Charles Martin Smith, 1986
Starring: Marc Price, Tony Fields, Lisa Orgolini, Doug Savant, Elaine Joyce
Whenever it comes to my attention that I have somehow completely missed an awesome, outrageous movie, my heart rejoices a little. In an age where everything is covered on Wikipedia or someone's blog, it's hard to find obscure gems that someone has to introduce you to via VHS tape. Such is the case with Trick or Treat. I don't know how I missed the boat on this one, but I suspect it's a generational thing. Regardless, I'm grateful to finally have seen it.
Eddie is not your typical '80s high school nerd. Sure, he's an outcast, but it's because he spends all his free time, money and energy worshipping the dark forces of rock'n roll. His hero, rocker Sammi Curr, tragically dies in a hotel fire, but his friend, the local DJ (a cameo by Gene Simmons) gives him the only copy of Curr's most recent, unreleased album. Things go from bad to worse as Eddie realizes the record has a Satanic power that allows Sammi to reach out from beyond the grave. Can Eddie figure out how to stop Sammi in time? Or are they all doomed?!
There is nothing bad about this movie. Sure, it's a little cheesy, but if you like '80s metal, Halloween, high school movies, or Satanic possession, you're going to love it. Sammi Curr is the ultimate Satanic metal badass and his exploits make the running time fly by. Plus, most of the music was composed and performed by Fastway. How can you go wrong?
Though Ozzy and Gene Simmons are on the cover of the stupid, cheap Platinum single disc, they both only have cameos. Poor marketing at work. Technically this DVD is out of print, but it is plentiful online. Fortunately, you can watch the whole thing right now on the internet:
Trick or Treat is perfect for Halloween, the night before you're going to see a big metal show, or anytime you're in a lousy mood and need something find to remind you that fortunately you aren't in high school anymore.
While on a visit to Wilmington, North Carolina, a friend (and fellow TRICK OR TREAT fan) and I were walking down the street where the location used for Eddie's house can be found. And we noticed a real estate sign. We wound up calling the agency and lying our way into a guided tour of the place. There were no Sammi Curr posters on the walls of Eddie's former bedroom, which was frankly distressing. I recall there being a small, blind dog in the backyard.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the music rights can be sorted out so that a more definitive home video version of this title can be released.