Trick or Treat (1986)

A bullied teenage boy is devastated after the death of his heavy metal idol, Sammi Curr. But as Hallowe'en night approaches, he discovers that he may be the only one who can stop Sammi from making a Satanic comeback from beyond the grave.

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Rhet Topham (story), Michael S. Murphey (screenplay)

Stars:

Marc Price, Tony Fields, Lisa Orgolini

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marc Price	...	Eddie Weinbauer
Tony Fields	...	Sammi Curr
Lisa Orgolini	...	Leslie Graham
Doug Savant	...	Tim Hainey
Elaine Joyce	...	Angie Weinbauer
Glen Morgan	...	Roger Mockus
Gene Simmons	...	Nuke
Ozzy Osbourne	...	Rev. Aaron Gilstrom
Elise Richards	...	Genie Wooster
Richard Pachorek	...	Ron Avery
Clare Torao	...	Maggie Wong-Hernandez (as Clare Nono)
Alice Nunn	...	Mrs. Sylvia Cavell
Larry Sprinkle	...	Marv McCain
Charles Martin Smith	...	Mr. Wimbley
Claudia Templeton	...	Hysterical Survivor

Storyline

Hard rock idol Sammi Curr burns to death in a hotel fire. His biggest fan, Lakeridge High School student and resident metal head Eddie Weinbauer is devastated by the news and turns to local radio DJ "Nuke" for emotional support. After a heated discussion about the deceased rock star, Nuke presents Eddie with a rare demo record, the last ever recorded by Sammi and the only copy in existence. Overwhelmed by Nuke's generosity, Eddie accepts the gift without hesitation, unaware of it's dark role in things to come. After constant humiliation and a near drowning at the hands of school bully Tim Hainy and his sports jock friends, Eddie becomes enraged and vows revenge on all those who have wronged him, much to the dismay of love interest, Leslie and best friend, Roger. Alone in his room with feelings of rage and retribution racing through his mind, Eddie places the new record onto his stereo and is shocked to discover that he can communicate with the deceased rock star when it is rotated ...

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Plot Keywords:

halloween | heavy metal | sound played backwards | trick or treaters | hard rock | 

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Taglines:

A deadly obsession turns into a spine tingling horror!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Farce ou festin

Filming Locations:

DEG Film Studios - 1223 North 23rd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,912,687, 26 October 1986

Gross USA:

$6,797,218

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,797,218

Company Credits

Production Co:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title of Sammi Curr's album, "Songs in the Key of Death", is a parody of the title of the album "Songs in the Key of Life" by Stevie Wonder.

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Goofs

When Leslie is outside the radio station, she starts counting, "One Mississippi, two Mississippi," etc. By the time she reaches the teens, she has dropped "Mississippi." Also, as she counts, the next numbers she recites are in the low 40's. The next time she is shown, she's at fifty six and seven, and the last time she's shown counting (before ninety) she's back to twenty six and twenty seven.

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Quotes

Sammi Curr: [Sammi has just pulled Ms. Cavell through the TV, and turns toward Roger] Roger.
Roger Mockus: I am a big fan of yours. I have all your albums.
Sammi Curr: Shut up! Play my tape for me tonight or die!

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Crazy Credits

A brief clip with Ozzy Osbourne as Rev. Aaron Gilstrom appears after the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Ghetto Blaster, Terror in Beverly Hills, and Killing American Style (2014)

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Soundtracks

Grey, Grey, Grey
Performed by See Jane Run
Courtesy of Bug Music
Composed by Michael Muhlfriedel (as Mick Muhlfriedel) and Marina Del Rey
Published by Cephlaphone Songs/Bug Music (BMI)

User Reviews

So Cheesy It's Cool!

Sure the movie is cheesy, but that is part of its charm. My favourite line has to be when the one chick (I think her name was Genie Wooster) tells Eddie that he is creepy, and when he says he doesn't understand, she replies "If you weren't so creepy, you would know what I mean". The reason why I love this line so much is as follows: It reminds me (and I am sure many others) of stuck up people in high school who had the same attitude. I can think of one, in particular right now.

So despite the movie's lack of appeal to awards committees, it does have some great moments, and although it does not have mass appeal, I don't think that was its purpose. It reaches out to the lost children of the world by showing them that they are not alone.

Besides, it is just a fun movie. Where else will you get to see Ozzy Osbourne preach about the evils of heavy metal music?

Oh yeah: One person compared Sammi Curr to Alice Cooper, which isn't a bad comparison, but I am positive that he was modelled after Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P. He had the same look and similar attitude, and just as Blackie was a big target of the PMRC, Sammi was a big target of the parents groups in Trick or Treat.

I would also highly recommend another cheesy 80s horror movie called "Basket Case".