Movie Review: Trick ‘r Treat

Trick ‘r Treat

Rating:  

Directed By: Michael Dougherty

Starring: Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb, Rochelle Aytes, Tahmoh Penikett

Plot Synopsis:

It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten.

Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick. Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem… the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety-human and otherwise-try to survive the scariest night of the year. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

 

Review:

Huzzah! Halloween is closing in and after 3 years of waiting, Trick ‘r Treat has finally been released.  Although, it would have been nice if it had a theatrical release, I’m happy to have it in my Blu Ray player.  This is the definitive Halloween movie, destined to become traditional viewing in my house.

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Movie Review: The Midnight Meat Train

The Midnight Meat Train

Rating:  

Directed By: Ryûhei Kitamura

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Vinnie Jones

Plot Synopsis:

When Leon Kaufman’s (Bradley Cooper) latest body of work – a collection of provocative, nighttime studies of the city and its inhabitants — earns the struggling photographer interest from prominent art gallerist Susan Hoff (Brooke Shields), she propels him to get grittier and show the darker side of humanity for his upcoming debut at her downtown art space.
Believing he’s finally on track for success, Leon’s obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of a serial killer, Mahogany (Vinnie Jones), the subway murderer who stalks late-night commuters — ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways imaginable.

With his concerned girlfriend Maya (Leslie Bibb) fearing for his life, Leon’s relentless fascination with Mahogany lures him further and further into the bowels of the subways and ultimately into an abyss of pure evil – inadvertently pulling Maya right along with him.

The horror thriller Midnight Meat Train stars Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers, TV’s Alias), Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand, Snatch), Brooke Shields (Nip/Tuck), and Leslie Bibb (the upcoming Trick ‘r Treat, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby).

Also starring are Roger Bart (Hostel: Part II, TV’sDesperate Housewives), Peter Jacobson (Good Night, and Good Luck), Barbara Eve Harris (TV’s Prison Break), and UFC mixed martial arts fighter Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

Midnight Meat Train is directed by critically acclaimed Japanese director Ryûhei Kitamura (Versus, Azumi) in his American debut, and based on legendary horror writer Clive Barker’s popular, eponymous short story from his classic Books of Blood collection. The screenplay was adapted by Jeff Buhler. (Trailer Addict)

Review:

Clive Barker is one of the few Horror Genre storytellers that genuinly creeps me out.  As a director he’s responsible for some genuine creep-fests (Hellraiser,Lord of Illusions) that are extremely creepy and visually stunning.  As a writer, I haven’t given Clive Barker a chance.  All I know whenever his work is adapted, it’s been hit or miss (Candyman).

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