Trick or Treat (1986)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Rhet Topham (story)
Michael S. Murphey (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Music

Tagline:

What are you afraid of? It's only rock and roll...

Plot:

Hard rock idol Sammi Curr (Tony Fields) burns to death in a hotel fire. His biggest fan, Lakeridge High...

Plot Keywords:

Rock | School | Rock Star | Teenager | Halloween

Cast

Marc Price	...	Eddie Weinbauer
Tony Fields	...	Sammi Curr
Lisa Orgolini	...	Leslie Graham
Doug Savant	...	Tim Hainey
Elaine Joyce	...	Angie Weinbauer
Glen Morgan	...	Roger Mockus
Gene Simmons	...	Nuke
Ozzy Osbourne	...	Rev. Aaron Gilstrom
Elise Richards	...	Genie Wooster
Richard Pachorek	...	Ron Avery
Clare Nono	...	Maggie Wong-Hernandez
Alice Nunn	...	Mrs. Sylvia Cavell
Larry Sprinkle	...	Mark McCain
Charles Martin Smith	...	Mr. Wimbley
Claudia Templeton	...	Hysterical Survivor

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

New Hanover County, North Carolina, USA

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

Eddie's best friend Roger is played by Glen Morgan, his only acting stint. Morgan later went on to be a prolific writer/producer for _"The X-Files"_, as well as director of _"Final Destination"_ and the _"Black Christmas"_ remake.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Eddie's mum picks up some of his records, the top record cover changes.

Quotes:

Sammi Curr: [to Eddie] You should be loyal to your heroes... they can turn on you.

Movie Connections:

Features The Fog (1980)

Soundtrack:

If You Could See

Man, I gotta own this movie.

Okay here it goes. This is my favorite 80s horror flick EVER. This is the reason I am so obsessed with the genre. This is where the fascination started.

Let me explain why: Okay, here's this kid Eddie. Eddie is your typical 80s headbanger (you know, Motley Crue, W.A.S.P, Anthrax....you get the idea) except Eddie has a brain. Eddie(brilliantly portrayed by Marc Price) is the target for frequent bullying and public humiliation (see the locker room scene). He has exactly two friends and his only consolation comes from his music. His idol, Sammie Curr, happens to share the same hometown as Eddie and Eddie writes the guy (what seems to be) on a daily basis. Well, Sammie dies dies in a hotel fire and Eddie is naturally devastated. So, he goes to see his D.J. buddy "Nuke" (played by none other than Gene Simmons). Nuke sees how torn up the kid is over Sammy's death and gives him Sammie's last record which was never released. Nuke also tries to explain to the kid (apparantly Nuke knew Sammie in high school) that his idol wasn't such a nice guy. "He was always angry." Of course, this means nothing to Eddie. He is totally infatuated with the guy and he believes that the two have some sort of connection.

More humiliation and more torment follow Eddie until he finally plays the record. Upon playing the record backwards, he finds that he can communicate with Sammie's ghost. He also learns that Sammies is more than eager to help Eddie get revenge on the high school jocks who have made his life such a living hell. In a good way, Sammie gives Eddie the nerve to stick up for himself. Eddie also learns that Sammie is bent on wreaking havoc on the town that refused him the right to play in his home town years ago.

You see, this all leads to Eddie having to make a choice: Either turn on his idol OR save the town from mass destruction.

All in all, I give this cult classic a perfect 10. It is totally entertaining and has a very clever script. I especially liked all of the cameos. Gene Simmons as "Nuke" was awesome, Ozzy himself was great as a reverand who despises rock music, and Charles Martin Smith (you know, "Toad" from American Graffiti") he's here too. He was also the director.

There are many reasons to see this movie. The acting is good by the whole cast, there are some genuinely suspensful moments, there is some great humor, there is "the dweeb getting revenge on the jock" scenario, and the music kicks ass. It is also a great flick for anyone who was into the whole "80s metal" movement of the time. I whole heartedly recommend. When is this coming to DVD anyway?