The horror anthology is hard to do well.  Probably the finest examples of these collections of short horror is Creepshow, or, for you Hammer fiends, The Vault of Horror.  Add to that list the much-delayed anthology from Michael Dougherty, Trick ‘r Treat, based on his short film Season’s Greetings.  Originally due out in 2007, then pushed back and pushed back again, the treatment of this film by Warner Brothers is almost criminal.  Enough of that, though.  

Trick ‘r Treat begins with a nasty little cold opening involving a couple returning from a night of Halloween fun, both “lit”, according to our heroine.  She does the unthinkable, blowing out a jack o’lantern’s candle when we all know that it should stay illuminated until morning.  What follows is a nice bit of suspense involving ghostly scarecrows and a reminder that some traditions are worth observing.

Playing with chronology and expectations, Trick ‘r Treat weaves four tales together:  Anna Paquin stars as a virgin looking for her first on All Hallow’s Eve, a story of a doomed school bus brings a group of pranksters together, a school principal has some treats of his own and a recluse is shown the true meaning of Halloween in a tale inspired by A Christmas Carol.  Yes, this description is oblique, but that’s only because I care.  These are tales to be savored, each one playing with convention and expectation, and all inter-related by time and the overriding theme – Halloween night.

Dougherty has crafted nothing short of a love letter to the holiday, a film that keeps a grin on the face of even the most jaded of horror fans.  This is what a film about Halloween should be – fun, frightening, sly and smart.  Not since John Carpenter’s namesake horror film, Halloween, has a movie so embraced the holiday.  Yes, that’s a comparison to the standard of horror viewings, and it’s not inappropriate for this film.  It’s that good.

The chronological shifts of the film lead to some fun moments where characters pass one another on the way to their own tales, and the viewer is treated more than once to Pulp Fiction-style realizations.  The acting is solid throughout, especially Dylan Baker as Steven, the principal with some tricks of his own.  Marry that with an exceptionally entertaining script, a visual flair and, above all, reverence for the sort of film he’s making and you have a movie from Dougherty that generates real joy.  This is the finest horror anthology I’ve ever seen and one of the best of the year.  Sure to be a Halloween standard, it’s a rare pleasure to see a movie and know that it is destined to be viewed again and again.

I could go on about the excitement I felt upon seeing the credits roll on this comic-inspired modern classic, but I think you get it.  Trick ‘r Treat is available  October 6th on Blu-ray and DVD.  Don’t rent.  Buy.  Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get a Trick ‘r Treat 2. Oh, how I relish the thought of another Halloween with Sam...