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Color, 1986, 97 mins. 12 secs.
Directed by Charles Martin Smith
Starring Marc Price, Tony Fields, Lisa Orgolini, Doug Savant, Elaine Joyce, Glen Morgan, Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne
Synapse Films (UHD, Blu-ray & DVD) (US R0 4K/HD/NTSC), NSM Records (Blu-ray) (Germany R0 HD) / WS (1.85:1) (16:9), Platinum (DVD) (US R0 NTSC)

The most prominent Trick or Treatand consistently beloved entry in the '80s cycle of hair metal horror movies, Trick or Treat is packed with names that Trick or Treatreally don't seem like they should go together. Directed by actor Charles Martin Smith (Starman, American Graffiti, Never Cry Wolf) and starring Marc Price (then known as dim and sweet-natured Skippy on the sitcom Family Ties) under the aegis of the De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, it also tosses in cameos by Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simmons with a soundtrack largely comprised of songs by English rock band Fastway. Toss in an early role for Doug Savant (long before Melrose Place and Desperate Housewives), effects by Chucky creator Kevin Yagher, and a score by the great Christopher Young in between his work on A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge and Hellraiser, and you have a film that seems tailor made for the average Fangoria reader in 1986. Unfortunately it didn't do so well theatrically at the time, but the film built up a significant cult following on VHS and cable TV over the years while other hard rock horror movies in its wake like Black Roses, Zombie Nightmare, Terror on Tour, and Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare helped cement this film's status as one of the best of its kind.

Relentlessly bullied at high school, Eddie Trick or TreatWeinbauer (Price) is shattered when the main source of solace in his life, rock star Sammi Curr (Fields), dies suddenly in a fire. Eddie seeks advice from local DJ Nuke (Simmons), who knew fellow local Sammi back in school and gives the boy a test pressing of Sammi's final unreleased album bequeathed to be premiered on the air on upcoming Trick or TreatHalloween night. After a particularly cruel prank involving a swimming pool that humiliates Eddie in front of his crush, Leslie (Orgolini), he goes home to listen to Sammi's album and, spurred on my intense fiery visions, experiments by playing it backwards. The result is an oddly personal message about how to get even against his oppressors, something the late singer wanted to accomplish himself. At first Eddie's payback seems to be satisfying and mostly harmless, but as Halloween night approaches, it's clear something far more diabolical is being planned.

Much of what confused critics about this film is also a big part of its appeal: a wild clash of tones ranging from Carrie-style outcast revenge to druggy music video-style interludes to quirky high school comedy and romance. It's also an incredible snapshot of '80s fashion and music tastes with lots of screaming guitars, hairspray, headbands, wristbands, aerobics, classic headphones, Christian music scare tactics (via that great in-joke Ozzy appearance)... you name it. Always underrated as an actor after being pigeonholed thanks to his most famous TV role, Price is actually excellent here and proves he had the chops to be a fine dramatic or comedic actor with the right material. The rest of the cast does fine as well, while Smith delivers the horror goods and earns that R rating with some ghoulish violence and a bit of obligatory topless nudity during one memorable creature-heavy scene. Despite the big climactic date on the calendar and some jack o' lanterns scattered around here and Trick or Treatthere, Trick or Treat isn't particularly Halloween-centric and makes for fun viewing any time of Trick or Treatyear.

Fans of Trick or Treat have had to put up with some really lousy home video editions over the years including a fuzzy VHS release from Lorimar and a very poor quality full frame DVD from budget label Platinum in 2002. In 2014, German label NSM Records issued a digibook release (with multiple design options) featuring a Blu-ray, DVD, and Fastway soundtrack CD, but the transfer was just okay from a somewhat murky theatrical print. The biggest problem was the audio, which was a poor quality mono mix far removed from the effective and very active original Ultra Stereo mix. All of those options were rendered completely obsolete when the film finally got the edition it deserved as the inaugural theatrical feature release from Red Shirt Pictures as part of its deal with Synapse Films, initially released as a UHD, Blu-ray, and soundtrack CD combo with multiple packaging options just in time for Halloween in 2024. Again the soundtrack CD is the general release one with the Fastway songs; to date the Christopher Young score has only been released as part of the limited two-CD Cinema Septet set. The presentation here is everything you could want, with the new restoration from the original 35mm camera negative (with HDR10-compatible Dolby Vision on the UHD) looking superb throughout with natural film grain, impressive detail, and gorgeous colors including lots of bright primary colors all over the high schoolers' outfits. You get two audio mix options here (DTS-HD MA), the original 2.0 surround one and a new 5.1 mix that has some fun with split surround effects including great separation during the shop workroom scene and the big live show finale in particular. Optional English SDH subtitles are also included.

The extras kick off with no less than three alternate audio options starting with a new audio commentary with Smith in conversation with filmmaker Mark Savage. It's a lively and fun chat, not really scene specific at all but chock full of anecdotes about how Smith got the gig after really becoming interested in filmmaking on Never Cry Wolf, his familiarity with backmasking, the bullied student angle that appealed to him, the pressure of doing a first film with the backing of De Laurentiis and a theatrical release in the cards, and plenty about the casting process including Savant's Trick or Treatnice demeanor compared to his jerk character here. Next up is a commentary with Red Shirt's Michael Felsher with writer/producer Michael S. Murphey and writer Rhet Topham; again this isn't a scene-specific track but rather extensive separate interviews with both men about the creation of "hard rocking, head banging, heavy metal horror history" including thoughts on the deeply misguided, hypocritical Trick or Treatattacks on heavy metal and other pop culture in the '80s, the gigs that led up to this one, the person who played a pivotal role in making the script better, the original directing choice of Penelope Spheeris, the circumstances of being in the middle of De Laurentiis' production heyday in Wilmington, North Carolina, the creation of the big effects showcases, and the enjoyment of putting together the actors, crew, and local musicians. Finally you get an audio conversation between Paul Corupe and Allison Lang, authors of Satanic Panic: Pop-Cultural Paranoia in the 1980s, about the history of the whole moral panic that circulated throughout the '80s and often stemmed from aggressive messaging from churches (plus shady recovered memory scams) about the perils of horror movies, rock music, cartoons, role-playing games, and anything other random target they could find to "protect the children."

The mammoth "Rock  & Shock: The Making of Trick or Treat" (81m16s)  brings together a slew of participants from the film for a far-reaching look at its creation, casting, production, release, and legacy, including Smith, Price, Young, Felsher, actors Glen Morgan (yes, of The X-Files writing fame who did uncredited work on the script here), Elise Richards, and Larry Sprinkle, writer/producer Joel Soisson, costume designer Jill Ohanneson, assistant set costumer Francine Decoursey, construction foreman Tom Jones, Jr., special make-up effects artist Everett Burrell, music executive producer Stephen E. Smith, "and a special appearance by Gene Simmons." From the much-despised Tipper Gore to the "political hire" recruiting of Morgan to the circumstances of the Simmons (including his pickiness over his costume), no stone gets left unturned here. "In the Spotlight: A Tribute to Tony Fields" (15m7s) honors the late star's life and career with archival video footage and 2023 interviews with family and friends gathered in Davis, California, looking back at a life taken way too soon in 1995. A new entry in the ongoing Horror's Hallowed Grounds series (26m51s) features Sean Clark surveying the filming locations around Wilmington that also appeared prominently in other DEG films including Blue Velvet, including the major bridge from the finale, one of the multiple high schools, and several familiar neighborhoods. Also included are a Fastway "After Midnight" music video, two theatrical trailers, two TV spots, three radio spots, a VHS-sourced electronic press kit (5m9s) featuring interview and behind the scenes footage, and a huge 24m28s gallery with an optional interview by Felsher with still photographer Phillip V. Caruso who provided many of the photos seen here and shares his own experiences about his career and his memories of this film and Smith in particular.

Reviewed on April 1, 2025