(The other) Trick or Treat (1986).

[Mark Knight]

Last year a movie called "Trick or Treat" came out and was highly praised, this is NOT that movie. This is a 1986 film made at DEG studios where TV show's like "One Tree Hill" are filmed. I make it my annual halloween tradition to watch this piece of crap. (OOPS! Forgot to post this on halloween. Better late than never). This film stars Marc Price (Family Ties Skippy) in a bad mullet wig playing a kid named Eddie, who's obsessed with dead heavy metal rock star Sammi Curr. A local DJ (played by Gene Simmons) feels sorry for the kid and gives him the master copy of Sammi's last record. (Yes I said record, it was 1986). So the kid plays the record backwards and starts receiving messages from Sammi beyond the grave. At first Eddie uses Sammi's advice to get back and some bullies, but when a girl gets raped by a ghostly monster, he tries to back out of the deal. This p**ses Sammi off, so he rises from dead via electricity, looking like a badly burned Tommy Lee. He shows up at school halloween party, where he plays a guitar solo (despite having ridiculously long fingernails). Then he goes apes**t. Trapping everyone in the gym and killing them "Carrie" style. It's up to Eddie and his hot new girlfriend ('cause chicks love mullets) to stop him by destroying every copy of the album. Look for a major continuity error when Eddie's girlfriend is counting to 100. Also look for cameo's by Ozzy Osbourne as a TV preacher, and future director Glenn Morgan as Eddie's buddy Roger. This one is so cheesy you can smell it!

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Say no more, dear friend.  As a denim and leather clad metalhead of the 80's, about 6 or 7 friends and I went to the local theatre to see it, wearing our backpatch-laden denim vests with pride.

Of course, we got a lecture from the manager about not making any trouble in the theatre, and when I asked him if that applied just to us or the other folk, he threatened us with expulsion.

Of course, there were kids in the theatre acting worse than us, but since they were dressed nicer, their behavior didn't count. Add to it, the usual "you guys look like my sister" remarks and the usual remarks aimed at we metal warriors, it was a fun night.

Oh, the movie, I almost forgot. It was pretty good. Ozzy Osbourne as a preacher? Yeah right. Al least it was back when he could talk and form complete sentences, 

[ulthar]

This one is a guilty pleasure of mine...Skippy as a metalhead?  How could you go wrong with that premise?

Fun movie...   

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

This one is a guilty pleasure of mine...Skippy as a metalhead?  How could you go wrong with that premise?

Fun movie...   

Yeah, Skippy as a metalhead, and Ozzy as a preacher of all things, which was the real fun part...

[JayJayM12]

Definitely a big fan of this one!  I'll be checking it out (sorta) on the big screen on January 26th.  Horror Remix is doing "Death Rock", which will have a shortened version of this, along with Rock N Roll Nightmare, Hard Rock Zombies and a few others.  Can't wait!

[Mr. DS]

I find this film to be highly underrated even in the B-Movie world!  It actually flows nicely and is a good representation of people's attitude toward "evil" music at the time.

[Trevor]

a good representation of people's attitude toward "evil" music at the time.

During that period, I remember being told that I was going to hell because I listened to The Moody Blues, some of whose members practised -gasp!-shock!-horror! meditation and Eastern beliefs!!  

My answer to that was "If I'm going to go to hell for that, so be it and **** you very much for your opinions, they are not wanted."  

[JayJayM12]

a good representation of people's attitude toward "evil" music at the time.

During that period, I remember being told that I was going to hell because I listened to The Moody Blues, some of whose members practised -gasp!-shock!-horror! meditation and Eastern beliefs!!  

My answer to that was "If I'm going to go to hell for that, so be it and **** you very much for your opinions, they are not wanted."  

Like I said above, I did end up going to the Horror Remix this past week that included the shortened version of this movie.  One of the best parts about the show was that between the shortened movies, they showed clips from a video that was obviously made in the 80s that talked all about the evils of rock/heavy metal music.  One of the greatest segments was when they did a whole thing on 'backmasking' and played clips of lots of songs backwards to reveal the hidden satanic messages - many of which were a huge stretch.  Apparently, and I kid you not, even Electric Light Orchestra hid a satanic message in one of their songs.  Great stuff!

[Jack]

Definitely an old favorite of mine.  Been meaning to pick up the DVD for years.  Just a fun and silly movie, and I love the whole heavy metal thing - so cool 

[Trevor]

Apparently, and I kid you not, even Electric Light Orchestra hid a satanic message in one of their songs.  Great stuff!

"The music is reversible, but Time is not. Turn back! Turn back! Turrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnn baaaaaaaaaaccccccccck!!!!" was the message on that ELO track. 

[movie masochist]

I remember really liking this in the '80s.  I'll have to pick up a copy when I can.  Thanks for the reminder.


thebestbadmovies.com

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

The 80's were the best time ever. I still remember it like it was yesterday...

[claws]

Haven't seen this since I first rented it on video but I remember liking it a lot. Wouldn't mind a decent widescreen DVD.

Some of my friends used to confuse this one with Trick or Treats - a decent 1982 slasher with black humor.