It’s probably the wrong season to be reviewing horror flicks, but if you just need a change of pace from the ordinary and are into the genre check out Trick. It’s a nicely written mystery gore fest that gets right into the story then keeps the blood flowing throughout. I’m not a huge fan of a lot of slash and stab films as this one piles on the killing while you have to figure out why, who’s next and where does it stop. It’s a lot like Scream without the comedy, but still has all the mystery involving late teens to twenties who are waiting for the next knife to drop. It also makes you want to give up Halloween if masked killer themes are not your bag.
It’s Halloween 2015 in Benton with a population of 4499. The small town has every kid out trick or treating and everyone is having a great time. Even at a local upper-class home where teens are having a party with a spin the knife game in full swing. All of a sudden chaos begins and a knife gets wheeled by someone wearing a pumpkin head mask. The blood is gushing and high schoolers are screaming while trying to take down the out of control party guest.
Cut to the local police who are at the hospital trying to get information on the massacre when Det. Mike Denver (Omar Epps) arrives and checks in with Sheriff Lisa Jayne (Ellen Adair). The killer, 18 year old Patrick “Trick” Weaver (Thom Niemann) lies in a bed conscious, but weak after being stabbed with a fireplace poker. One of the partygoers Troy Meeks (Max Miller) has taken credit for it and whose quick thinking saved many at the bash. Several of the stab victims survive, but five died in the attack. Cheryl Winston (Kristina Reyes) one of the teens at the party states to Det. Denver that she saw Trick kill Evan, Dan, Tammy and Parker.
As Patrick gets questioned in his bed, things go out of control and the killer flees the police. It’s the beginning of a massacre that happens again at Halloween of the next year. Director and writer Patrick Lussier whose projects have included several horror movies, uses his writing talents to indulge in a lot of stabbing and slashing with Trick. He doesn’t waste any of the hour and forty minutes with a dull script of boring dialogue, but jumps to the point that we have a crazy killer on the loose with no end in sight. He uses his keen sense of deceptiveness to keep the viewer guessing, yet has all the parties involved shown during the time that leads up to the big reveal. His bill for fake blood must have been enormous and the editing mindless as it all looks real.
While most of the acting on board is good, there are a couple of standouts that are mentionable. Seeing Omar Epps back on the big screen (now home video) from his stint as Isaac Johnson in USA TV network’s “Shooter” since 2016 is a plus. Here he’s the relentless Det. Denver who comes back each time from being shot, stabbed and beaten while Trick keeps getting out of his grasp year after year. Not the younger guy who is now in his mid to late 40’s, here’s hopes that he had a lot of stunt doubles. Fearless and determined Denver has to use some nicely choreographed close grappling, punch his way out of a scene or two and recover from a lot of falls from avoiding being shot and stabbed.
Also giving a nice performance is Ellen Adair as Sheriff Lisa Jayne who shares all the attacks, shootings and fighting. Being in nearly every scene, she puts her best effort into making each one of them work. Getting stabbed and shot, taking punishment from adversaries and having to use a lot of energy to take down Trick, she nails the role.
But, the stars here are the people that work the props, make-up, prosthesis, camera guy, blood mixer, and other creative people of the crew that make the film look real. A tip of the hat to all of you as you had me glued to my big screen TV as it was all coming down on DVD.
BONUS FEATURE on both DVD and Blu-ray
“The Making of Trick” Features Interviews with the Cast and Crew
Trick has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains extreme violence, a lot of gore, offensive language and disturbing images. Check your local stores for the DVD or Blu-ray.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Smart misdirection makes this horror film work. (3 out of 5 Stars)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Omar Epps, Ellen Adair, Kristina Reyes, Jamie Kennedy, Tom Atkins
Directed by: Patrick Lussier
Written by: Patrick Lussier, Todd Farmer
Genre: Horror
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, bloody violence, language
Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.
Video Release Date: December 17, 2019
Original Theatrical Release Date: October 18, 2019
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Aspect Ratio 2:35.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: RJLE Films
Released on: Blu-ray, DVD, VOD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
