Review of Trick 'r Treat (2007) by Ilhm — 02 Feb 2013

Michael Dougherty makes an incredible directorial debut with TRICK 'R TREAT, a stylish and mean-spirited Halloween anthology that is sure to become a yearly tradition for Horror fans! It is a dark Halloween Night, and the streets are alive with ghouls and ghosts! The school's principal teaches his kids the real meaning of Halloween, and why it is always important to check your candy.

.. A beautiful young co-ed sets off to find a date for her sorority party, but both of them are in for a terrible surprise... Four kids decide to play a mean trick on one of the neighbors at a haunted rock quarry, but the ghosts that reside there don't find it to be very funny.

.. A crotchety old man is the one who gets tricked when he decides not to offer treats to the wrong child... Dougherty doesn't just use the holiday as a cheap backdrop, but immerses the film in the modern traditions and ancient pagan lore that define it.

TRICK 'R TREAT is one of the most beautifully shot Horror films to come out of the past decade, illuminating the screen with rich Autumn hues in deep oranges, reds, blues, and browns that bring out the spirit of the holiday.

Creeping mists, candlelight, and creaking floorboards drip with spooky atmosphere, and create a world where vengeful spirits surely exist. Dougherty cleverly intertwines each of the sordid tales into his own twisted timeline which comes together perfectly in the end! Look for Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin, and Brian Cox in just a few of the devious roles.