Review: TALES OF HALLOWEEN, Sure To Become A Classic

Overall, the segments aim for bloody good, mostly laugh-out-loud fun, with the exceptions of Gierasch's well-made "Tricks," a grim child revenge tale, and the absurd "Ding Dong" McKee segment, featuring an abusive, bi-polar-ish witch who desperately wants a child, featuring Pollyanna Mcintosh and Marc Senter. Mendez had audiences howling as a Friday The 13th-like killer battled his victim, who becomes possessed by a cute but tough trick-or-treating alien in "Friday The 31st." In "Sweet Tooth," Parker invents a brand-new urban legend who gets hangry-murderous if you don't sacrifice at least one candy bar every Halloween, and Solet's "The Weak And The Wicked," with Noah Segan, Grace Phipps, and Booboo Stewart, explores severe inner-city bullying and an eventual supernatural comeuppance. 

Schifrin explores the ensuing terror and hilarity of kidnapping John Landis' son (the late, terrific Ben Woolf) in "The Ransom of Rusty Rex" while Bousman shows the disastrous effects of crossing Barry Bostwick in the hilarious Samhain pranker "The Night Billy Raised Hell." Carolyn's atmospheric, suburban campfire story "Grim Grinning Ghost" features an especially well-executed jump scare, as well as horror titans Stuart Gordon, Mick Garris, Alex Essoe, Lisa Marie, Lin Shaye, and Barbara Crampton. 

Marshall's "Bad Seed" is a kitschy story not often (or never?) told by the virtuoso horror director, featuring Kristina Klebe facing down a killer pumpkin, with lots of cameos sprinkled in, with Joe Dante the most notable of all as an almost-mad scientist. Skipp and Kasch pit Halloween-decorating neighbors of different generations against each other in The 'Burbs-like "This Means War," starring James Duval and Elissa Dowling.

Tales is a hellmouth full of talent sure to become a classic played each Halloween by the horror faithful, paired with a gratuitous amount of candy corn and chocolate. I haven't seen a film this devoted to the annual October holiday since Trick R' Treat, and the spooky, sticky sweet candy nostalgia is quite welcome. Here's hoping that we'll be treated to a sequel or three.