FEATURE FILMS

trick 'r treat
superman returns
x-men 2
 

ANIMATION

season's greetings
refrigerator art
crayons
deadtime stories

This is a really cool film, styled after the multi-story, horror comic book structure of the CREEPSHOW movies, but with a twist. There are (I think) four stories. But they are all happening in the same place, and weaving into each other. So the story divisions are more time-related. We start with one story, jump back a few hours and meet some other characters in the same town on the same night having a few different adventures, then jump back again, etc.
There's no point even trying to explain the stories, because they all overlap anyway. And some of the stories - well, all of them, really - have rather nice twists that I hate to spoil. But here's a glimpse of some of the characters.

Dylan Baker is Steven, a school principal who has some rather morbid entertainment standards and carves some special jack-o-lanterns with his son. Brian Cox is his crotchedy neighbor who is visited by a trick-or-treater in a very distinct costume who appears at some point in all the other stories. Anna Paquin is Laurie, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and seen as the weak virgin in her group of four friends. And then there are a bunch of kids who go too far in a prank and end up getting more than they bargained for.

This is a perfect Halloween film. It really sinks its teeth into the holiday and the superstitions, there's all kinds of fun costumes, and there are some great creatures. It's also a wonderful take on the horror genre. There's not just one monster/killer, and it doesn't really follow the horror formula at all, which is quite refreshing. And afterwards we had a nice Q&A with the director Michael Dougherty, who was just an all-around cool guy and had stayed for the whole event.

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