Halloween and heavy metal have often gone hand-in-hand. It’s hardly surprising given the aesthetic links to all things “evil” that the genre has propagated over the years to bolster its outsider, edgy image. Halloween itself is very much the spookiest of all holidays, so when the two combine, it’s often a match made in…hell. That particular combination comes together in spectacular fashion in 1986’s Trick or Treat.
Trick or Treat is the story of Eddie “Ragman” Weinbauer (although he seems to be the only person who uses that nickname), a disenchanted teenage metalhead loner who is bullied at school. His obsession is heavy metal, and particularly Sammy Curr, a controversial artist who had previously attended the same high school as Eddie. When Curr dies in mysterious circumstances, Eddie spirals, but his local DJ friend Nuke gives him the only copy of Curr’s final recording. Eddie plays the record backwards and begins hearing Sammy’s voice speaking directly to him. It eventually becomes clear Curr forged his spirit into the record using a satanic ritual, and he’s out for revenge on the town.
There’s a very specific 1980s quality that immediately comes through in Trick or Treat, and it’s very endearing in its own way. The hair, the music, the sleaze, the casual nudity–everything you’d expect from a film of this time period. It feels as much a period piece to 2026 eyes as anything else from the 1980s; a time capsule of sorts. The thematic elements of Trick or Treat are also very interesting, clearly offering a critique of the satanic panic of the era around heavy metal and the way it was treated by the media. Obviously it also leans into Sammy using a satanic rite, but there are plenty of layers to unpick in Charles Martin Smith’s debut directoral feature.
The acting performances are probably the key part of what makes Trick or Treat feel so memorable. Marc Price feels very relatable as Eddie, and his chemistry with Lisa Orgolini as Leslie gives the film a real energy. Eddie is well written, and although he has his moments, he’s a classic hero in many ways. There are fun cameos from Gene Simmons as Nuke, but also Ozzy Osbourne as an anti-metal TV talk show guest with very strong opinions. It’s a wonderful bit of tongue-in-cheek casting, but also alongside Simmons it gives the film a real legitimacy that other films of the era could only hope to attain. The best performance, of course, comes from Tony Fields as Sammy, who gives a bombastic, mesmerising turn as the satanic rock star, bent on revenge. His background as a dancer surely helped, but Fields is utterly convincing as a frontman of a typical hair metal band of that era, only much more unhinged.
Trick or Treat is a fun-filled ’80s romp, with more than a little satire thrown in. The acting is fun, the plot is suitably ridiculous, and it’s all very silly, but ultimately incredibly entertaining. A perfect encapsulation of the sort of 1980s B-movie horror films that are mostly a distant memory. Trick or Treat is a fine Halloween offering to add to your spooky rotation this year.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Special Features
- Audio commentary with director Charles Martin Smith, moderated by filmmaker Mark Savage
- Audio interviews with writer/producer Michael S. Murphey and writer Rhet Topham, moderated by Michael Felsher
- Audio conversation with Paul Corupe and Allison Lang, authors of Satanic Panic: Pop-Cultural Paranoia in the 1980s
- Rock & Shock: The Making of Trick or Treat
- In The Spotlight: A Tribute to Tony Fields
- Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: The Filming Locations of Trick or Treat
- After Midnight, music video
- Stills Gallery featuring optional audio interview with photographer Phillip V. Caruso
- Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots, Radio Spots and Press Kit
Trick or Treat is released on 4K from Toy Robot Video on 5 October.
