Trick 'r Treat (2007)

I was pleased to see this heavily hyped film on a big screen for its back story is not the rosiest. Due for release quite a while back its been repeatedly postponed by the distributors (Warner Bro's) and I think is destined to mostly be seen straight to DVD. A crying shame because it really is somewhat awesome and deserves a much bigger audience and the fun of watching it with a crowd. Its an anthology film with a horror comic vibe, telling four interlocking tales all linked by the thesis that one should never mess with Halloween, else Halloween will mess with you. I won't go into any of the plotting ins and outs because it should be kept a surprise but its fine stuff, melding effective creeps, a decent helping of dark humour, some fun bloodshed, grisly at times but used with imagination and restraint, never gratuitous and a neat mean streak. Writer/director Michael Dougherty crafts the film very nicely, the spooks and fun are perfectly balanced, the film is always entertaining and sweetly paced. The non linear structure gives it an unpredictable feel, though one minor complaint is that one of the stories has its impact a tad diluted by being spread out. Still the structure works, apparently it was edited that way from being originally linear because having all the stories one after the other made it feel over lengthy. An immaculate Halloween ambiance is draped over the whole film by the detailed art direction of Tony Wohlgemuth and the evocative cinematography of Glen Macpherson, the film feels every bit a work of late October and is filled with inviting yet spiky charm. Actingwise things are all pretty good, Anna Paquin is on beautiful and wholly watchable form, whilst Brian Cox excels in a role that will instantly endear itself to older anthology horror lovers (a bit of a reference that I shall keep a surprise). Dylan Baker is morbidly amusing as a school principle and whilst I didn't recognise many others all give good value. This was definitely one of the best horrors I've seen in a cinema in some time, a thoroughly fresh, fun and surprising film, with some unexpected spooks and a few memorable "Hell Yeah!" inducing moments, all wrapped up with charm, loving references and sly chuckles. Definitely recommended to folk seeking quirky and entertaining yet pleasingly barbed horror entertainment, dare I say it something of a classic of this decade.