“Trick or treat! Give me all your candy or I’ll blow your head off”
Hack-O-Lantern is the delightfully goofy ’80s Halloween slasher you probably haven’t seen yet — but absolutely should. If you’re a fan of cheesy, over-the-top horror flicks packed with peak ’80s Halloween vibes, this one’s a must-watch!
Hack-O-Lantern (1988) is a delightfully campy slice of late-’80s horror that mixes Satanic cults, small-town slashing, and pure Halloween absurdity. The film follows Tommy (Gregory Scott Cummings), a young man drawn into the dark rituals of his devil-worshipping grandfather (Hy Pyke). As Halloween night spirals into chaos, masked killers, occult ceremonies, and heavy metal-fueled visions turn the sleepy town into a nightmare.
Directed by Jag Mundhra, this oddball slasher never made it big in theaters but found a second life on VHS, where it became a cult favorite among fans of goofy, over-the-top horror. With its mix of blood, bad acting, and big 80s vibes, Hack-O-Lantern is a must-watch for anyone who loves their Halloween movies loud, cheesy, and unapologetically weird.
Although the film is actually shot pretty well, the acting and dialogue is not very good. At all, really. But that’s what you would expect out of something like this. It does sort of add to its charm.
About halfway through, the film hits peak weirdness when Tommy has a surreal nightmare that transitions into a full-blown music video for “Devil’s Son” by DC LaCroix. It’s complete with interpretive dancing, wild hair metal energy, and lasers. It’s delightfully absurd and symbolizes Tommy’s final descent into the cult’s influence. Pretty metal.
The film throws in a last-minute twist involving Tommy’s widowed mother, adding to its already chaotic mix of storylines. It’s all over the place and, honestly, not a very good movie but it earns some extra points for sheer entertainment value. Despite its flaws, Hack-O-Lantern is a fun, Halloween-themed slasher that’s perfect for a goofy seasonal watch when you just want some spooky 80s fun.
