Trick or Treat (1986): Limited Collector’s Edition

The 1986 movie Trick or Treat has built a devoted cult following, capturing the essence of some of the biggest trends in 1980s pop culture: the horror craze sparked by Freddy Krueger in Nightmare on Elm Street and the surging popularity of heavy metal. This film didn’t just include these themes—it stuffed them all into one wild Halloween experience, embracing every cliché that made the ‘80s iconic. While the 80s New Wave kids had their share of high school coming-of-age teen comedies, Trick or Treat was for the rockers, giving them a rough-edged alternative.

They would never get Michael J. Fox for the lead, so the film cast his Family Ties co-star, Marc Price, as Eddie, a metal-loving outcast. But fans didn’t mind; Trick or Treat was made for them, with a soundtrack and energy that screamed metal rebellion. The girls in the film were tough, the music raw, and the movie unpolished—a stark contrast to the polished New Wave sounds across the Atlantic. All the music of Sammi Curr, the film’s demonic rocker, was performed by the band Fastway, with additional compositions by Christopher Young.

His fans won’t let him DIE. He won’t let them LIVE.

The film was packed with visual tributes to metal, from Eddie’s bedroom, plastered with posters of bands like Judas Priest, Anthrax, Twisted Sister, and Ozzy Osbourne, to the vinyl stacked in his mom’s hands, including Megadeth’s Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!, alongside albums by Impaler, Exciter, Possessed, and Savatage. Even Eddie’s school locker had photos of Lizzy Borden and Motörhead. Young, who later scored horror classics like Hellraiser and Drag Me to Hell, created a soundtrack that amplified Trick or Treat‘s metal-infused horror vibe. This movie was a metalhead’s dream—a rebellious, thunderous nod to rock culture that remains a treasured piece of ‘80s nostalgia.

In Trick or Treat, Tony Fields, known for his work as a dancer on Solid Gold, steps into the role of the late rock star Sammi Curr, whose demonic influence takes center stage. The film’s portrayal of Sammi serves as a biting satire, poking fun at the moral panic of the era—particularly the crusade led by Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), also known as the “Washington Wives.” Their infamous “anti-rock” campaign to label and censor explicit music made this send-up even more amusing, adding a layer of rebellious humor to the story.

Gene Simmons of KISS makes a memorable appearance as Nuke, the local DJ who serves as a bridge between Eddie and Sammi’s twisted influence. But the real comedic cherry on top is Ozzy Osbourne playing against type as a moralistic TV priest, railing against the “evils” of heavy metal—a perfect twist for fans. With a cast that blended real rock icons with a story mocking the censorship hysteria of the time, Trick or Treat delivers a tongue-in-cheek horror romp that perfectly captures the spirit of the 1980s metal scene.

Rock ‘n’ roll will never die, in this 1980s cult favorite that stars Marc Price (Family Ties) as Eddie Weinbauer, a teenage outcast who idolizes Sammi Curr (Tony Fields), a heavy metal superstar.  After Sammi dies a violent death, his spirit returns to help Eddie get even with his high school tormentors.  In doing so, Sammi begins to gain control over Eddie’s life and brings him deeper into the world of the occult.  When Eddie realizes that he has become the tool of Sammi’s vengeance, he attempts to stop him, and the following horrifying events leave no one unscathed.

Featuring special appearances by Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne, Trick or Treat marked the directorial debut of veteran actor Charles Martin Smith (Never Cry Wolf, Starman) and features a legendary soundtrack by Fastway. Red Shirt Home Video and Synapse Films proudly present this heavy metal horror classic in an all-new 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and loaded with hours of supplemental material including multiple commentary tracks and a feature-length video retrospective. No False Metal!

• Exclusive limited-edition chipboard slipcase packaging featuring artwork by Devon Whitehead
• 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative mastered in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and approved by Director of Photography Robert Elswit
• Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio of the original 2.0 theatrical mix and an all-new 5.1 surround sound mix
• Audio commentary with director Charles Martin Smith, moderated by filmmaker Mark Savage
• Audio interviews with writer/producer Michael S. Murphey and writer Rhet Topham, moderated by film historian Michael Felsher
• Audio conversation with Paul Corupe and Allison Lang, authors of Satanic Panic: Pop-Cultural Paranoia In The 1980s
• Rock  & Shock: The Making of “Trick or Treat” – An all-new retrospective featuring director Charles Martin Smith, actors Marc Price, Glen Morgan, Elise Richards, and Larry Sprinkle, writer/producer Joel Soisson, costume designer Jill Ohanneson, assistant set costumer Francine Decoursey, construction foreman Tom Jones, Jr., special make-up effects artist Everett Burrell, music executive producer Stephen E. Smith, composer Christopher Young, and a special appearance by Gene Simmons
• In The Spotlight: A Tribute to Tony Fields featuring interviews with the late actor’s family and friends
• Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: The Filming Locations of “Trick or Treat” with Sean Clark
• “After Midnight” music video
• Theatrical Trailers
• TV Spots
• Radio Spots
• Still, Gallery features an optional audio interview with photographer Phillip V. Caruso
• Vintage electronic press kit
• Newly translated removable English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Region-free for worldwide playback