Trick 'R Treat (DVD)

After seeing the amazing trailer and reading all the glowing reviews, I was all set to buy this. Then I read the bad reviews and decided maybe I should rent it first...and now I wish I'd put the $5 rental fee toward purchasing it, because this is a GREAT Halloween movie.First, let's consider what constitutes a Halloween movie. It's a matter of opinion, but for me it's a movie that is either about Halloween or takes place on Halloween. Beyond that, everything else is just a horror movie (though I do pull out the classic monster movies for Halloween...e.g. vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, etc.). So through that lens, there really aren't many true Halloween movies that are any good, and even fewer that are also horror movies. There are some great kids' movies ("Hocus Pocus," "Monster House," Tim Burton's stop-motion collection), but until now John Carpenter's "Halloween" was really about it.Then along comes "Trick 'r Treat" and the Halloween movie may never be the same! It is true to its title in every way. A treat for anyone who loves Halloween, and quite a trick because this is basically a kids' movie for adults. It tells the kind of scary stories that kids would tell each other (like "Better stay away from old lady Jensen's house...she's eaten three kids but never been caught!"), but adults usually shy away from telling stories where kids are as likely to be victims as the grown-ups. Not so with "Trick 'r Treat." Anyone and everyone is fair game, but it's done in a playful urban legend kind of way. The content itself might be disturbing, but it's presented in a way that's no more offensive than the stories your big brother told you when you were 8 to try and scare you.The overlapping timelines of the four stories (five if you count the opening sequence) and the shifts back and forth to different points in the evening works great...though I confess I've been trying to figure out how the four stories line up and for the life of me I can't seem to get the Halloween School Bus Massacre to fit. But ultimately that hardly matters. Putting all the pieces together that interlink the stories is part of the fun. And that's really what this movie is. It's not terribly scary, not terribly gory. It is a little creepy, oozes Halloween atmosphere, and ultimately is just a lot of fun.*** SPOILER ALERT --- IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE, SKIP TO THE LAST PARAGRAPH ***Every story plays on the four rules of Halloween: 1) Wear a costume, 2) never blow out a jack-o-lantern before midnight, 3) hand out treats, and 4) always check your candy!The opening sequence with the woman who hates Halloween is excellent and starts the movie with a bang. My wife and I laughed because the couple seemed to embody everybody we know, including us. Husbands tend to love Halloween, wives not as much. My wife puts up with my Halloween shenanigans, but I can tell you she won't be blowing out any Jack-o-lanterns before midnight after what Sam (the trick-or-treater on the cover) did to the woman in the movie!The Principle Wilkins story is probably the most disturbing with the most blood (or was that chocolate spewing out of Charlie's mouth?), gore, piles of dead kids and, of course, his serial-killer-in-training son. But Dylan Baker plays the part perfectly. He's demented, yet very casual about it. And funny. Michael Dougherty does a great job directing to make us feel okay with laughing at this guy when in any other movie we might have been too revolted to laugh. And it doesn't hurt that Wilkins ultimately gets what he deserves at the hands of the werewolves. But junior's waiting in the wings, sitting on his front porch dressed like his daddy, complete with bloody shirt and glasses!The Wilkins story line overlaps most with the story of Laurie (Anna Paquin) and the girls trolling for dates, ultimately looking for the guy who will be Laurie's "first." The least engaging of the stories, but still fun to witness the hunted becoming the hunter.I've read complaints that the Halloween School Bus Massacre was the least realistic and the least sensitive of the stories because how could 8 sets of parents all decide to murder their mentally challenged children? A horrifying prospect to be sure, and highly unlikely in the real world, but once you've suspended disbelief for the rest of the movie, this wasn't such a leap. This story of a practical joke gone wrong is adequately creepy though fairly predictable. The high point is Rhonda, the idiot savant channeling Velma from the Scooby-doo movies. She's a hoot and I hope we see her in a sequel one day.Finally, we have the story of Mr. Kreeg, the school bus driver who was to kill the 8 kids from the previous story so many years ago. Played perfectly by the wonderful Brian Cox, he's now a crotchety old man who chases away trick-or-treaters with his costumed dog and steals their candy. And little Sam's not too happy about that! The fact that Sam was played by a child makes everything about him that much more creepy as he stalks Kreeg through his house. I was a little disappointed the first viewing when Kreeg pulled off Sam's mask and we saw that he was sort of a skull-faced pumpkin demon (actually, he's the embodiment of Halloween, aka Samhain). It felt a little too B-movie, but after subsequent viewings he's growing on me, though he'll always be most effective in his mask.*** END SPOILERS ***So final word is this is an excellent Halloween movie (though arguably not as strong if you judge it purely as a horror movie). But if you love Halloween, no movie to date has embodied the essence of the holiday for adults as well as "Trick 'r Treat." Highly recommended!

I absolutely love this movie anthology! I stumbled across it around Halloween a few years ago. This past Halloween I finally broke down and purchased it. I'm glad I did. I have watched it multiple times since then. It's a creepy movie but not too scary.

A Halloween Classic That Delivers on Every Level!Trick 'r Treat is hands-down one of the best Halloween films out there, blending spooky, dark humor with terrifying tales that stick with you long after the credits roll. This anthology-style film weaves together four interconnected stories, each taking place on Halloween night, and it does so masterfully. The storytelling is tight, with every tale feeling fresh yet seamlessly linked through clever twists and turns.What really makes Trick 'r Treat stand out is its respect for the Halloween spirit. From creepy jack-o-lanterns to ancient traditions, this film nails the atmosphere with stunning visuals and an eerie score that keeps you on edge. The characters are memorable and unique, from the mischievous masked children to the mysterious Sam, the embodiment of Halloween itself. Sam’s presence throughout the film gives it a cohesive, creepy vibe that ties everything together beautifully.The balance between horror and dark humor is perfect. It’s gruesome and bloody in all the right ways, with each story delivering something different—ghostly revenge, werewolves, urban legends, and more. Yet, there’s always an underlying sense of fun that makes the scares more enjoyable. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but also doesn’t hold back on the horror elements, making it the perfect Halloween movie for both casual viewers and hardcore horror fans alike.The way the film plays with traditional Halloween rules (like never blowing out a jack-o-lantern before midnight) adds to the charm, creating an experience that feels like a love letter to the holiday. The pacing is quick, with no dull moments, and every time I watch it, I notice new details that make the stories even richer.Trick 'r Treat is a must-watch every Halloween. It’s eerie, unsettling, and fun in all the best ways, making it an instant classic for anyone who loves the spooky season. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a wickedly entertaining treat!