Day 31: Trick R Treat (2007-2009)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 31: Trick R Treat (2007-2009)

The Halloween season is as much about the perception of fear, the cool nights, the anticipation of things that go bump in the night, as it is about the iconography.  My first glimpse of a leaf-strewn sidewalk is usually enough to get me going for my favourite time of year: there is a crispness in the air, and slight whiff of decay as the vibrancy of summer slowly steps aside for the long, bleak months of winter.  Without fail, once Halloween as passed, and sometimes while it is full regalia, the snow will fall.

The true beauty of Michael Dougherty's "Trick R Treat" is that it captures the true essence of the season, and not just the day.  Virtually every frame of this fantastic film is filled with iconography of the season, and the most majestic day itself.  It might be a scarecrow in a desolate filed of crops, or a hundred jack-o-lanterns, to a pile of razorblades strewn throughout a mound of spilled candy, but like no other movie before it, "Trick R Treat" oozes the essence of Halloween.

Originally scheduled for a theatrical release in 2007, this masterpiece of the season was eventually released straight-to-DVD with little fanfare in 2009.  It was an injustice to the horror film community.  This is a film that should be celebrated and revered for its pure love of the holiday that so many of us hold dear.

There are five many stories contained with "Trick R Treat", each one linked by the mysterious sack-headed "Sam" who we come to learn is the embodiment of the holiday, or Samhain (the originally Celtic holiday upon which much of our modern version of 'Halloween' is based).

After the introductory scene with Tahmoh Penikett and Leslie Bibb, we also encounter main stories headed by Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin, Britt McKillip and Brian Cox...  This is not an anthology though.

Each separate story weaves around the others and together they form an incredible anthology of all that makes Halloween special.  The stories are spooky, terrifying and overall brilliant, and that is why Warner Brothers studios failed.  This could have easily become the yearly Halloween anthology that John Carpenter had hoped to create with "Halloween III", instead it was a one-off curiosity that went straight to DVD.

Imagine a cinematic landscape where each year, a new collection of Halloween related tales was released (instead we got "Saw IV", which this would have been up against and was DTV at best - and now we have the "Paranormal Activities", which continue to recycle the same concept year after year).

When we have the opportunity to support films such as "Trick R Treat", we need to embrace them and let them know that these are the movies we want to see.  We need to make it clear that original and tantalizing visions are better than recycled nonsense ad nauseum, year after year.

"Trick R Treat" is something that could stay fresh every year because there is a abundance of material to choose from.  Every film on this list so far provides inspiration (and many of them clearly did) for what makes a great "Halloween" story.

If you haven't yet seen "Trick R Treat", or any of the other movies on this list, I highly encourage you to get off this blog and onto your nearest media viewing platform of choice.  After all, 'tis the season!

Trick R Treat everyone, and Happy Halloween to all!

Day 30: Juan of The Dead (2011)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 30: Juan Of The Dead (2011)

Did you know that Cuba recently produced its first independent horror movie?  Did you know that said movie is full of violence, swearing, nudity and depravity of the grade you would expect form most non-communist productions?

"Juan Of The Dead" is far from a perfect movie, but it is extremely commendable for it achieves: a funny and gory take on what would happen if a zombie outbreak occurred in a communist country such as Cuba.  While not an entirely accurate portrait of Cuba or its people, it is the subversive sense of humour, and audacity of writer/director Alejandro Brugues that keeps the movie flowing.

There are moments in "Juan of the Dead" that had me laughing out loud (watch for the tango of the dead), and others that had me gasping in surprise.  There are also clever homages throughout, including an underwater moment with a shark and a fellow who ' Kicks ass for the Lord', but it is the cultural and socio-political commentary peppered throughout that really makes this a unique viewing experience.

Perhaps one of the biggest charms of this movie is the fact that it is thoroughly Cuban, but there is also a surprising undercurrent of dissidence throughout the film.  Of course it does share many of the traits of its inspirations (namely Shaun and Dawn), but that doesn't mean it is any less fresh of an approach.

If you aren't looking for socio-political commentary, there is definitely a fun zombie movie to be had here, one that constantly surprises with its twists and turns.  If you can stomach delicious titles, and even more delicious brains, this is a movie more than worth its running time.

Tomorrow brings us to day 31, Halloween.  I think its about time for a little trick r treating...

Day 29: Poltergeist (1982)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 29: Poltergeist (1982)

I was not very old when this came out, but despite the pedigree of the director (Tobe Hooper, of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" fame), the pedigree of the Executive Producer who was boldly emblazoned across the Beta tapes cover at the local video store (Steven Spielberg, of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" fame - also released in 1982) meant that my parents allowed me to rent this spectacular film.

Many of Spielberg`s classic tropes are here: from the idyllic suburban setting, to the less than idyllic family dynamics.  It`s no wonder conspiracy theories abound about just how much of a role Spielberg actually played in the making of "Poltergeist".

The harrowing story of the Freeling family hinges around the young and innocent Carol Anne, played by Heather O`Rourke, who is whisked away into a digital spirit netherworld while her family desperately strikes out against the once mischievous (chair stacking) spirits who have stolen their daughter away.

The story slowly unfolds with the family divided; Carol Anne`s voice echoing out of the snow filled television.  Back in the Freeling home, even with the assistance of Zelda Rubenstein`s medium Tangina, things quickly deteriorate for the family, especially poor Robbie, who is subjected to more horrors than any child should have to endure - from braces, to demonic clowns, to evil trees in the night.

"Poltergeist" is definitely a scary movie, and one that will stay with you for a long time.  It is also a movie with a lot of heart, and an equally large amount of genuinely nerve-wrenching scares.  It is definitely always worth a watch.

Tomorrow I will take a very unique film for a spin.  Viva Cuba Libre!

Day 28: 28 Days Later (2002)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 28: 28 Days Later (2002)

George A. Romero defined the zombie genre with his lumbering undead.  They were corpses risen from the dead to stalk the living.  In 2002, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reinvented the genre with their fast-moving version of the classic zombie, although, they did it with a twist.

The zombies in "28 Days Later" are not in fact zombies; they are normal humans who have mistakenly been exposed to a rage virus.  It is that virus that causes them to take on zombie-like tendencies, albeit at a hyper-speed level.

The opening scenes with Cillian Murphy's Jim wandering through the desolate and deserted core of downtown London, England, are indeed eerie.  When he finally meets Naomie Harris' Selena, after a tense showdown by a gas station, the first seeds of post-holocaust family are placed.

As their band of survivors slowly expands and they make their way towards the inevitable beacon of hope in Northern England, the desperation slowly sets in.

"28 Days Later" does a great job of examining what would happen to our society in the event of an extinction level event.  It showcases both the highs and lows of the human potential, much in the way that Romero did before.

The music by John Murphy also adds a great deal of mood and ambiance to the piece, and if you are curious as to what occurred 28 weeks later, the sequel was also very well done.

Tomorrow, I will be taking a trip into the light, despite the warnings against...

Day 27: Halloween Specials

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 27:  Halloween Specials

As a youngster, heck even as a grown adult, one of my favourite aspects of the Halloween season was always the specials that the average shows would produce.  Back in the day, "Roseanne" and "Home Improvement" always impressed with their efforts.  Even better, was that our "regularly scheduled programming" would often be preempted for special holiday themed presentations...

When it came to Halloween, there were two specials that always extended a warm embrace and today, I recommend them both to you.  They were the Garfield Halloween Special, and "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".

Both Garfield and Charlie Brown had a number of Holiday Specials, but it was that Halloween themed ones that always stood out to me.

With Garfield's Halloween Special, the gourmand cat and his intrepid friend Odie set out in search of a great haul of candy.  What they encounter instead is a band of pirate ghosts out to terrorize the world of trick-or-treaters.

"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" features a typically whimsical Peanuts story with Charlie Brown and friends succeeding at failing to celebrate the Halloween season.  Both are highly recommended, and to flesh out you hour of specials, I also recommend an additional short film.  If you can find it...

"A Short Film About John Bolton" is a documentary that was written and directed by Neil Gaiman.  John Bolton is an artist that Gaiman has worked with over the years, and this piece examines the artist's methods and inspirations...  With a twist.  I would hesitate to say more than that, but it is an excellent piece that lends itself well to the Halloween season.

Tomorrow, I will examine what happens 28 days after a zombie outbreak in London, England.

Day 26: Jaws (1975)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 26: Jaws (1975)

The oil painted boat above might be a stretch, but if you imagine that ill-fated crew out on the high seas in search of Moby Dick, you get the basic theme of Steven Spielberg's classic "Jaws".  You also get the impact of a well delivered masterpiece that showcases the terrors that lie below, and the need for "a bigger boat".

When it was first released in theatres, 37 years ago, audiences did not know what to expect.  It was a whole new kind of terror, one that was implied as much as it was evident.

From the opening scenes with the skinny dipping beauty, to the eventual calamity that befalls the small community of Amity, Jaws is an unrelenting masterpiece of suspense and terror.  When Brody eventually hits the waters with Quint and Hooper, the movie reverts to a timeless battle of man versus nature.

The shark in "Jaws" is as terrifying, and unrelenting as the land-based slashers that dominate lists such as this, only it is all the more terrifying because it sneaks up on its unsuspecting victims and pulls them down into the dark.

An unseen predator is the most terrifying of all.  One that will sneak up on you from below on a bright summer day at the beach.  One that will maul and maim its victims for no other reason than to feed.

Upon its release, attendance at public beaches dropped substantially.  That says a great deal for the impact that a movie can have, for the terror that it can instill into an unwitting populace...

Tomorrow, I am planning another journey into the unknown, with three short productions that should make the essential viewing list every year - two of which are stalwarts of the season!

Day 25: Incident At Loch Ness (2004)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 25: Incident at Loch Ness (2004)

What would happen if one of the world's greatest living directors was hired to direct a documentary about one of the world's greatest cryptozoological mysteries?  The result could very well be similar to Zak Penn's "Incident At Loch Ness".

This particular film acknowledges the audience at every turn and shows the voyage of an intrepid film crew as the head out onto the murky waters of Scotland's Loch Ness in search of the mythical "Nessie".  The brilliant twist to Penn's movie is that he hires Werner Herzog to produce, direct and narrate the film.

For those of you unfamiliar with Werner Herzog, he is a German filmmaker who has excelled in both the narrative fiction and documentary style of film and has developed a reputation for being both an unparalleled visionary, as well as a somewhat demented genius.  There is footage of an interview with Herzog online where he is shot in the stomach by a mischief with a pellet gun.  His reaction is a dismissive one and he continues the interview after dismissing his bloodied navel as nothing more than a "mere flesh wound".

He is the exact kind of character to headline such a film, and such an excursion, and it is his incredulous delivery of lines as things spiral out of control that ties this documentary together.  His unique accent also lends a degree of gravitas to the slowly spiralling-out-of-control proceedings of this excellent film.  Do your self a favor and check out this ingeniously twisted masterpiece.

Tomorrow, I will be taking another trip down memory lane.  Only this time, I'm going to need a bigger boat.