Synopsis:
An elusive serial killer, “Trick,” returns each Halloween to kill innocent victims. Detective Mike Denver (Omar Epps) faced Trick once before, shooting him off a five-storey building. When Trick’s body disappears into the town river, everyone thinks he’s dead. Only Denver believes he’s still alive. But now, as strange occurrences disrupt the peace of the town, nobody can deny that Trick has returned. Obsessed with catching the murderer, Denver will do whatever it takes to stop Trick claiming their next victim.
Slasher fans are in for a treat with Trick, which is being released March 30th by The Movie Partnership. Taking the helm of the gory flick is Patrick Lussier, best known for the action thriller, Drive Angry and the 2009 slasher-horror, My Bloody Valentine. Trick also stars Omar Epps (House M.D), Jamie Kennedy (Scream) & Ellen Adair (The Sinner).
First off, I’m not the biggest slasher fan (*Gasp*). I like my horrors more cosmic, other-worldly, creature-filled and carnivorous; slashers, for the most part, don’t scratch my itch. Trick did. My expectations were blown away and I found myself giving the film a little slow-clap as credits began to roll. What I presumed was just another B-grade, three-dollar weekend rental ended up being a solid, well-made horror film with buckets of blood and badass kills.
The film starts with a bang—there’s no build up or backstory that gently introduces us to the world of Trick, just a brutal opening scene that sets the pace for things to come. This pace stays for the majority of the film, keeping us on edge as our killer’s plan unfurls. But it is not just the clever kills and high body count that makes Trick such a treat to watch. Lussier has clearly done his homework and has devilishly crafted a fantastic killer, great lore, and a diabolical film—more than an homage to the greats.
It’s hard for me to definitively put my finger on exactly what it is that made the movie good. I can’t really say that one particular actor was amazing or that the dialogue blew me away. It is, after all, a cheesy, checklist slasher. There was a single kill in the haunted house that pretty spectacular but that hardly made the film. In all honesty, Trick is the sum of its parts. There’s a lot of attention to detail, plenty of Easter eggs, smart pacing and just enough that was fresh, interesting and modern to keep me invested.
Iconic killers have their associated appurtenances, be it their mask, weapon, theme song or victim preference. We could not even begin to imagine Jason without his chi chi chi ha ha ha, Michael without his mask, Ghostface without…you get the picture. Trick, while apparently cool with switching masks as needed, is inseparable from his unique knife and Halloween themed costumes. Sure, a lot of it has most definitely been done before but Trick somehow manages to make tried and tested seem fresh and violent. Yes, it’s more of the same you’d get from any slasher flick, but it is a slasher film done really well. Trick wants to play with the big boys. He wants a seat at the table nestled right there between Leatherface and Chucky—and frankly, he deserves it.
The film is also a visual feast. The sets are great, the kills are gruesome, and the effects top-notch. I could honestly not find much to fault or critique. The acting was way above par and the story had some good twists, keeping you interested and invested. The characters were likable and the plot was solid. I’d very much expecting this to be quite the success and am looking forward to the inevitable Trick 2.
Thanks for reading and as always, stay sordid. Trailer and poster below.
