how each story intertwines while perfectly capturing the spirit of the season from multiple angles. What really makes this feature work, though, is Dougherty’s passion behind the project; He shows to have a true understanding of this holiday, with genuine love for the traditions, atmosphere, as well as its macabre charm. It is also surprisingly funny, as he manages to balance terror with some wicked dark humour. 

A notable flaw, however, lies in Sam’s inconsistent killing motivation. He spares Kreeg, who not only steals candy from kids, but also murdered a bus full of children, having been revealed as the driver for a school for the mentally handicapped in a different segment. Yet he massacres a woman at the very beginning, for simply having blown out a jack o'lantern.

The cast is large and uniformly strong! The standout, nevertheless, is Dylan Baker as the killer principal, Steven Wilkins. Baker delivers a chilling rendition of a mild-mannered, happy-spirited educator, hiding his true monstrous self behind that facade. He is a killer who doesn’t even spare kids. 

Then there is the adorable portrayal by Samm Todd as Rhonda, a Halloween-loving young teen, who falls victim to a gruesome prank that quickly spirals into a nightmare. Ana Paquin also impresses as Laurie, a shy college girl, looking for her “first time”. What is perceived as vulnerability is quickly revealed to be a deadly game of fatal attraction.

Of course, the film’s most iconic figure is Sam - Dougherty’s own brilliant creation - who serves as the central, menacing mascot of Halloween, enforcing the rules of the night, as well as acting as the driving force for the plot.

The camera-work is one of the film's greatest strengths, accurately capturing the tone plus feel of this frightful holiday’s spirit on screen. The autumnal colour palette creates an atmosphere of cosy warmth that is sharply contradicted by the brutal and bloody resolutions of each narrative.

The effects are another highlight, relying on practical work over computer-generated imagery. The impressively detailed prosthetics, the makeup, just like the blood effects look fantastic and are more convincing. One of the best moments is the mislead of horney girls, who at first seem to be in danger of getting killed, only to reveal that they are werewolves. That transformation scene is one of the best ones I have seen in modern horror!

Douglas Pipes’ soundtrack highlights the period the stories play in, including gothic orchestral music, adding an eerie note to the overall premise.

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Verdict: John Carpenter’s Halloween might be a classic for this time; it definitely belongs in my top three to watch during this time of year, but Trick ‘r Treat simply captures the spirit of the holiday! The original creation of Sam is ingenious, as he is the central character in this anthology story, binding it all together. The different narratives are fun, containing genuine respect for the genre and the traditions of All Hallows Eve. The screenplay shows guts, not pulling any punches, as even children are not safe. The acting is great, with Dylan Baker’s performance being a standout, while Anna Paquin gives one of the scariest reveals. The cinematography is equally impressive, perfectly capturing the tone and sensation of this era of time. The colours, warm and inviting, serve as a juxtaposition to the actual unravelling horror. This is a yearly watch for me; I have a blast every time, figuring out something new on each rewatch. Trick ‘r Treat obtains a 9.0 out of 10.

Do you agree with my review? Is this one of your favourite Halloween pics? Please feel free to leave a comment below. I wish you all a great night, & don’t forget to stay safe & obey the rules! Thanks for reading.