TRICK 'R TREAT (2009) (***)

X2 writer Michael Dougherty's anthology horror flick has been sitting on Warner Bros. shelves for years now. Through some midnight screenings, it has gained a bit of cult status. Quality is certainly not the reason why this fright fest has gone direct-to-DVD. While I have my theories on why WB was reluctant to release this chiller, they are only speculation. But keep reading and you might discern some of my thoughts about why the studio might get skittish with this horror flick despite its mild violence quotient compared to other resent gore fests.

The film tells five interlocking stories all set in one town on Halloween. Emma (Leslie Bibb, IRON MAN) is not nearly into Halloween as much as her husband Henry (Tahmoh Penikett, TV's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA). When she blows out the candle on their jack 'o lantern, Henry warns her that there are Halloween rules that need to be followed. Steven Wilkins (Dylan Baker, HAPPINESS) is the town principal with a persistent son named Billy (Connor Christopher Levins, EIGHT BELOW) and a secret in the backyard.

Four teenagers, the snooty Marcy (Britt McKillip, BRATZ: BABYZ THE MOVIE), the nice and handsome Schrader (Jean-Luc Bilodeau, TV's KYLE XY), the nerdy Sara (Isabelle Deluce, STEALING CHRISTMAS) and the chubby Chip (Alberto Ghisi, MARTIAN CHILD) are collecting jack 'o lanterns. They find a jackpot at the house of "idiot savant" Rhonda (Samm Todd). Marcy wants to give the pumpkins as an offering to the ghosts of the infamous school bus massacre.

Laurie (Anna Paquin, TV's TRUE BLOOD) is out on the town with her older sister Danielle (Lauren Lee Smith, THE LAST KISS) and a couple of friends. Each year its tradition to go to a new town and find dates the night of Halloween. This year the girls dress up like fairy tale characters and Laurie is Little Red Riding Hood. But in her search for a date, she doesn't find a wolf, but a vampire.

Mr. Kreeg (Brian Cox, THE 25TH HOUR) is the crabby next-door neighbor of Mr. Wilkins. He's not too fond of trick or treaters, but when the large-headed child with a burlap mask named Peeping Tommy (Quinn Lord, THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE) shows up, he might want to rethink sicking his dog on kids that come to his door. This trickster isn't going to leave empty handed whether he has to kill for his reward or not.

Each of the stories has a CREEPSHOW vibe. They're simple tales of horror with dark ironic twists that are easily foreseen. However, the way Dougherty intertwines the tales makes for a more engaging experience. Additionally, each of the tales is equal to the others, making the switch from one to the other less disruptive to the narrative flow.

Visually, Dougherty creates some arresting imagery. Peeping Tommy is quite creepy looking and an ominous figure that lurks in the shadows of all the stories. With THE ORPHANAGE, THE STRANGERS and now this film, burlap is getting a bad rap these days. Moreover, I have to say, the jack 'o lantern on fire scene in the film story is another inspired visual.

With the gore levels mild, relying on chills and dark humor instead, TRICK 'R TREAT harkens back to horror flicks of the 1980s. With its use of mental handicapped children as plot points, it also captures the less PC elements of the decade as well. Its supporters taut it as the best horror film in 30 years. I don't agree. But with its vintage plot and creative visuals, this horror flick ends up being an entertaining campfire flick.