Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Movie Review: Hack-O-Lantern (1988)


Written by Carla Robinson
Directed by Jag Mundhra

Tommy...Gregory Scott Cummins
Grandpa...Hy Pyke
Amanda...Katina Garner

As a young boy, Tommy believes that his grandfather is just a harmless eccentric with an affinity for Halloween. He associates with the old man despite his parents' wishes, and when Tommy's father tries to intervene, he is struck down with the awesome power of Satan. For you see, Gramps is not just some October-friendly kook. He is a fearsome warlock who leads an evil cult, and he has staked his claim on Tommy.


Years later, Tommy has grown into a heavy metal outcast whose life is being shaped by Grandpa's influence. And now, on this Halloween, Grandpa is promising him a ritual that will fulfill his lifelong destiny.

It's a decidedly 80s horror movie that should be preserved on VHS forever, as any other format would just seem like cheating. It's sleazy, cheesy and occasionally campy, but is a prime example of that home horror heyday, when genre fans everywhere were being born in the soothing glow of television screens of basements across America. When heavy metal belonged to the devil, and the possibilities of badassery seemed endless. When bad fashion wasn't just a choice...it was a way of life.

HACK-O-LANTERN - Who Is That Masked Man?

Murder, incest, soapy nipples, satanism, horrible hair-metal music videos, drastic fashions, Halloween atmosphere, cemetery shenanigans, a completely random standup comedy routine, and a mysterious masked slasher hacking up teens..it's all right here. Crack open a frosty beverage and enjoy the hell out of it, hipsters.

HACK-O-LANTERN - Those Crazy Satanists

AKA: Halloween Night

Rated R
87 Minutes

"Trick or treat, give me all your candy or I'll blow your head off!"


  1. How have I not heard of this?? I'm sold. Thanks for the bizarre recommendation. Those are the best kind.

  2. Mr. Xploit: I hope you can find it! It's a pretty bizarre ride indeed. The IMDB has it listed as "Halloween Night", but the copy I watched was billed as "Hack-O-Lantern", so that's the title I went with here.


  3. This is another one of those heavy metal horror films like Trick r Treat and Black Roses, gotta love em, they are so fun. Haven't seen this one...but I need to!


What do you got to say about it!?


Related Posts with Thumbnails