5 anthology horror films you should seek out this Halloween

Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

The most contemporary of the anthology films, Trick ‘r Treat has become a cult classic since its debut in 2007. The film had a fraught production history, originally slated for a release in October of 2007. Warner Bros. decided to shelve the production for reasons unknown right before release. Rumors abound that they didn’t want the film competing with the latest entry in the Saw franchise that year, while another theory is that the disappointment of Superman Returns in 2006 (which Trick ‘r Treat’s director Michael Dougherty had written) caused the studio to lose faith in it. Either way it would be two years before the film finally saw the light of day, being dumped straight-to-DVD in 2009.

It’s a shame this missed out on the big screen treatment because it’s a ton of fun. Following five interwoven stories about a small town’s Halloween festivities, the film employs all sorts of old-school horror techniques from werewolves to creepy local legends. The cast assembled here is superlative, with Dylan Baker stealing everything as a demented school principle who just wants to carve a jack-o-lantern with his young son. Another prime story involves a group of kids trying to scare the town outcast with a story about a crashed bus in a rock quarry. Suffice it to say, it’ll make you think twice about blowing the light out of your pumpkin. Universal Studios in Hollywood did a fantastic maze devoted to this movie, so if you’re fortunate to be in the area this October, watch the movie to give yourself an added dose of terror.

Rent on Amazon, YouTube, or Google Play.