Starring - Craig Kelly (Titanic, Waking the Dead), Dean Lennox Kelly (Jamestown, Being Human), and Frances Barber (Mr. Holmes, Cold Feet)
Release Date - 2019
Genre - Crime/Thriller
Tagline - "Middle age can be murder"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)
Rating (out of 5):
Last year I was searching through Wal-Mart for new releases when I found myself very underwhelmed by what they had to offer. I know the pandemic put a huge hit to the entertainment industry but I was hoping to snag something fun for my annual October horror movie binge. Before I walked away I caught sight of the film Trick or Treat from Echo Bridge Entertainment. It looked like a decent enough Halloween movie to check out but I never found the time to work it into my schedule until this year. It was a solid film but not what I was expecting at all.
The film follows a new father who has turned his back on a life of crime to focus on his new family. However, an unexpected visit from his brother who is rambling on about killing a man. Soon he is visited by members of the local organized crime scene and his life, along with that of his family, is put in danger until he can track down his brother or uncover the truth of what happened to the new crime boss' son.
Trick or Treat is not a horror movie and the name is very misleading. The movie is centered around Halloween but that is the extent of it. I would argue that this is a Halloween film but the story does not deliver on the Halloween hi-jinks that one would expect from a movie with a similar title. It's a full fledged crime thriller with no real horror elements for those of us looking for a little chills on this sacred of holidays. The acting in this one is surprisingly well done. The characters are equal parts cliche and entertaining personality. The cast is given a lot to work with and they all do a fantastic job with it. They really did a great job bringing memorable characters to life that doesn't just blend into the background. The story for this one isn't bad but having it set against Halloween and titling it Trick or Treat is very misleading. The film would have worked under a different title and set against any other time of year. Hell, it would even appeal to a much wider audience than the horror crowd. If you look at the film's imdb page you will see several other reviews similar to mine about how misleading it is. With that being said, it was a really fun and gritty crime thriller with a story that has something to say instead of a Tarantino inspired thriller with heavy dialogue and drawn out scenes. I enjoyed it but it wasn't what I was expecting to watch. Finally, the film has some bloody moments that fit the film but it's not the gory horror film you were expecting on this late fall weekend. The effects work for the gag and the blood looks great. Overall, Trick or Treat is mostly a trick but it's one I enjoyed. It's not the horror film you think it is but I would still recommend checking it out early on in your October viewing. Check it out.
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