RATINGS KEY-

Trick ’r Treat (2009)

 
The “Creepshow” comic-book set-up. The Danny Elfman styled music. The overall slow-burn of tension mounting. WOW, did I ever love this movie! I think this film might be a yearly tradition for myself, as it’s one of the better Halloween themed movies … and possibly the best horror anthology movie ever.

I think it borrowed a good deal from both “Tales from The Crypt” and “Darkside” with a good dose of “Creepshow” and a dash of the “Monsters” TV show. Hell, I really admired the old fashioned throw-back to that sort of storytelling and direction. No false scares, some neat tie-backs, and a few successful bait-and-switches. I felt the director built tension better than most modern horror films and never relied on Mtv style editing and direction to keep the audience’s attention. In fact, quite often there was a lack of musical score to help drive up the fear factor. I actually found a few really tense moments, even though I had a good idea of where most of the stories were heading.

Loved the casting of Dylan Baker as the dad/principle. He’s the creepiest ‘everyman’ kind of character actor out there. He just made my freakin’ skin crawl in HAPPINESS as the great dad/pedophile. This role was perfect for him.

I loved the thread that tied the stories together, and the last scene was quite inspired.

So much to love about this film. I found it to be fun — not at all mean-spirited like some more recent horror entries — and just an overall great viewing experience. I watched this the week before Halloween and it totally got me in the mood for the season!

And then we have Anna Paquin and her “pack” of hotties. Not my favorite subplot, but nothing wrong with a little eye-candy along the way. And, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting the switcheroo at the end of that segment. Fun little surprise, and nicely executed too I might add.

So … if I hear correctly, this film had an issue getting to the screens because of its depiction of violence involving kids. Anyone know the story about that? I recall having a convo about this with someone at the Stokers, but it’s all a blur.

That said, I think it’s about time kids become fodder for some splatter in horror films again. That’s been totally off limits in American films it seems, and not so much elsewhere in the world. It’s horror. Bad things happen to all kinds of people, big and small, and if you rule out that possibility then there’s little tension when it comes to the possible outcome. “Eh,” I always think, “the kid will be fine.” Nothing’s going to happen to them, not in a horror movie at least. I mean, not like in something like THE OMEN or THE ORPHAN where the child is the antagonist, but more so when they just a character in peril.

Not that I’m at all advocating gratuitous violence against children in films. I’m just saying it shouldn’t ALL be off limits. This film proved that, once again. It worked, and not in an exploitative way. I was honestly thinking that the characters would escape unscathed in most situations, and when they didn’t I was honestly surprised for the first time in years watching a horror film. It’s like an episode of “Goosebumps” gone horribly wrong!

 To quote another review (which I’ve never done, but this quote is just so spot on), over at DvdTalk.com:

“TRICK ‘R TREAT takes its inspiration from the world of horror comics, making the picture resemble something of a terrific CREEPSHOW sequel (you know, like the one we never received). …”

Well said, Brian Orndorf, well said.

ZombieLand (2009)

While this one doesn’t really add anything new to the Zombie sub-genre, it sure was a hell of a lot of fun to watch! This would make a great double-feature with SEAN OF THE DEAD, for sure. Not much else to say about this one … just see it!

 ZombieMania (2008)

A fantastic and thought-provoking documentary from the STARZ channel about damn-near every zombie that has ever graced the film screen. I think this is a Canadian documentary for TV, maybe, as the folks at “Rue Morgue” are featured quite a bit.

I really appreciate how this documentary covered movies, culture, comic books, and was very up-to-date on recent trends from SHAUN OF THE DEAD to THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE.

Smart, relevant, and with lots of great zombie footage. Dug it.

Halloween’s Most Extreme – Travel Channel (2009)

I’m a big fan of these Travel Channel shows they put on each year, so I hope they are available on DVD at some point or another for fans to check out.

 This year’s excursions take the curious and the Halloween-minded to Haunted Hayrides in NY, Corn Mazes and Hearse Races in California,  and some of the coolest and most high tech haunted attractions the nation has to offer. We weigh in with this year’s largest pumpkin at a contest in New England and then travel to Sussex County, Delaware for the longest running Pumpkin Chucking Festival in the U.S.

 All things Halloween and extreme are covered, from getting married by the Grim Reaper in Vegas, to the new school of flashy pumpkin carvers at an annual carve-off and pumpkin lighting festival.

 Great little documentary to help with getting into the Halloween mood and can surely inspire some great ideas for the Halloween enthusiast.

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