Name: Film Review: Trick or Treat (1986)
Item: Trick or Treat
Rating: 50
Author: @drax

(source: tmdb.org)

1980s represented the last decade in which rock music was seen as some kind of rebellion against the establishment. Forces of the Old, seeing that the usual arguments about corrupting youth by promoting drugs and sexual depravity don’t work, started with accusations that rock music is a work of Satan and that playing rock music records on gramophones backwards can actually allow someone to hear demonic messages or even summon demons. Those urban legends were actually embraced and used for promotion purposes by some hard rock and heavy metal musicians. They also served as an inspiration for Trick or Treat, 1986 horror film directed by Charles Martin Smith.

Protagonist, played by Marc Price, is Eddie “Ragman” Weinbauer, a teenager whose love for heavy metal music and related fashion made him an outcast in his high school and frequent target of harassment by gang of bullies led by Tim Hainey (played by Doug Savant). The only thing that makes Eddie’s life bearable is rock star Sammi Curr (played by Tony Fields), whose lyrics seem to relate to Eddie’s plight. Eddie looks forward to see Sammi, his town’s native and high school alumni, to play for Halloween. Curr, however, dies in bizarre hotel fire. Eddie is consoled by Nuke (played by Gene Simmons), DJ at local radio station and Sammi’s old friend. He gives Eddie an exclusive copy of Sammi’s last and still unreleased album. Eddie plays it backwards and soon learns that he can communicate with Sammi’s spirit. At first he uses his instructions to exact vengeance against Tim and his clique, but those acts after a while escalate and start hurting innocent people. Eddie begins to contemplate ways to destroy the recording, but Sammi is determined to return to the world of living and start wreaking havoc.

This film is based on the interesting idea to merge two domineering trends of 1980s popular culture – heavy metal music and horror films. The concept is further enhanced by script that adds elements of black comedy and satire - targetted both at pretentious pompousness of heavy metal stars and conservatives that opposes them, the latter being represented by moral-crusading pastor played by unrecognisable Ozzy Osbourne. Charles Martin Smith, character actor specialised in the roles of nerds, does solid job in his directorial debut, but he still can’t overcome the script that appears to shift from more irreverent and humorous tones in the first part towards standard supernatural horror in the second part. Explicit violence and nudity that some viewers might see as gratuitous also make this film look a little bit too exploitative. Music by Fastway and Christopher Young, on the other hand, is nothing to write home about and would probably have little impact towards audience that aren’t heavy metal fans or feel nostalgia towards 1980s. The acting is, on the other hand, solid. Marc Price is quite effective in the role that could be interpreted as male equivalent of the protagonist of Carrie. Dancer Tony Fields, on the other hand, adds little to the film with his character being burdened by outrageous costumes and excessive makeup. Although disappointing in many aspects, Trick or Treat nevertheless delivers enough entertainment to be recommended to the audience that isn’t too demanding.

RATING: 5/10 (++)