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Trick or Treat (1986) -
This horror tale about a bullied teenage metalhead, Eddie, who does what everyone warns you not to do, play the record backyards, is from 1986 and it is so 1986. The bullies wear varsity jackets, there's a popular girl who sympathizes with Eddie and he has an equally hapless best bud. Oh, and there are practically dozens of Walkmen and cassette tapes all over the place. The important thing, though, is that it's a blast. The confidence Eddie's magical record gives him against the varsity crew leads to thrilling scenes like a chase around his high school with a very unexpected conclusion. Also, Tony Fields is so good as villain Sammi Curr, who starts out as Eddie's hero and ends up being his electricity-based tormentor. Oh, and it features Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne in small yet pivotable roles. Its "geek gains an advantage over the bullies that gets out of hand" story is clichéd, but the whole thing is oh so fun that I didn't mind. Also, all of my fellow metalheads can relax: this is not Rock: It's Your Decision. It both satirizes and pokes fun at the genre, and if tells a lesson, it's that it's dangerous to take your passions and hobbies too seriously. I also learned that you should never wear a tie in shop class.
This horror tale about a bullied teenage metalhead, Eddie, who does what everyone warns you not to do, play the record backyards, is from 1986 and it is so 1986. The bullies wear varsity jackets, there's a popular girl who sympathizes with Eddie and he has an equally hapless best bud. Oh, and there are practically dozens of Walkmen and cassette tapes all over the place. The important thing, though, is that it's a blast. The confidence Eddie's magical record gives him against the varsity crew leads to thrilling scenes like a chase around his high school with a very unexpected conclusion. Also, Tony Fields is so good as villain Sammi Curr, who starts out as Eddie's hero and ends up being his electricity-based tormentor. Oh, and it features Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne in small yet pivotable roles. Its "geek gains an advantage over the bullies that gets out of hand" story is clichéd, but the whole thing is oh so fun that I didn't mind. Also, all of my fellow metalheads can relax: this is not Rock: It's Your Decision. It both satirizes and pokes fun at the genre, and if tells a lesson, it's that it's dangerous to take your passions and hobbies too seriously. I also learned that you should never wear a tie in shop class.