Trick or Treat

release year: 1986
genre: horror/drama
viewing setting: home DVD 1/27/24

synopsis: A high school kid who likes heavy metal is bullied, but gets some help from a ghost, but things quickly turn bad.

impressions: This was, I think, a 1980s retort to the criticism of heavy metal music at the time. It had a lot of parody moments and references to the culture (both pro- and anti-) of the era, and the typical high school student problems, and also a great soundtrack by real-life band Fastway. As things went on, the movie had the same problems as many other horror movies (no clear "rules" governing the behavior/powers of the villain) but it did keep me paying attention and wondering what was going to happen next.

acting: Marc Price is the protagonist, a bullied kid who has some anfer. Lisa Orgolini is a girl who gradually befriends and helps him. Doug Savant is the leader of the jock assholes. Tony Fields is the dead-and-angry rocker. And it wouldn't be a 1980s rock movie without appearances by Gene Simmons (as a DJ) and Ozzy Osbourne (as a reverend.)

final word: Weird little movie that tells a story from its era.

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