It Came From the Bargain Bin (Trick or Treat 1986)

Welcome to another Horror version of “It Came from the Bargain Bin”. This week we delve into the world of “Rock Horror”. Once upon a time there was actually rock music and “Rock and Roll” was considered evil. There are many rock and roll icons that took full advantage of this so-called stigma and this week’s selection celebrates two icons that did just that. If you were to come up with two rock and roll icons that exemplify the dark persona of rock who would you pick? There are many rockers to choose from. Even Elvis, at one time, was considered a beacon of what is considered evil about rock and roll. Since Mr. Presley there has been a seemingly endless number of Satan celebrating hedonists. From artists such as Black Sabbath to Alice Cooper to Marilyn Manson there have been rock artists that represent the concept of rock evil and the Halloween holiday to the fullest. This week’s selection from The Bargain Bin is a film that I could not ignore when it comes to the marriage of Halloween, Rock and Roll and film. You want evil rockers, well how about Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne for representation of the genre of “Horror Rock”. This week’s movie actually pairs Gene and Ozzy, so you can see how this movie had to be recognized as one of the selections for The Bargain Bin’s month-long tribute to Horror in honor of Halloween. Not to mention the title of this week’s selection just happens to be………………”Trick or Treat”.

 Trick or Treat

Starring: Eddie Weinbauer, Doug Savant and Gene Simmons

Writers: Rhet Topham and Michael S. Murphy

Director: Charles Martin Smith

Reveiwed by: Joe Sikes

Marc Price (Eddie Weinbauer) is your normal everyday teenage “Metal” fan. Posters of bands such as Anthrax and Ozzy Osbourne decorate his adolescent bedroom walls. There is one Heavy Metal rocker in particular that Marc worships completely, to the point that he actually writes this rocker religiously. Marc lives and breathes his idol rocker Sammi Curr. Curr helps Marc get through the insufferable torment that Marc has to endure at the hands of his jock classmates, such as Tim Hainey (Doug Savant), who doesn’t let Marc go through one day without reminding him that he is just a metal head freak who doesn’t deserve the right to share the same halls as the rest of the elitist, self-righteous high school athletes. Unfortunately, Marc finds out that rock gods don’t live forever when he discovers that Sammi Curr has been tragically killed in a hotel fire. After receiving the news of his idol’s passing Marc visits his DJ friend “Nuke” (Gene Simmons), who hands Marc Sammi’s last recorded album that is to be played at the stroke of midnight on Halloween. Little does Marc realize that the gift that he has received is more than just a record album by his favorite rock artist. Marc is about to find out that sometimes hidden messages on rock albums aren’t always merely innocent publicity stunts.

“Trick or Treat” is a movie that may not be a classic horror film, by any means, but it does have its share of mildly entertaining moments. I couldn’t help but get a kick out of seeing “Skippy” of Family Ties fame playing a complete polar opposite role, well besides playing a victim of adolescent social awkwardness that is. Ozzy Osbourne as Rev. Aaron Gilstrom is actually kind of fun little twist especially for the fact that his role reminds you of a time when you could actually understand what the hell Ozzy was saying. All in all Trick or Treat is a fun watch, especially for any fan of ’80′s metal, and I do recommend checking this movie out, if not only for sheer humorous amusement. That saying, I give Trick or Treat one and a half headbangers but a worthwhile watch nonetheless. See you next week for the final Horrorween installment from”It Came from the Bargain Bin”.

Tagged as: Cult Horror Films, Gene Simmons, Halloween Movies, Heavy Metal, Horror Film, Horror Movies, Ozzy Osbourne, Trick or Treat