Movies: I Sell the Dead & Trick 'r Treat

The thing is, I live in the country, close to an hour's drive from any decent movie theater. So I don't go to the movies very often and I've pretty much stopped paying attention to what's playing. I keep my ears and eyes peeled for mention of movies that sound interesting; renting is also a pain, so we end up buying movies - hopefully on sale - and hope for the best. Every once in a while, I'm going to sort-of review a couple of movies from our massive collection; new or old, doesn't matter. This time, it's one new (to me) and one a little older.

I Sell the Dead
I'm starting to write this post before the movie is even here. I heard about it last week and ordered it over the weekend. With a cast that includes Dominic Monaghan (LoTR), Ron Perlman (Hellboy (♥), etc., etc.) & Angus Scrimm (Phantasm series), how could I resist?! I was going to order it eventually, but when I saw that Scrimm was in it, I had no choice. Every time we watch a Phantasm movie, my husband comments that it's too bad Scrimm doesn't work more. He seems like a very cool gentleman (from the DVD extras) and I'd love to have him over for dinner or something. I'll have to settle for buying his movies.

Okay, the movie arrived and we watched it. Monaghan plays a "Resurrection Man" (a grave robber from around the turn of the 20th century), but in this case, Resurrection Man has a whole new meaning, and that's all I'm going to say. Not brilliant, but fun. (I didn't check my watch the entire time, which is a good sign.)

Trick 'r Treat
I waited for this movie for a long time, and it did not disappoint. Truth is, I don't know if it ever made it to theaters, and I'd kind of given up on it and didn't realize it had been available on DVD/Blu-Ray for a few months before I found out (and ordered). But the second I heard it was available, I ordered a copy.

It's a pretty intense flick, and it earned its R rating. (There's some gore, but mostly...it's intense.) It's a story set on Halloween, naturally, told out of order, so you see different parts of the night from the different characters' perspectives. Eventually, they all come together. Some of the stories reminded me of the old scary comics I used to buy back in the mid-70s, the kind with the half torn cover that I got for a dime from the restaurant/candy store in my dad's hometown. Then I'd read them and have to have an escort to the bathroom because every sound and shadow made me jump.

There is one scene (no spoilers here) with dozens & dozens of jack-o-lanterns that would make any Halloween geek just swoon.