Trick 'r Treat Summary and Review - A Halloween Where Tricks Outnumber Treats

-

Trick ’r Treat is a 2007 Halloween horror anthology that interlinks four ghoulish tales, each carrying the same moral at its heart: never disrespect the rules of Halloween. Didn’t know there were any? You will by the time the credits roll.

On Halloween night, young couple Emma and Henry return home from the festivities. Emma, clearly not a fan of the season, can’t wait to pack it all away. Ignoring her husband’s half-hearted warning, she extinguishes the jack-o’-lantern and starts dismantling their decorations. Unbeknownst to them, someone—or something—is watching. Emma soon learns that cutting Halloween short comes with dire consequences.

The Warren Valley Carnival

The action then switches to earlier that evening, during the Warren Valley Halloween carnival, following the town’s residents as their stories intertwine. There’s the local school principal whose lesson in gluttony takes a nasty, darkly comic turn; a surly neighbour whose disdain for Halloween doesn’t go unpunished; a group of kids whose cruel prank dredges up a haunting piece of local history; and a pack of out-of-town girls preparing for a night they’ll never forget. Together, these threads weave a tapestry of bloody chaos and poetic justice.

Set against the dark underbelly of small-town life, Trick ’r Treat delivers quite a punch within its compact 82-minute runtime. With a tight structure, slick production, and just the right balance of horror and humour, the film manages to be both gruesome and gleeful.

Visually, it’s a treat—beautifully shot with a comic-book vibe reminiscent of Creepshow, yet distinct enough to stand on its own. While not offering out-and-out terror, it’s undeniably creepy, with some excellent tension-building and a playful score that nods to classic horror soundtracks.

Embracing the Halloween Spirit

The four stories are inventive, full of twists and turns, and they fully embrace the Halloween spirit with tongue-in-cheek humour and a generous dollop of mischief. It’s all anchored by a committed ensemble cast—including Brian Cox and Anna Paquin—who dive into the mayhem with relish. It has its fair share of gore but it's not overdone or too graphic, and while it may not fully scare the seasoned viewer, it offers plenty of atmosphere, wicked humour, and Halloween heart for most.

What really makes Trick ’r Treat stand out is the way its stories overlap and interconnect. Characters drift through each other’s narratives, sometimes crossing paths without realising their shared fates. It's great fun spotting them as they interact with each other or mill about in the background. It immerses the viewer in a town revelling in Halloween fun, blissfully unaware it’s teetering on the edge of something very sinister.

Sam, The Silent Observer

At the centre of it all is Sam—short for Samhain—the pumpkin-headed trick-or-treater who silently observes the night’s events. Sinister but strangely cute, Sam ties the anthology together seamlessly, ensuring the film feels cohesive rather than a handful of vignettes loosely stitched together..

Everyone loves an anthology at Halloween and if you’re after a fun, spooky watch for the night—something that’ll make you laugh while sending a tingle up your spine—Trick ’r Treat is a perfect seasonal choice.

4.5/5

Emma: Leslie Bibb
Henry: Tahmoh Penikett
Steven Wilkins (Principal): Dylan Baker
Mr. Kreeg: Brian Cox
Laurie: Anna Paquin
Danielle: Lauren Lee Smith
Maria: Rochelle Aytes
Janet: Moneca Delain
Rhonda: Samm Todd
Macy: Britt McKillip
Sara: Isabelle Deluce
Chip: Alberto Ghisi
Billy Wilkins: Connor Christopher Levins
Sam: Quinn Lord

Writer: Michael Dougherty
Director: Michael Dougherty
Year of Release: 2007
Runtime: 82 minutes



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This is Our Home Summary and Review - A Parent's Nightmare

-
Image
Reina: Simone Policano Cory: Jeff Ayars Zeke: Drew Beckas Director: Omri Dorani Writers: Omri Dorani & Rob Harmon Release: 2019 "This is Our Home" explores the dynamics of a fractured relationship, against a backdrop of mystery and emotional discord. As the story of Reyna and Cory unfolds, we are met with flashes of their past interwoven with a present bedevilled by unresolved issues and an unsettling encounter with a boy who claims he is their son. It kicks off with Reyna (Rey) and Cory heading out to her childhood home for some space to try and repair their relationship, with just a hint as to what lies behind their current struggles. They seem to be genuinely in love but vacillate between displays of affection and vicious bickering so clearly, there is work to be done. We are given glimpses of happier times but it's clear that they harbour a traumatic secret creating a tension that lingers throughout the film. On their first night at the property, after a plea...
Read more

The Night House Summary & Review - A Haunting Triumph

-
Image
  Beth Parchin: Rebecca Hall Owen Parchin: Evan Jonigkeit Claire: Sarah Goldberg. Mel: Vondie Curtis-Hall Madelyne: Stacy Martin Becky: Samantha Buck Director: David Bruckner Writers: Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski Release: 2021 Opening with a post-funerial scene introducing Beth, a grieving widow who is in deep shock following the sudden death of her beloved husband, "The Night House" draws the audience into the eerie corridors of psychological horror, taking us on a journey through grief, when it collides with the spectral unknown. From its beautiful cinematography to the stellar performances, the elements of this film converge to create an atmospheric experience that resonates after the credits roll. Following her husband's death, Beth drags herself through a haze of grief as she struggles to maintain a sense of normality while grappling with the shocking reality of what has occurred. It's not long before she experiences a series of unsettling events that, a...
Read more

Motherly - The Battle of All Mothers

-
Image
  Kate: Lora Burke Beth: Tessa Kozma Hal: Colin Paradine Mary: Kristen MacCulloch Lewis: Nick Smyth Director: Craig Wallace Writer:  Craig Wallace & Ian Malone Release:  2021 From the opening scene this is an intriguing tale where nothing is as it seems to be. And "seems to be" is a theme running through the story which is the beauty of "Motherly", weaving a narrative through a labyrinth of secrets managing to be both intriguing and entertaining. Kate and her 9 year old daughter Beth have escaped a traumatic past and now find themselves hiding in isolation in a rural area. From the start, it's evident that there's tension between them, with Beth displaying defiance and a longing to be with her dad and Kate, who is protective but somewhat controlling and prone to outbursts of frustrated anger.  They are not entirely alone as help is on hand in the form of Hal who is there to keep an eye on them and ensure their safety, especially when Kate suspects that a...
Read more