We take a lot of our traditions for granted. We know why we follow certain norms and traditions, but few of us know where they originated and why. That’s what folklore is, really - things that are in our cultural DNA whose origins can be murky at best. This reality becomes even starker during holiday seasons. Every holiday has traditions we observe faithfully every time the calendar turns its way, and many of us carry them out just because that’s what we’ve always done. The thing is, the traditions are there for a reason. There was once real belief behind them. What makes the Halloween traditions different is that they are born from humanity’s darkest places. The veil between the living and the dead is said to be at its thinnest at Halloween, so the traditions of the holiday were largely created to protect us from the dark side, and a failure to observe them was to invite horrible consequences. This idea was explored in a cool, scary little film that overcame its studio’s lack of faith and a terrible release to become a modern-day cult classic. That film was 2007’s TRICK ‘R TREAT.
TRICK ‘R TREAT tells four separate stories that connect and intersect on one particularly eventful Halloween night. An uptight school Principal (Dylan Baker) indulging his darkest urges, an innocent young woman (Anna Paquin) in a Red-Riding Hood costume searching the local Halloween parade for “that special someone”, a crotchety, elderly recluse (Brian Cox) getting a terrifying visit from a rogue trick-or-treater, and a group of middle-schoolers coming face-to-face with a terrifying local legend. All the while, a mysterious child trick-or-treater in a burlap mask named Sam observes the goings-on and metes out punishment to those who break Halloween’s rules.
Though often described as an anthology film, TRICK ‘R TREAT takes a different approach to the telling of the stories. Instead of letting a story play out in its entirety, then moving on to the next (ala “Creepshow” or “Tales of Halloween,”) writer/director Michael Dougherty skillfully moves between the four stories. The tales intersect and separate seamlessly, letting the stories unfold at a natural, steady pace. Although the intersections of the stories can seem tangential, as the movie progresses we see that the connections between the characters are more solid and that the events on this particular Halloween night are a shared experience. Indeed, much the way Halloween itself is.
The key element of TRICK ‘R TREAT is the silent, mysterious, and ruthless Sam. Seemingly just another child enjoying Halloween night, Sam is, in the end, far more than he seems to be. Sam (whose name could be derived from “Samhain” – the original name for Halloween) plays as a physical embodiment of the holiday. He is there to make sure that the traditions and norms of Halloween are observed and respected. Sam is a fascinating and utterly unnerving creation who, by permeating the events in the stories, grounds the movie and gives it a focus that many anthology films lack. His blank, burlap mask and childlike appearance is a triumph of Horror design. He is a character who has gone on to take his place among the great modern movie monsters.
TRICK ‘R TREAT had an unfortunate fate in its release. Warner Brother seemed to have no idea what to do with the film. Originally slated for an October 2007 theatrical release, the studio inexplicably shelved the movie. After a limited number of small festival screenings, it was quietly released directly to DVD, where it seemed destined for obscurity. Instead, the opposite happened. It’s fitting that one of our modern Horror favorites, a film all about honoring Halloween tradition, found its feet in the most folkloric of ways; word of mouth. TRICK ‘R TREAT is a film that will be around for a long time – reminding us to respect the holiday and its traditions.
TRICK ‘R TREAT fun facts – Billy’s costume was modeled on the Chucky doll from “Child’s Play.”
Because most of the shooting occurred at night, little people were hired to play background trick-or-treaters since children were legally unable to work nighttime hours.
The flashback to the School Bus Massacre features a 1958 Plymouth Fury in the background. It is the same model of car featured in the Steven King novel “Christine.”
Mr. Kreeg’s look is based on John Carpenter.
Steven- “There’s another tradition. Always check your candy.”
Henry - “You know, there are rules. You should be more careful. You might upset someone.”
Billy – “Let’s carve a scary face this time!”
Vampire Kid – “Home... home… Wanna go home…”