What about The Midnight Hour? When is the last time you watched Night of the Demons 2? The one film that has been heavily on my mind this year is Charles Martin Smith’s classic Trick or Treat. It made me think about the friends who I did not keep in contact from school, and the new ones that I have made at Killer Film. Donny Broussard, Alex Scott-Webster, and myself are three of the biggest rock and roll horror fans that you will ever come by. Grab a cold one and crank up some AC/DC as we travel back to 1986 when all was right with the world of horror.

Jason Bene: The 80′s sure would have been less fun if it were not for producer extraordinaire Dino De Laurentiis. In the same year he gave us two killer horror films with thrashin’ soundtracks. There was Stephen King’s directorial debut, Maximum Overdrive, and the movie of the hour, Trick or Treat. The first time I saw Sammi Curr in all his hair band glory was on cable a few years after its theatrical release.

Alex Scott-Webster: When Trick or Treat came out I was less than two months old. Obviously, I was pretty late to the party and didn’t get around to seeing it until a little over a year ago. Still, even though I missed its original release it holds a special place in my heart as it was the first of the heavy metal horror genre that I saw. As a life long fan of both heavy metal and horror flicks, finally seeing the two come together was pure bliss.

Donny Broussard: I remember reading about Trick or Treat in either Metal Edge or Hit Parader magazine. The article basically said that Geme Simmons and Ozzy were going to be in the flick and has some killer pics of Sammi Curr. After that I was totally stoked for the flick. When I finally did see the flick it became like the holy grail for me. Because at that time I had never seen heavy metal so well represented in a movie before.

Jason Bene: The casting of rock legends Gene Simmons [Nuke] and Ozzy Osbourne [Reverend Aaron Gilstrom] was pure genius. Although their performances come off as mere cameos, they capture the Heavy Metal zeitgeist of the time. I enjoyed Heavy Metal music in my teens, but I never wore Iron Maiden shirts or had posters on my walls. Some of my buddies looked and acted just like Eddie Weinbauer, played by Mark Price [Skippy from Family Ties]. I had abully dilemma in middle school and I would have sold my soul to have some bad-ass rock star kick some ass and smash a guitar over this guy’s skull. I do not miss the cliques of school one bit.

Donny Broussard: Like I said, Gene and Ozzy were why I wanted to see the flick so bad. It was funny seeing Ozzy play the part he did in the movie. At that time in his career, with all the crap the PMRC was throwing at metal bands, it was refreshing to see him inject humor into it. Gene on the other hand played it straight, and I think his character stood the test of time more than Ozzy’s did. His relationship with Eddie was the flick’s catalyst. I spent a lot of my teens dressed in a very similar fashion to the Eddie character, my room looked exactly like his, and my music collection was pretty similar as well. So it goes without saying that even though the flick doesn’t take itself that seriously, it’s a benchmark film for me, because of its nostalgic value. That and because Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne are in it.

Alex Scott-Webster: The Gene and Ozzy cameos were what drew me to this film in the first place. The DVD misleadingly puts them on the front cover and only lists them at the top even though their total screen time is about three minutes. Their inclusion, while brief, definitely lends this film some authenticity that other heavy metal horror flicks lack. I also got into heavy metal in my teens though I was born far too late to enjoy its glory days. As a result I never quite got into the heavy metal culture as much as the music itself. How much of a metal nerd am I? I’m listening to Judas Priest’s Unleashed In the East as I’m writing this. Trick or Treat is therefore extremely significant as it’s the only thing I can think of that perfectly captures the glory days of horror and heavy metal, two things I missed out on in my 90′s childhood.

Jason Bene: Parents and religious groups were in an uproar when news came out that you could play a song backwards and hear some covert or subliminal message that was going to bring forth the devil. Although I knew it was hogwash, I never tried playing it myself. It was a great vehicle to bring Sammi back by having his last album be the device of evil.

Alex Scott-Webster: It was Judas Priest that they tried to convict with that right? I can’t remember what song it was but if you played it backwards you could apparently make out the words “Do it.” Using that device to bring back Sammi Curr is interesting. It definitely works as a spoof on our parents’ nightmares about heavy music but it also sort of reinforces that, which worried me when I first watched it. I didn’t want this to turn into some commentary on the risks of listening to heavy metal. The fact that it doesn’t is what cemented this for me. Being a fan of a lot of more “evil” metal from Scandinavia and elsewhere, I’ve had to deal with my heroes doing some heinous things. The fact that Trick or Treat deals with a kid having to overcome his idol becoming a satanic murderer is something that hits close to home for me and seeing him overcome it and continue his love for music at the end is awesome.

Donny Broussard: I think the whole backwards masking thing was pure bullshit. Leave it to religious zealots to come up with something so preposterous. I’m a firm believer that religion doesn’t belong anywhere but in the home or the church, and the last place it belongs in in a court room. With that said, it was the perfect plot devise for Trick or Treat.

Jason Bene: I am not sure why I do not own the soundtrack. Not only does the the music fit perfectly, it gives an emotional wallop to what is happening on screen.

Donny Broussard: This is my all time favorite movie soundtrack. I’ve had it spinning since tit was released and will continue to rock it until I’m dead and gone. Some records get better with time, and this is one of them. Fastway are a phenomenal band that never quite got the credit they deserved and this soundtrack is their best material. If your a horror or metal fan, or both and you don’t own this soundtrack, then you should be ashamed of yourself. I’m just saying.

Alex Scott-Webster: The soundtrack is awesome! It’s interesting because it’s the only soundtrack I can think of that is not only done by one band, but is comprised of so much original material that it’s actually considered to be an official part of their full length discography. The band in question is Fastway, a super group originally formed by Motorhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke, UFO bassist Pete Way (Get it? Fast..Way?). The band also featured Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley and an unknown vocalist named Dave King. Yes THAT Dave King. The singing voice of Sammi Curr is also the lead singer/songwriter for Warped Tour darlings Flogging Molly. Anyway, the music does really work for the movie and there seems to be a song for every situation in the film. My favorite however, has to be the title track, which Sammi sings at the Halloween dance. I’ve noticed that ever since seeing this film I’ve started to beat my fist against my leg to the rhythm whenever I’m at a concert, just like Sammi does in the trailer.

Jason Bene: Make-up artist Kevin Yagher appears as the lead guitarist of the band, The Kickers, and meets an untimely demise by way of electric current coming from Sammi Curr’s hand as it comes through a speaker. Beautiful!

Alex Scott-Webster: The Kickers are an awesome addition to this flick. They’re exactly the type of alternative group that parents would try to pass off onto their kids as an alternative to metal. It’s great to see the singer killed by Sammi but even better to see that the rest of the band just happens to know his songs! I didn’t know that Kevin Yagher was the guitarist but that’s an awesome role for him.

Donny Broussard: That is one of my favorite scenes. I love watching Sammi kill the weak-tit singer and then proceed to demand the audience respect he deserves. Such an awesome moment in cinematic history. Yeah, I just said that, and if you don’t agree you know what to do.

Jason Bene: Where do you guys rank Black Roses, Hard Rock Zombies, and Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmarein the patheon of head-banging horror flicks?

Donny Broussard: I’m a huge fan of Black Roses and Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmare. I know Black Roses is cheesy, but I dig the music and sometimes it’s good to get a hefty serving of cheese with your horror. Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmare on the other hand is such an odd flick that I just can’t help but love it. The soundtrack is stellar, and it’s perfect for those nights when you just want to rock and don’t care much about plot. Hard Rock Zombies I don’t enjoy as much as the others, but it is still a fun flick. However, Trick or Treat is better than all of them.

Alex Scott-Webster: I love Hard Rock Zombies. It’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. I’d have to watch the two side by side but I’d put it up against Trick or Treat for my favorite. I still haven’t gotten around to seeing Black Roses so I can’t comment on that. Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmare is one of the strangest things I’ve ever beheld. If I were judging it based on everything before the last five minutes I would give it a huge fail, but the end is SO over the top and amazing that it overshadows all the boredom that comes before it. It’s amazing. My pantheon right now would be Trick or Treat and Hard Rock Zombies in front, followed by Rock ’n’ Roll Nightmare.

Jason Bene: It is truly disturbing that the DVD I own for Trick or Treat has no extras and is doubled up with some piece of shit called Slaughterhouse of the Rising Sun. Give me a full blown special edition with all of the bells and whistles.

Alex Scott-Webster: My DVD is bare bones and is presented in full screen, which is never good. It’s by itself though. I definitely want a full blown special edition but I’d even settle for something released in widescreen with better cover art. The cover of my DVD is a horribly photoshopped picture of Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne in front of a flaming building and a giant skull. Not only is this a horrible cover but those pictures don’t even come from the film, instead looking like they just found some random pictures of the musicians and slapped them on the front. The art from the poster is worlds better and I would be happy to have that adorning my DVD shelf.

Donny Broussard: I totally agree. I’m ready for this disc on Blu-ray, decked out with every tidbit that can be dug up. I watch this flick at least twice a year and I’d drop the coin in a second to own a special edition with all the bells and whistles. Long live Sammi Curr!

Jason Bene: Is Trick or Treat the penultimate heavy metal horror film?

Donny Broussard: It is the holy grail of heavy metal horror flicks.

Alex Scott-Webster: I’d say it is. While I think there is definitely some room for improvement here I can’t think of any heavy metal horror movie I like better. Trick or Treat not only captures the horror aspect we want from a movie like this, but it also captures the idea of being an outcast because of your unique style and music tastes pretty well. As this is something all metal heads have to deal with at some point I think it’s an incredibly important aspect to focus on and the film approaches it pretty realistically. There have been many times when my music has been the only thing pushing me through life and seeing a film capture that feeling so well is really cool.

Fangoria

“For nearly 40 years, almost every stadium stage on the face of the Earth has fallen prey to the toothy stomp of Gene Simmons’ ruby-eyed dragon boots; has been bathed in the warm splat of his fake-blood-tainted saliva; has had its rafters scorched by the belch of his petrol-gargled fire breath. And since the legendary Kiss frontman’s entire identity was forged in horror and dark-fantasy culture, we’re tipping our hats to rock’s original monster, “The Demon” himself, in this special, one-of-a-kind issue of FANGORIA (on sale in October). Buckle in for an exclusive sit-down with Simmons where we talk about monsters, junk culture, comic books, THE TWILIGHT ZONE and, of course…horror. We’ll also chat up his brother in bombast, Paul Stanley, about his own relationship with the genre.”

The film comes out on July 30 from Phase 4 Films, and is Written and Directed by Brigitte Berman.

“Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel takes an intimate look at the outspoken, flamboyant founder of the Playboy empire. When Hugh Hefner launched Playboy magazine in 1953, he became a champion of the sexual revolution and, immediately, the forces of Church and State initiated a war against him that raged over the decades. Hefner is revealed both as a hedonistic playboy, and, more importantly, the man who’s been a groundbreaking advocate and catalyst for civil rights, the First Amendment and human rights. With humor and insight, the film captures Hefner’s fierce battles with the government, the religious right and militant feminists. Compelling interviews with a remarkable Who’s Who of 20th Century American pop culture, along with rare footage, present a brilliant and entertaining snapshot of the life of an extraordinary man and the controversies that surrounded him. Directed by Brigitte Berman, Academy Award winner for the documentary feature Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got.”

Trick ‘R Treat: skyrocketing to the #1 spot is Michael Dougherty’s directorial debut, a film that might not ever be knocked off its perch at the top. Never has a movie captured the unholy spirit of All Hallow’s Eve so brilliantly. This anthology has its vignettes weaved together in Pulp Fiction fashion. Werewolves, zombies, a badass imp, and a gothic atmosphere that adds up to an enchanting experience.

Halloween: John Carpenter’s seminal slasher still feels fresh after all these years. The Gone With The Wind of the genre still packs a wallop with an incredible score, beautiful cinematography, and a boogeyman who scares just as well in the day as the night.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch: Hated by critics and fans upon its release in 1982. I never understood this – it’s hands down the best sequel of the series, dropping Myers completely, and adding Silver Shamrocks, bugs, snakes, killer robots, and pimp daddy Tom Atkins!

Night of the Demons: man, Kevin S. Tenney sure hit this sucker out of the park. One of the best opening credits in movie history, Steve Johnson’s impeccable make-up work, a hot Asian chick, Linnea Quigley’s butt in the air, and the infamous lipstick scene. Trash classic!

Trick or Treat: Being a 80′s child, I went to school with people like Eddie Weinbauer – guys who were Metal Heads, who were told that they would burn in hell for listening to Iron Maiden and AC/DC. It’s great to see this picked on teen exact revenge with the help of a befallen rock idol.

Honorable mention: