After years of previews, delays, hype, and anticipation, Michael Dougherty's ode to Halloween, Trick ‘r Treat, is finally here. Normally, I'd draw out the suspense on whether or not the film lived up to the lofty expectations set by fanboys on the internet, but sometimes you've just got to cut to the chase. This is one of those times. Trick ‘r Treat is every bit as good as you've been led to believe it is. It so perfectly encapsulates the feeling of Halloween as both a time of year and a holiday that it will now be taking its rightful place of honor alongside John Carpenter's Halloween as the main event at Casa de Bracken on every October 31st from this one forward.

Assuming you're not a horror geek of the highest magnitude (and it's okay if you're not-that's why I'm here), here's a brief breakdown on Trick ‘r Treat's struggle to get released and a bit of a plot synopsis so you know what the film's about.

I first stumbled on the film the same way most people did-the trailer was attached to the DVD release of Zack Snyder's 300. I caught it then and the movie instantly went on my "must see" list. I'm a sucker for Halloween and any movie that has as much love for the holiday as I do is something I need to check out. Unfortunately, the "coming soon" at the end of the clip almost turned out to be "coming never" as Warner Bros. shelved the project for reasons still undetermined (I've heard various rumors, as you probably have, but still no concrete reason) and then teased us all repeatedly with rumored release dates that never came to pass. Then, earlier this year, they finally relented and the film should be available at your local DVD retailer now. It's not the full-fledged theatrical release this film deserved (Trick ‘r Treat is the horror film that could have finally ended Saw's stranglehold on the Halloween release window), but at this point I'm just thrilled it's available at all.

As far as the film itself goes, many have called it an anthology film (sort of like Romero and King's collaborations on Creepshow), but I don't think that term really applies. It's more like Pulp Fiction or Go-a film with a cast of characters all interacting and overlapping over a specific timeframe. In this case, that's Halloween night in a small town. Dougherty (who's perhaps best known for his screenwriting work on X-Men 2 and Superman Returns) weaves together four tales that aren't particularly scary, but are unforgettable for the sense of nostalgia they'll inspire in those of us old enough to remember when Halloween was a less commercialized holiday that most people embraced as opposed to the soulless endeavor it's turned into now. There's a part of me that loves Trick ‘r Treat solely because it reminds me of one of the things I miss most from being a kid-Halloween night. It's not all nostalgia, though-the film is genuinely well-made.

The four stories are classic campfire fare that revolve around the holiday and respecting the ancient "rules" of Halloween. There's a principal who certainly isn't the kind of guy you'd want around your children, some sexy young women (including True Blood's Anna Paquin) on the prowl for single men, a group of tweens setting out to honor the victims of a tragic school bus accident, and an angry old man (the inimitable Brian Cox) who has an almost Scrooge-esque encounter with the film's main villain, a masked kid named Sam.

Each tale has a very EC Comics Tales from the Crypt sort of vibe to them. They're not as cheesy in terms of humor, but each story is traditional and will be at least somewhat familiar to genre fans. Dougherty's script isn't interested in breaking new narrative ground-it simply wants to celebrate the things that made Halloween so great in the first place...a few scares, a few laughs, and really good times. It captures the holiday in all its various permutations-from kids out egging houses and getting into trouble (some worse than others...) to young adults partying, to the cranky old man who refused to give out candy that exists in every neighborhood. It is, simply put, a love letter to holiday.

It's also quite impressive from a technical standpoint. Dougherty's direction is every bit the equal of the writing. The film presents an amazing amount of atmosphere through the use of color (orange is dominant throughout). The set design and costumes are no less impressive, capturing the ambience of the holiday perfectly. Sam may look a bit like the Sackboy from Sony's Little Big Planet, but I still think he's one of the more intriguing horror characters (I hesitate to call him a villain...he does kill people, but it seems like there's something more to him) to appear in the past decade. He doesn't have a backstory that explains everything (and removes the mystery that makes him cool in the first place) and his costume and choice in weaponry is top notch.

I'd love to talk about the specifics of Trick ‘r Treat, but spoiling the film would be doing you a disservice. This is a film that should be experienced, preferably on a dark October evening, with the lights off, the sound turned up, and a bag of candy in your lap. It's destined to become a cult classic horror film and will almost assuredly become a holiday staple-right there with Charlie Brown and his Great Pumpkin and Michael Myers. We all should thank Dougherty for this film-those of us old enough to remember how things used to be for giving us a bittersweet trip down memory lane, and the younger generation for allowing them to see what they missed out on.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older