Trick Or Treats - 1982
( This Films Rates a B- )
Its been over 20 years since I saw this film for the first time. This is my second viewing.
The opening scene shows a man being taken away in a straight jacket, dramatic fashion of course and his wife watches. Fast forward a few years on Halloween night. The wife and her new boyfriend leave for a party and gets a sitter for their practical joker kid. The kid likes to play with his homemade guillotine. He also likes to play pranks constantly and makes the sitter traumatized and insane. The deranged husband is in a mental hospital for 4 years. He eventually kills a psych nurse and escapes the hospital by dressing as a "man" nurse. The plan is to kill all those who were involved with his 4 year commitment to the mental hospital, but wants to start with his wife. Sadly its been four years and he cant quite remember what she looks like. Right away the acting is atrocious. The scenes at the mental institution are completely laughable. Plus, who uses a corded phone in the shower? There are some real awkward moments in this film; the stare down with the "step father" and son at the 22:30 mark, what kind of CPR is that at the 38:20 minute mark? How about the odd phone call interaction with the parents and the sitter at the 46:40 minute mark, The conversation at 54:30 about why people watch horror films followed by one of the silliest "movie" clips ever or the crazy and erotic doctor interview at the 59:00 minute mark. Vintage Halloween decorations aren't plentiful but those present are perfectly nostalgic. The posters on the walls and the brief shot of the horror record collection are truly fantastic. I also appreciate that this film takes place on Halloween night. The gore is pretty minimal and there are no T&A. Lets be honest. This film is so bad that its bad. Yet, somehow the charm wins me over. Plus, it has a fair amount of suspense that really works. I'd watch this one again.
The opening scene shows a man being taken away in a straight jacket, dramatic fashion of course and his wife watches. Fast forward a few years on Halloween night. The wife and her new boyfriend leave for a party and gets a sitter for their practical joker kid. The kid likes to play with his homemade guillotine. He also likes to play pranks constantly and makes the sitter traumatized and insane. The deranged husband is in a mental hospital for 4 years. He eventually kills a psych nurse and escapes the hospital by dressing as a "man" nurse. The plan is to kill all those who were involved with his 4 year commitment to the mental hospital, but wants to start with his wife. Sadly its been four years and he cant quite remember what she looks like. Right away the acting is atrocious. The scenes at the mental institution are completely laughable. Plus, who uses a corded phone in the shower? There are some real awkward moments in this film; the stare down with the "step father" and son at the 22:30 mark, what kind of CPR is that at the 38:20 minute mark? How about the odd phone call interaction with the parents and the sitter at the 46:40 minute mark, The conversation at 54:30 about why people watch horror films followed by one of the silliest "movie" clips ever or the crazy and erotic doctor interview at the 59:00 minute mark. Vintage Halloween decorations aren't plentiful but those present are perfectly nostalgic. The posters on the walls and the brief shot of the horror record collection are truly fantastic. I also appreciate that this film takes place on Halloween night. The gore is pretty minimal and there are no T&A. Lets be honest. This film is so bad that its bad. Yet, somehow the charm wins me over. Plus, it has a fair amount of suspense that really works. I'd watch this one again.