Trick 'r Treat: If you're looking for a decent horror film, look no further

In the small town of Warren Valley, Ohio the locals are celebrating Halloween. It's during this celebration that four interlocking tales explore all the tricks and treats those residents uncover on All Hallow's Eve.

First time director Michael Dougherty (who also penned the script) did right by making Trick 'r Treat a somewhat unique horror film that did not hang its hat on buckets of blood, a silly story or being another sequel. The interlocking stories lent a breath of creativity in story and character that most horror films seem to be lacking nowadays. By constructing a universe in which stories and characters were the focus and could overlap one another Dougherty was attempting to keep the audience engaged in the goings on in Warren Valley. And while there were times in which the story being shown failed to keep the audience's attention (like the story involving that creepy looking thing on the movie poster to the right, seriously, could someone tell me just who or what that is?) the rest of Trick 'r Treat was awash in frightening moments, surprisingly dark humor and a great misdirect involving the story of Laurie (the always effective Anna Paquin) which one would have been hard pressed to see coming but was completely satisfying nonetheless. The most outstanding part of the film was the "school bus massacre" story. Built upon a local urban legend in which a group of "special" children were killed in a bus accident (an accident which they avenge later on in the film in rather nasty fashion) this section featured everything a good horror film needs; moody lighting, good characters, tension, excellent dialogue and a twist at the end which grabbed you by the gut and twisted just for kicks. In this age of useless sequels and mindless gorefest it's a shame that a story like the "school bus massacre" is relegated to being only part of a film instead of its own stand alone feature.

Trick 'r Treat fits with the particular season we are in at the moment (it is October after all). It was original, creepy, scary, funny and accomplished being all of those things by not resorting to the tired "Saw" method of overwhelming the audience with blood and gore in lieu of good filmmaking.

Grade: B-

The Descent: (or why I'll never go into a cave ever again!)

Today's film audiences have acquired a sort of "seen it all, heard of it all" attitude toward movies and this is especially true in the horror genre. Think about the number of Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween movies you yourself have watched. Now think about how pedestrian the scares and chills have become as each successive sequel has come out. You might start to wonder if there are any films out there that can actually scare you? I think this one might do the trick.

A year after a tragic event, six friends decide to go caving. However after they become trapped in those caves, their friendships are tested as they must struggle to find a way out and also face a horrifying terror that unknowingly stalks them.

Writer/director Neil Marshall was able to turn what could have been a cheesy and predictable horror flick into an absolutely terrifying white knuckle experience that had the audience pinned to their seats until the final credits rolled. He was able to do this by first creating a group of characters that the audience could identify with and feel for. It’s true that the group of friends was comprised of all women, but they were far from damsels in distress. Each had their own uniqueness and held their own against not only the natural elements, but the evil creatures they encountered. Marshall, paying homage to Ridley Scott’s Alien (an obvious influence on the film), only gave the audience noises and quick glimpses of those creatures in the early parts of the movies, building the tension to an overwhelming degree until they finally appeared and scared the bejesus out of everyone (cast and audience). The audience was so unnerved and on edge throughout due to not only the lack of light in the caves, but their cramped nature as well (claustrophobics need not apply for this one). The Descent will make you sweat, laugh, cringe, scream and everything else a good horror film should.

Grade: A