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


Trick Or Treat
1986 | Color | 1Hr 38 Min | Horror | R |

Director:
Charles Martin Smith

Writers:
Rhet Topham
Michael S. Murphey

Stars: 
Marc Price
Tony Fields
Lisa Orgolin
Gene Simmons
Ozzy Osbourne



Hard rock idol Sammi Curr (Tony Fields) burns to death in a hotel fire. His biggest fan, Lakeridge High School student and resident metal head Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price) is devastated by the news and turns to local radio DJ "Nuke" (Gene 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 its dark role in things to come.



 Alone in his room with feelings of rage and retribution racing through his mind, Eddie places the new record onto his stereo and is shocked to discover that he can communicate with the deceased rock star when it is rotated 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 usual 'underdog gets his own back' results.




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 headbanger, 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.


Low on gore and heavy on metal 1986's Trick or Treat fulls a little short 30 years later. As a young metalhead in 86's the movie was everything. I was different as well listing to Megadeath, Metallica and Anthrax like it was religion. I was bullied for being different but never really cared. I was all about the music bringing me happiness. The band Fastway carried the sound from beginning to end with it's pulse pounding riffs and heavy drums ringing in your ears. See my post from earlier this month for Music Monday the soundtrack still holds out.


Despite the big names of Osbourne and Simmons, the real star here is good old Skippy himself Marc Price. Price plays the lovable loser that saves the day. You find yourself really pulling for him just like you did while watching "Growing Pains". For me, the real star is director Charles Martin Smith you know the nerd from American Graffiti that also directed A Dolphins Tale. Smith weaves a story that works and never loses the pace giving us a fast hour and a half movie. The idea worked in 1986 and if you where a kid then you will love the stroll down memory lane.


The other notable actor would be Tony Fields with his height giving him a cool metal look. His back round is fascinating and nothing like the 16-year-old me remembers. Let's just say I do not remember the terrible lip syncing and the great dance's moves. Feilds began touring with Debbie Reynolds in her nightclub act only 3 months after starting at Dupree Acadamy of Dance when he came to Solid Gold, he had had only 2 years of formal training. He was also in Thriller and Beat it music videos. Sadly Feilds died of Aids in 1995.


The movie still Jam's if you were around to enjoy the great hair metal days. If not Trick or Treat will not carry its weight. And if you do go back and watch it remember this came out long before Wes Cravens Shocker as they are pretty similar. So, in the end, the movie is still worth finding and Fastway needs to get off there ass and cough up the music rights to a proper Blu-Ray can come out

3 Bloody Brains out of 5
This was part of the Maddy Loves Her Classic Films blogathon The Horrorthon check out the others that took part. 

1 comment:

  1. I barely remember this one and am not sure if I watched it or not. Seems like a decent premise for a horror flick at the time. Whatever happened to Marc Price? Going to go look him up. Besides Family Ties, I don't recall seeing him in anything else.

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