"Trick or Treat" (1986) is a well-executed teen horror movie that draws comparisons to films like "Christine," "Carrie," and the initial Freddy Krueger installments. It’s surprising that it didn't gain similar recognition, which explains why there wasn’t a follow-up. The storyline shares similarities with "Christine" and "Carrie"—a high school outsider faces bullying from popular students and feels driven to seek retribution. In this case, metalhead Eddie Weinbauer (Marc Price) gets help from the ghost of satanic rock star Sammi Curr by using backmasking on a special edition record. Gene Simmons from KISS makes an appearance as a DJ for a short time, while Ozzy Osbourne has two brief scenes playing a conservative preacher criticizing rock and metal—totaling about one minute of screen time. Lisa Orgolini (as Leslie) and Elise Richards (as Genie) are attractive and memorable as the main female characters, though their roles could have been more substantial. The soundtrack features songs by Fastway, reminiscent of bands like Motley Crue, AC/DC, KISS, and the more accessible side of Priest. These are straightforward and catchy hair metal tracks with typical chord progressions and anthemic choruses. The "Trick or Treat" soundtrack was Fastway’s fourth album, released shortly after the film's production. There’s an interesting story behind it: vocalist David King had decided to leave the band after their third album—a departure from their earlier sound that incorporated keyboards and AOR elements—failed to resonate. Then guitarist/leader Fast Eddie Clarke was offered the chance to do the soundtrack in 1985 (he was originally Motorhead’s guitarist). He contacted David King, asked him to participate in this project before leaving, and he agreed. Surprisingly, the album's simple style proved successful and became Fastway’s best-selling release. Unfortunately, the band didn't benefit financially, which solidified King’s decision to pursue other musical endeavors. Eddie Clarke’s subsequent versions of Fastway never regained their initial momentum; it was a real shame—they had potential. Ultimately, while "Trick or Treat" might not be as technically polished as "Christine" or "Carrie," it surpasses them in certain aspects and is more enjoyable to watch again. The antagonist, the resurrected Sammi Curr, is excellent; his appearance and demeanor combine elements of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Blackie Lawless, Nikki Sixx, and Dee Snyder (though I'd include KD too, as he largely copied Gene). It’s disappointing that the movie didn't become a series because Sammi Curr possesses an evil charisma that could have challenged Freddy Krueger. The initial plot is engaging, but the second half loses focus and wanders somewhat; however, this is offset by the energetic soundtrack, the likeable protagonist, the compelling villain, the two female leads, and the cameos from Gene and Ozzy. The movie has a runtime of 1 hour, 38 minutes and was filmed in Wilmington, NC. GRADE: B+/A-

Source on TMDB