Review of Trick 'r Treat (2007) by James S — 27 Dec 2011

The gruesome tricks and free-flowing blood keep us intrigued in this direct-to-video All Hallow's Eve gem that's sure to be popular October 31st viewing and a favorite of the genre's horror fans for years to come.

The four primary story lines at first may seem to be disjoint. Yet it is how the plots are interwoven and how each of them - as unique as their elements are - intersect, and how the entire piece is structured as a whole that makes the movie great. That is, it somehow finds direction and maintains entertainment throughout, even though it is a conglomeration of disparate horror tales that coalesce to produce a cohesive "story". Said story comes full-circle and, generally speaking, explains most things - in especial, the motives of "Sam" (after Samhein), for example.

That being said, as a result of its structure and the director's approach, sometimes it feels rushed and slightly suffers from the absence of standard conflict and resolution. I wouldn't have minded if they expanded the movie out about 15 or 30 minutes to facilitate a greater development of characters and a deeper mood of suspense that would enhance the horrific facets of each plot line. The movie's primary concern is a gonzo shock of gore with hints of dark humor or irony, rather than a rise in suspense culminating in a spine-tingling, uncomfortably exciting climax (the model that most horror classics emulate). At most, it climaxes in the last 10 minutes of the film as Sam is revealed and the former bus driver is (it is not seen, but invariable so) torn to pieces.

I must admit that the twists are indeed twists and not so blatant and foreseeable that my oft clairvoyance could absolutely anticipate. Exempli gratia, young savant Rhonda's treacherous repayment of the children's trickery, appropriately leading to their deaths from the reanimated corpses of the eight special children from the bus; the revelation of Sam's appalling appearance; the unchaste young women's transformations to werewolves and Laurie's first time completely causing backfire to Wilkin's psychotic tendencies - oh, and by the by when we're on him, his forced impression on his son that murder is at all acceptable; and lastly the zombie's reparation to their old bus driver, Kreeg.

Behind all the spattering of blood, excesses in gore, sarcasm, jump-out-of-your-seat scares and tribute to zombie and slasher movies lies also an acknowledgment of Halloween origins and legends, paying respect to its precedents.