Review: Trick 'r Treat (2009)

"Trick 'r Treat has finally arrived, and an instant October classic is born. "

I'm not going to reveal too much of the plot here, because the story in this movie twists, turns, overlaps on itself, and comes together in the end, and It would be a shame to spoil it for you. Instead, I'll give you the official Warner Brother's synopsis to chew on:

As a Michigander, Ohio has always creeped us out.

"It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. 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. 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. Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem... the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety-human and otherwise-try to survive the scariest night of the year."

They should run.

There's also an evil little trick-or-treater named Sam that is all over the place in this one, wearing his creepy little burlap mask and Tricking those that refuse to give him Treats. What is it about this "Sam" that connects him to everyone in the movie? Why is he so creepy? Does he like candy apples? I won't spoil the movie's surprises by telling you anything here, but suffice it to say that he does like candy apples. And murder.

She likes murder too.

This movie was simply fantastic. I don't know that I've ever seen a movie that captured the spirit and atmosphere of Halloween as well as Trick 'r Treat does, and for us, it instantly became mandatory yearly watching for the creepy month of October. I hesitate to give out 10/10 scores, because to me that implies a sort of perfection (and nothing is ever truly perfect), but after watching this brilliant little movie, I have no other choice.

Trick 'r Treat has a very lighthearted feel about it, and yet it also gave us plenty of tension and fear to chew on. This movie wasn't very "scary," but it definitely had moments that thoroughly creeped us out; creepy masked people standing and staring usually does that to me though.

Beyond creepy.

Trick 'r Treat is a fresh, imaginative, gorgeous, atmospheric, creepy little horror movie... and isn't that a rarity these days for Hollywood. It's not a remake or sequel, nor is it a cookie-cutter PG-13 Abercrombie ad-looking snoozefest, and yet it works, and works very well. Maybe Hollywood should stop sticking movies like this on the shelf for years at a time and you know, release them. They can keep Saw XXI, we won't mind.

This movie has also given us an new all-time great horror icon in Sam, the creepy little costumed kid who may just be the physical manifestation of the spirit of Samhain itself. I hope we get to see more of him in other movies, or at least comic books or something; he was a truly awesome character.

Oh boy... you should have given him that Twix bar!

I wanted more than 82 minutes of this movie. The Blu-Ray has deleted scenes on it, but I want them in the movie! Argh! Yes, I'm pouting.

"Why didn't you clean your room?!?"

I'd really like to know what possessed Warner Brothers to keep this one on the shelf for the better part of two years. Worse still, how could a Halloween flick this fun not get some sort of an October theatrical run? Not even a limited one? Hollywood politics really sucks sometimes, and I'm tired of the Horror genre suffering for it.

This movie would have killed at the Box Office. 

Anna Paquin is not pleased with Warner Bros. either, and rightly so.

There was a good deal of blood and nastiness sprinkled throughout this one. I'll stay mum on the specifics so as to preserve the fun of the kills for you, but I will say that candy can be dangerous.

Alright, this picture is fairly specific, but it's too good not to post.

We get a quick boob or two here or there, but for the most part the sexy parts are sexy with no nudity.

Treats. They are definitely treats.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me." or "My, my... what big eyes you have."

Big eyes indeed.

Halloween is truly a creepy day. Also, don't chince on the candy.

Also, don't piss Sam off.

This is truly a special movie that managed to live up to, and in some ways even surpass, the hype that has surrounded it for so long. I don't know if it's a truly perfect movie, but I can say that it was a perfect Halloween movie-going experience for us. I wish it had been a bit longer, but aside from that, this is a fun, nasty little trip into the world of All Hallows' Eve that everyone needs to take for themselves.

Do not miss out on this one.

A+

Trick 'r Treat is available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD.

Let's take a closer look at Sam; the mascot of Trick 'r Treat, and the physical embodiment of Halloween itself. He's an instant classic, that one.

Oh, and if you're dismayed because you were expecting to see The Ladies of Trick 'r Treat in this section instead of Sam, fear not... we gave them their own post! Click HERE to check them out.