Entertainment
The best horror movie you’ve never seen
Scott Malia, College of the Holy Cross
It’s scary movie season, a time when many people watch films about zombies, serial killers, werewolves, magic and mysterious monsters who are impossible to kill.
However, as far as I know, there’s only one film that features all of those elements – and you’ve probably never seen it.
Made in 2007, “Trick ‛r Treat” consists of four interconnected horror stories, each about 15 to 20 minutes long, that all take place on a single Halloween night.
While characters from one story sometimes appear in other segments, the unifying force in the film is Sam, a mysterious creature wearing a burlap mask. He takes umbrage whenever a character disrespects a Halloween tradition, whether it’s by scaring away trick-or-treaters or blowing out a jack-o’-lantern before Halloween is over. Each meets a gruesome end.
Horror buffs eventually discovered the film. Today, it’s hailed as a modern classic. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NJ66Htmmq4M?wmode=transparent&start=0 ‘Trick ‛r Treat’ ended up forgoing a theatrical run.
What went wrong?
“Trick ‛r Treat” was produced by a major studio, Warner Bros. It featured A-list stars, such as Brian Cox and Oscar-winner Anna Paquin. It was produced by Bryan Singer, who was known for churning out hits such as “X-Men” and “The Usual Suspects.” And though its director, Mike Dougherty, was making his directorial debut, he had worked as a screenwriter on films such as “X2: X-Men United” and “Superman Returns.”
Despite all of these credentials, the film’s theatrical release was delayed from fall 2007 to 2008. Then a theater run was canceled altogether, with Warner Bros. finally releasing it on video in 2009.
The studio never gave an official reason for pulling the theatrical release; however, some critics have speculated that the box office success of the “Saw” franchise and Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” remake were factors.
Other reports suggest that the film’s anthology format, its mixture of horror and comedy, and a plot featuring murdered children made it too hard a sell.
Given the cost of marketing and promoting “Trick ‛r Treat” to a nationwide audience, perhaps the risk wasn’t worth it for a film with a relatively small US$5 million budget. Dougherty himself said these hang-ups constituted a “perfect storm,” suggesting that no one development sealed the film’s fate.
Bypassing the box office
As recently as a decade ago, films released directly to DVD were viewed as flops or cash grabs. In fact, there’s an entire subgenre called “mockbusters” – low-budget rip-offs of studio films, such as “Transmorphers,” which tried to piggyback the success of the “Transformers” franchise, and “Atlantic Rim,” which attempted to do the same for the 2013 blockbuster “Pacific Rim.”
Then there are direct-to-video sequels meant to capitalize off hits. Disney made a lot of money in the late 1990s and early 2000s producing widely panned, direct-to-video animated features such as “The Return of Jafar” and “Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World.”
But second lives for films that were initially snubbed or ignored are nothing new.
“The Boondock Saints” was briefly screened in a handful of theaters for a single week in 1999 before being dumped into the video market. Only then did viewers find it, and it became a cult favorite that eventually begat a sequel.
The stigma of direct-to-video release has diminished over the past decade thanks to the rise of streaming, in which content made directly for home viewing can receive critical acclaim and attract subscribers.
Actor Nicolas Cage has made a cottage industry of this format. While some have attributed his massive output in the past decade to his financial difficulties, Cage’s films “Joe” (2013), “Mandy” (2018) and “Pig” (2021) have all received critical acclaim, despite sometimes only running in a handful of theaters for a week before their release into streaming markets and video on demand.
It’s this sort of tradition that led to the rediscovery of “Trick ‛r Treat.”
Hipster horror
The appeal of “Trick ‛r Treat” is rooted in its subversion of horror tropes.
For example, women and children, who’ve historically served as victims in the genre, have a lot more agency in Dougherty’s Halloween tale. In fact, the mysterious Sam was played by Quinn Lord, who was only 8 years old when the film was shot. In the film, the character’s origin, age and gender remain undefined since Sam is masked or covered in prosthetics for the entire film, blurring the line between human and monster.
In addition, the film’s complex structure, which some speculated might have hurt its chances for commercial success, helped fuel the film’s critical praise. Dougherty called it “‘Pulp Fiction’ meets ‘Halloween,’” a nod to the interlocking structure of Quentin Tarantino’s breakout film and the setting of John Carpenter’s horror staple, which also unfolds over one Halloween night.
It has become somewhat of a cliché to say that esteemed art, initially overlooked, was “ahead of its time.”
Still, it would be fair to say that “Trick ‘r Treat” arrived on the cusp of what has been called a “horror renaissance” in the past 15 years. Directors like Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers and Mike Flanagan have found critical and commercial success by branding themselves as horror auteurs.
In addition, Peele and directors like Nia Dacosta, who helmed 2021’s “Candyman,” have opened up a brand of horror that deals with social issues and identity. Dougherty’s film also anticipated a trend of horror films with a darkly humorous streak, including Peele’s “Get Out” and David Gordon Green’s reimagined “Halloween” sequels.
Despite the film’s rocky beginnings, “Trick ‛r Treat” received a belated theatrical release in 2022, which has spurred talk of a potential sequel.
Dougherty even acknowledges that the film may owe its current popularity to its botched release. While some mainstream films disappear quickly, “Trick ‛r Treat” – currently streaming on Max – reappears every Halloween. Just like Sam.
Scott Malia, Associate Professor of Theatre, College of the Holy Cross
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Movies
Horror movies are as much a mainstay of Halloween as trick or treat − but why are they so bloody?
James Francis, Jr., Texas A&M University
Horror Movies on Halloween
Horror movies are plentiful in 2024, and plenty bloody. The year has seen the release of films awash in blood, such as “Immaculate,” “The First Omen” and “The Strangers.” With Halloween on the way, bloody offerings are streaming, in theaters and running in marathons on cable.
Watch them, and you’ll likely notice that as the decades pass, the directors, writers and studio executives of these films seem to produce more and more on-screen blood, violence and gore. But why?
As a professor of horror studies, I explore the depths of the genre with my students – and for us to understand the evolution of blood in horror cinema, we first consider how films reflect their times.
Alfred Hitchcock and Michael Powell created proto-slashers with “Psycho” and “Peeping Tom,” respectively. Both films were released in 1960 about four months apart, both feature serial killers, and both operate on a “tell, don’t show” visual aesthetic. Rather than show the blood to the audience, the films provide narrative cues to only suggest the blood.
Guts, gore and so much more
In “Psycho,” Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, is stabbed to death in the famous shower scene. But the quick-cut editing gives only the illusion of her nude body being slashed as a small amount of blood washes down the drain in black-and-white tones. By not shooting “Psycho” in color, and avoiding the image of bright red blood in the bathtub – Hitchcock’s choice – the film doesn’t seem as violent.
By the late 1960s, the restrictive Hays Code, which prohibited overt on-screen violence and the use of fake blood, was replaced by the less stringent Motion Picture Association of America film ratings system. Filmmakers could latch onto new freedoms to express fear, anxiety and dread in more visceral depictions. One way to do that – more blood.
In “Night of the Living Dead,” George A. Romero’s 1968 seminal zombie flick, the walking dead consume the flesh of the living. Even though the movie is in black and white, the monochromatic presentation does not dull the display of the undead gobbling guts and licking up blood.
The film’s release came six months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and a clear connection between Romero’s film and the Civil Rights Movement then taking place is apparent. The movie’s heightened gore correlates to the movement’s all-too-bloody violent struggle, as Ben, played by Duane Jones, the sole person of color among the living, hides from the ghouls in an abandoned farmhouse with a group of six white people.
Ben works to keep the group safe but faces ongoing pushback from the white male characters. At the end of the film, a group of vigilantes, believing Ben is a zombie, guns him down before tossing his body into a fire.
The symbolism as a reflection of the times is hard to miss. Romero and John Russo, who co-wrote the screenplay, didn’t initially intend to make a statement on civil rights; but later, during postproduction, Romero realized the assassination of King turned his movie into a “Black film.”
Bloody metaphors
Then came the 1970s, when blood was sprayed all over the screen. But Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974), William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” (1974) and Ridley Scott’s “Alien” (1979) have something else in common: They feature women protagonists who survive the unthinkable.
Once again, blood is a common denominator. Sally’s body is covered in it after escaping Leatherface; Regan’s body, along with the blood, spews green vomit; and Ripley sees an alien burst out of a crew member’s chest. But the films weren’t just gory – they were metaphors for the uphill battle for women’s rights in the 1970s.
The original “Halloween” (1978) also fits here, but with a twist. The character of Laurie Strode, perhaps an early prototype of women protagonists in horror films, connects back to a “tell, don’t show” sensibility while simultaneously embracing changing times. While the first kill shows Michael Myers stabbing his older sister, the audience views the death from the partially veiled perspective of Myers behind his Halloween mask. You see little until her body hits the floor to reveal the blood.
Nightmares and reality
In the 1980s, the slasher subgenre dominated horror – and the bloodier, the better: These movies focus on the number of kills and the creative ways the victims are dispatched.
Each sequel in these horror franchises needed to up the kills, if for no other reason than to outdo its predecessors and competitors. Audiences began rooting for villains like Myers, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger, all of whom had their own theme music, and in Freddy’s case, trademark one-liners. Many of the villains had more character development than their victims, who seemed interchangeable and little more than fodder for the slasher machine.
The 1990s had bigger-budgeted, more innovative films, such as Wes Craven’s “New Nightmare” (1994) and “Scream” (1996). Here the attacks are more personal; the stabbings are close-up. CGI, or computer-generated imagery, used in abundance in the “Nightmare” series, allowed for more creative and bloody kills.
Scarier times mean bloodier movies
Since 9/11, horror films have existed in a place where there’s no apparent motive other than violence and bloodshed. In “The Strangers” (2008), the villains tie up, torment and savagely maim their victims. In the 2009 remake of “The Last House on the Left,” it’s the villains who meet a bloody end. Contemporary horror understands how senseless killings on screen are effective, because the removal of emotion from the violence parallels real-world incidents.
By the late 2010s, horror films link to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, most notably in the “Halloween” reboot trilogy, as Laurie Strode once again confronts Michael Myers and the trauma he inflicted 40 years prior.
The kills in the new “Halloween” trilogy are extremely bloody and violent. They also mirror the sexual and societal exploitation of women and their bodies. Ultimately, the series allows the protagonist, and the traumatized town of Haddonfield, to acknowledge the evil, confront it and try to finally put an end to it, once and for all.
The evolution in the horror genre’s presentation of blood and gore doesn’t necessarily make for scarier movies, but they often point to the scarier times in which we live. Earlier horror films, comparatively tamer and with less blood, were often box-office successes. But today’s audiences probably appreciate them more for their artistic merits than the fear they induce.
The preferences of horror audiences change over time, much like the ebb and flow of the blood depicted in these movies. The original “Halloween” has hardly a drop; the recent reboots are over the top – but still nowhere close to the mayhem depicted in the just-released “Terrifier 3.”
What the future holds is anyone’s guess. But check out the world around you, and you’ll certainly get a bloody good hint of what’s to come.
James Francis, Jr., Instructional Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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If you’ve ever been curious about what happens when teenage angst meets architectural ingenuity, look no further than the 1974 made-for-TV gem, Bad Ronald. Or as I like to call it, Weirdo in the Wall. This film is a delightful concoction of horror, comedy, and a generous sprinkle of nostalgia that will leave you wondering how we survived the ’70s without a full-time psychologist on speed dial.
Plot Summary: The Rise and Fall of Ronald Willoughby
Meet Ronald Willoughby (Scott Jacoby), your average socially awkward teen who just wants to fit in. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t. After a disastrous attempt to woo the girl next door (who, let’s be honest, could have used a lesson in kindness), Ronald accidentally becomes a headline in a tragic newspaper article when he gets into a scuffle with a pint-sized brat on a bicycle. In a moment of Hulk-like rage, he inadvertently causes the child’s untimely demise. Oops.
Now, instead of grounding him for life, his doting mother (Kim Hunter ) decides to take drastic measures. She removes the door to their second bathroom (because who needs two bathrooms, right?) and seals it up behind wallpaper, turning it into Ronald’s very own secret lair. The kid’s got a toolkit and a flair for construction, so he transforms this “bathroom” into a full-fledged hideout. Who knew the walls of suburban homes could house such dark creativity?
Location, Location, Location!
Shot in a charming Victorian house that screams “I have secrets,” Bad Ronald takes full advantage of its single-location setup. You’ve got your classic early 1900’s architecture, a basement that’s straight out of a horror flick, and a backyard pool party scene that serves as a stark contrast to the psychological turmoil bubbling beneath the surface. The film’s backdrop is almost a character in itself, and you can’t help but wonder if they filmed this in a neighbor’s yard. (Hey, if you’re going to terrorize kids, at least do it with style!)
A Time Capsule of 1974
This film is a delightful snapshot of the early ’70s, a time when Ronald Reagan was running the show in California (yes, I’m pretty sure he was the governor back then) and the world was still reeling from the shenanigans of Richard Nixon. It’s fascinating to see how societal norms and family dynamics from that era play out in this bizarre narrative. You can almost hear the distant echoes of bell-bottoms and disco balls as Ronald navigates his tragic teenage years.
Creepy Comedy Gold
Let’s not forget the humor! The film manages to blend horror and unintentional comedy in a way that makes you chuckle even while you cringe. The awkwardness of Ronald’s interactions, the cluelessness of adults around him, and the sheer absurdity of his situation lend a comedic touch that keeps you entertained. It’s like a tragic comedy where the punchline is hidden behind layers of wallpaper and misplaced parental guidance.
Final Thoughts
Bad Ronald may not have won any Oscars, but it certainly holds a special place in the hearts of those who appreciate a good dose of vintage horror with a side of unintentional comedy. It’s a film that reminds us of the weirdness of adolescence and the lengths we go to escape our problems—like hiding in the walls of your house. So, the next time you’re feeling nostalgic for the days of yore, give this little gem a watch. Just remember, if you hear noises coming from the walls, it might be time to call a contractor… or a therapist.
In the end, Bad Ronald serves as a quirky reminder that sometimes, the most bizarre tales come from the most ordinary of places. And who knows? You might just find yourself rooting for the “bad” kid who’s really just misunderstood. 50 years later, this film still knows how to leave you both amused and slightly horrified—just like any good horror story should!
Check out the movie details on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071186/
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Four-day festival featuring renowned chefs Geoffrey Zacharian, Antonia Lofaso, Maneet Chauhan, Marc Murphy and more is set to kick off on Thursday, January 23rd
Sun Wine & Food Fest
UNCASVILLE, Conn. /PRNewswire/ — Mohegan Sun’s largest annual festival, Sun Wine & Food Fest, which runs from Thursday, January 23, 2025 through Sunday, January 26, 2025, returns with stars, sips and savory eats. Guests will be able to enjoy and experience award-winning wine and spirits, top chefs, and other food enthusiasts for an unforgettable weekend. The action-packed weekend features the return of Sun Patio Ice Bar Experience, Grand Tasting, Vintage Cru, and Celebrity Chef After Party along with new and exciting experiences such as CT Spotlight Series, Beam Suntory Presents: Asian Market, and a Sun Wine & Food Fest Special Edition of Shuffle to Showdown.
Tickets to the 21st Annual Sun Wine & Food Fest are on sale now via ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability.
Thursday, January 23rd
Sun Wine & Food Fest kicks off on Thursday, January 23rd with the CT Spotlight Series Featuring Two Roads from 8:00pm – 9:30pm in an intimate setting. At this event, attendees will discover Two Roads Brewing Company’s unique selection of brews and sample their classics and special projects. Also, hear more about their process of creating incredible brews, and taste delicious food expertly paired and prepared by a local chef.
Friday, January 24th
The day two action of Sun Wine & Food Fest 2025 gets started in the Earth Ballroom with Beam Suntory Presents: Asian Market from 6:00pm – 9:00pm where guests can immerse themselves in a true culinary adventure. Fans of Asian cuisine will watch as renowned celebrity chef and Food Network star, Esther Choi, teams up with fellow chefs to cook up incredible “Street Food” style fare made with masterful techniques and bold flavors. Guests looking to secure a sneak peek into all the extraordinary wines and culinary excellence that the Grand Tasting has to offer can make their way to the Earth Expo & Convention Center from 7:00pm – 10:00pm for the Grand Tasting Preview. From 8:00pm – 10:00pm, guests can bundle up and sip on premium, frosty, expertly crafted cocktails featuring Mohegan Sun’s Frosty Fusions and more at the Sun Patio Ice Bar Experience. For those who are Blackjack novices or those who are just looking to refine their skills, the Shuffle to Showdown event at novelle from 8:00pm – 10:00pm will feature expert instructors guiding guests through the ins and outs of the classic casino game using “fun money” with a chance to win real prizes! Over at the Clay Pipe Cigar Bar from 9:00pm – 11:00pm, guests can experience Spirits & Cigars Presented by Mohegan Sun’s Barrel Select Program where those in attendance will discover the subtle notes, aromas, and complexities of both the spirits and cigars, designed to complement one another perfectly. To finish the night, those who love local wineries can enjoy the CT Spotlight Featuring Preston Ridge Vineyard from 9:00pm – 10:30pm where guests can explore a range of hand-selected options paired with bites from a local chef.
Saturday, January 25th
Day three of the 21st Annual Sun Wine & Food Fest will bring experiences that guests will cherish for years to come. To kick the day off, fine food and vino enthusiasts can attend a celebration of wine and culinary mastery at Sun Wine & Food Fest’s signature event, the exquisite Grand Tasting, from Noon – 5:00pm in the Earth Expo & Convention Center. Attendees can taste from more than 1,000 varieties of wine, beer, and spirits, sample exquisite dishes, and watch renowned chefs present live culinary demonstrations as they showcase their skills and share the tricks of the trade. From 4:00pm – 6:00pm in the Earth Ballroom, Vintage Cru will give guests an unparalleled opportunity to experience some of the world’s most revered and rare wines. Those in attendance will taste an exclusive lineup of exceptional selections, featuring aged bottles from renowned vineyards and highly sought-after vintages. Over at the Clay Pipe Cigar Bar from 6:00pm – 8:00pm, The Macallan Tasting will allow attendees to savor and learn firsthand with the Macallan brand specialist about how the Macallan’s mastery of wood makes it the world’s most luxurious spirit. The popular Celebrity Chef Dine Around returns to the Uncas Ballroom from 8:00pm – 10:30pm featuring an extraordinary array of curated food, presented by more than 20 chefs who are known for pushing the boundaries of flavor and creativity. The celebrity chefs will showcase their signature dishes that will be expertly paired with a wine, beer, or spirit. After a day of culinary delights, the festivities continue in Avalon Nightclub from 10:30pm – 2:00am, where guests can celebrate Sun Wine & Food Fest at the Celebrity Chef After Party, the most exclusive after party in town, sponsored by J Vineyards.
Sunday, January 26th
To cap off the 21st Annual Sun Wine & Food Fest, guests can experience a delicious culinary experience with a specially curated menu and signature cocktails at three different locations across property. Reservations are available online for Michael Jordan’s Steak House Brunch as well as Tuscany’s Brunch Buffet, or head over to Mohegan Sun’s newly opened restaurant, The Shed, where a delightful morning of delicious brunch food, good company and endless fun will take place.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates! For the full list of Sun Wine & Food Fest events, visit the Mohegan Sun website.
Media coverage opportunities at Sun Wine & Food Fest are available. For more information, please contact PR Specialist Jack Graham at JGraham@mohegangaming.com.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, two distinct convention centers, an expo center, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
SOURCE Mohegan
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