Why ‘Trick R Treat’ was never released in theaters is beyond me. Were they afraid of the heavyweight box office Halloween champs, i.e., what the ‘Saw’ franchise has become? I personally believe that ‘Trick R Treat’ would have been a welcome addition to the choices movie goers had on all Hallows’ Eve.

From the opening credits, which were reminiscent of ‘Creepshow’ and ‘Tales from the Crypt’, you know you’re in for quite…well, a treat. Boasting four tales of terror, Trick R Treat delivers each intertwining story with a hint of tongue in cheek humor, while never losing sight of fright. Like the tales of old which warned against not checking treats for razor blades, blowing out jack-o-lanterns before the night’s end, or going to strange places all alone- it’s all here & it’s all fun.

We start off with Principal Wilkins (Dylan Baker) having just caught Charlie, a portly ne’er-do-well, taking more than his share of candy off of his front porch. He sits Charlie down and bestows his wealth of Halloween knowledge, as the young lad stuffs his face with candy. As the principal unmercifully carves a pumpkin and relays the stories of his youth, he points out that he too was once like Charlie. He explains how he himself was a loner who took out his aggressions on neighborhood pumpkins and smaller kids, until his own father showed him the true meaning of Halloween. As he espouses the traditions passed down to him, Charlie learns all to well the number one tradition of the trick or treating season: ALWAYS check your candy. What happens next is so bizarre, yet, will have you chuckling madly, just like the affable, but obviously psychotic Principal Wilkins.

We are then thrust seamlessly into the harrowing tale of the ‘Halloween School Bus Massacre’ told through flashback. Standing at the precipice of a dark and barren rock quarry, Marcy (Britt McKillip) tells the story of 8 troubled youths who had once been driven to that exact location. They were told how the kids had been given candy, and chained to their seats by the bus driver… as requested by their parents. Of the 8 youths on that fateful bus ride, only one boy sensed something amiss, and screamed to go home. Alone, the creepiness of the eight masks the children wore made it far worse than seeing their confused and frightened faces. Beautifully shot and written, this story was easily the most sinister of the bunch. I don’t know where you grew up, but in my hometown we had plenty of similar stories circulating, so this one definitely struck a chord with me. I won’t spoil it, but I will say “three cheers for Rhonda…”

As we move along, we meet up with Little Red Riding Hood (Anna Paquin) and three fairytale princesses (Lauren Lee Smith, Moneca Delain, Rochelle Aytes). The combination equals one of the hottest role reversal stories ever pulled off to date. Watch out for the big bad wolf indeed.

We end (which is somewhat where we started, which will make sense when you watch the movie dammit!) with Mr. Kreeg (played to crotchety perfection by Brian Cox) and Sam; a jack-o-lantern-esque minion sporting a burlap sack and footie pajamas, with a penchant for getting all stabby when people don’t abide by the rules of this precarious night. Mr. Kreeg’s heavy wheezing is scary enough without the pitter-pat of Sam’s feet throughout the creaky, foreboding house. Sam is an unforgiving, relentless energy with one goal- to teach the true meaning of Halloween. The fight between Mr. Kreeg and Sam evoke memories of a similar battle between Bruce Campbell and his hand in ‘Evil Dead 2’. The director of Trick R Treat (Michael Daugherty) is a fan of this genre, and it comes across in his skillful direction and well thought out storyline.

If you’re a fan of good story telling, well acted horror, and can do without the usual torture porn that permeates most cinematic offerings lately, then this is the movie for you. Whether or not you decide to partake of this delicious Halloween treat, it’s important to remember: DO NOT blow out your pumpkin before the night is over. Otherwise, you may turn around to see Sam and his razor sharp pumpkin lollipop paying you a visit.

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