Trick or Treat (1986) PhantomDroid's official review

TRICK OR TREAT (1986)

TAGLINE: What are you afraid of? It's only rock n' roll!

GENRE: Supernatural Thriller

STARRING: Marc Price, Tony Fields, Lisa Orgolini, Glen Morgan, Doug Savant, Elaine Joyce, Charles Martin Smith, Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne as 'Reverend Aaron Gilstrom'

MUSIC: Fastway

ORIGINAL SCORE: Christopher Young

PRODUCERS: Michael S. Murphey, Joel Soisson

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Dino De Laurentiis

DIRECTOR: Charles Martin Smith

RATED: PG-13

SYNOPSIS: Hard rock idol Sammi Curr (Fields) burns to death in a hotel fire. His biggest fan, Lakeridge High School student and resident metal head Eddie Weinbauer (Price) is devastated by the news and turns to local radio DJ "Nuke" (Simmons) for emotional support. After a heated discussion about the deceased rock star, Nuke presents Eddie with a rare demo record, the last ever recorded by Sammi and the only copy in existence. Overwhelmed by Nuke's generosity, Eddie accepts the gift without hesitation, unaware of it's dark role in things to come. Later, after constant humiliation and a near drowning at the hands of school bully Tim Hainy (Savant) and his sports jock friends, Eddie becomes enraged and vows revenge on all those who have wronged him, much to the dismay of love interest, Leslie (Orgolini) and best friend, Roger (Morgan.) Alone in his room with feelings of rage and retribution racing through his mind, Eddie plays the new record on his stereo and is shocked to discover that he can communicate with the now dead Sammi when it is spun backwards. Playing upon both Eddie's loyalty and emotional vulnerability, Sammi instructs the teenager on how to get back at those who have caused him so much pain, instructions that the easily manipulated Eddie carries out, prompting the expected 'underdog gets his own back' results. At first it's all fun and games as Hainy and his cohorts get their just desserts, but when Hainy's girlfriend is nearly killed by supernatural forces, Eddie realises that he is nothing more than a pawn in a much more sinister plot and wants out. When Eddie tries to destroy the record an evil version of Sammi is resurrected (complete with supernatural powers) and goes on a rampage at the high school halloween dance, turning Eddie's involvement with the devilish rock star into a spine tingling nightmare not only for the young head banger, but for his school and hometown as well. Can Eddie stop the demonic Sammi before he sends the entire town straight to hell? One thing's for sure, the teenagers of Lakeridge High are in for a Halloween they'll never forget.

DVD AVAILABLE: No (Discontinued)

EXTRAS: None

CD SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE: Yes

PD's REVIEW: Being a genre film fan, a child of the 80's AND a fan of hard rock music...this movie holds a special place in my heart. It has everything you could want in a supernatural movie: action, great special effects (for 1986) and a guitar wailing glam- rock soundtrack. It certainly was THE movie for all the heavy metal fans at the time. I didn't see this at the cinema because it was never released theatrically over here...but it's popularity on video during the mid to late eighties secured it's cult status and eventually led to a (sadly, mediocre) DVD release in 2002. If you're not a fan of creepy movies or rock music then this probably isn't your cup of tea...but, trust me, there are worse films of this type out there...and, despite average acting and some outrageously ridiculous situations, Trick or Treat is most definitely a wailing riff above the usual horror fare. You'll never look at your stereo the same way again. Or should I say MP3 player?

RATING: *** out of *****

TRICK OR TREAT TRIVIA: Marc Price (Eddie) played geeky Skippy Handleman on the popular long running comedy sitcom 'Family Ties.' After a string of direct to video flops including, 'Little Devils:The Rebirth','Killer Tomatoes eat France' and 'The Rescue' he gave up on acting to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. Recently, he has been considering a TV comeback for himself but for the moment is content with his job as producer and co-creator of the reality TV series 'Star Dates.' He also served as a production manager on the short lived British sci-fi TV series 'Eleventh Hour' starring Patrick Stewart.

Glen Morgan (Roger) is now a major Hollywood producer/ screenwriter. He has written and produced several major films and TV series, including: 'Space: Above and Beyond','The X-Files','Final Destination 1 & 2','Jet Li's The One','Willard' and 'Final Destination 3'. 'Trick or Treat' has been his only acting gig so far.

Tony Fields (Sammi) started his performing career as a dancer on the TV talent series 'Solid Gold'. He also appeared in a few low budget films and TV shows before landing his breakout role as the devilish Sammi Curr in 'Trick or Treat'. Sadly, Tony passed away on February 27th 1995 of an AIDS related illness.

Doug Savant (Tim) is probably best remembered for his pioneering role of homosexual twenty-something Matt Fielding on the popular soap 'Melrose Place'. Since then he has had a long and varied acting career, appearing in such films and TV series as: 'Jet Li's The One','Godzilla','CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' and the short lived sci-fi series 'Harsh Realm'. Currently, he can be seen as Tom Scavo on the smash hit series 'Desperate Housewives'.

Gene Simmon's (Nuke) main claim to fame is that he is one member of legendary glam-rock group KISS. As well as being a veteran rock star, he is also an accomplished actor and has appeared in such films as: 'Wanted Dead or Alive','KISS in Attack of the Phantoms' and the Tom Selleck sci-fi film 'Runaway.' Recently, he appeared as host of the reality TV show 'Rock School.'

Much like his KISS counterpart, Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne (Rev. Gilstrom) is also an accomplished rock star. He is the former lead singer of legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath and has been a major influential figure in the music industry for over 35 years. Although his main profession is rock music he has performed cameo roles in several films, including: 'Trick or Treat' and the Adam Sandler comedy 'Little Nicky.' Recently, he was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. He can also be seen on the smash hit reality TV series 'The Osbournes.'

'Trick or Treat' director Charles Martin Smith (Mr. Wembley) is also an actor. He has appeared in such films as: 'American Graffiti','The Untouchables','John Carpenter's Starman' and the recently televised supernatural TV movie 'The Triangle' in which he starred opposite Sam Neill. Look for his cameo in 'Trick or Treat' as ill-fated high school teacher Mr. Wembley in the Lakeridge High Halloween dance scene.

FIN.

"This is an 81 Honda...how dare you!" - Vince (Employee of the Month)