“Why are you laughing? I’m not looking, it’s scary!”

Trick or Treat?: This is a great documentary about the horror genre, and why horrorhounds like me love it.

Tal Zimerman, Canadian journalist and horror junkie, dig into the why of its all, interviewing greats in the horror industry, critics, and educators. He also looks at his own start as a horror fan, talking to his family, and about his experiences growing up gory.

But wait, there’s more! There’s also a look at how we got similar “thrills” before horror cinema with medieval and classical art. International horror – especially Japanese horror, the influx of various horrors in the VHS era, and even video games get their moments. Horror books are also examined, with how they set the stage for many monsters we’ve come to love. And, of course, a look at how horror makes us look at our own mortality and fear of death.

Misogyny in horror is discussed, as are women in horror. OMGOMGOMG – interviews with the Soska sisters! Karen Lam! Barbara freakin Crampton! As a gal who’s loved horror for decades, I got a huge flashback on my own life during discussions on being treated as less than – or worse, a poser – for having the gall to be a chick and a horror fan in the 20th century. (Luckily this is getting better in the 21st century…)

For the science nerds out there (WHAT UP MY PEOPLE), Tal gets an MRI to check his brain on horror (and not on horror), to see if he’s “different” from the average Joe. He also enlists his mother – not a horror fan – to watch scary stuff with him while getting scanned. Damn this doc is thorough.

As a fellow “Elder Statesman” of horror, I love checking in on the nature of horror, and how thoughts on the genre have gotten more acceptable as part of the overall fannish-ing of the world. Tal does a fantastic job of digging into old ideas, new information, blending it into a really fun watch. Watch it.

Score: 5 out of 5 pumpkins.