Monsters, demons, ghouls, murderers, ghosts, zombies, killers, over-sized animals, vampires, lunatics, mutants, madmen

SPOILER WARNING!!
All entries in the TBDB are likely to carry spoliers so if you ain't seen the movie they relate to don't read 'em!

SAM

AKA

Quinn Lord

Was a bastard in…

Trick R Treat (2007)

So who the hell is she?

Sam is the diminutive little chap in the dirty red all-in-one PJ’s with the funny round burlap sack pumpkin mask from Michael Dougherty’s rather wonderful Trick R Treat. Often seen trailing groups of trick or treaters hoping to grab some Halloween candy, Sam could very well be mistaken for a child himself with his modest stature and sweet tooth but in truth his bastard credentials are well and truly intact.

Just ask any of the poor souls who have committed such crimes as taking down Halloween decorations too early, blowing out jack o lanterns or, worst of all, refusing to give trick or treaters any candy. You see, Sam is in fact the spirit of Halloween. Yup, that’s right, Halloween has a spirit and Sam is it. And why not? It makes more sense than having a hirsute fat man as the spirit of Christmas or a goddam rabbit to personify Easter. Nah, Sam might be a murderous little creep but he’s alright with us.

It must be because he’s so cute. Well up until he takes his mask off and we see what really lurks underneath that sack…

Oh, and by the way his full name is Samhain, the ancient Celtic name for Halloween. See, we’re all educational and shit these days. 

That’s not a knife…

Who needs knives when you’ve got ummm, lollipops? The answer to that is almost definitely ‘anybody who wants to a task for which something sturdy, sharp and in any way knife-like is needed’ but Sam doesn’t care about all that logic and reality crap, opting instead for a half bitten Halloween lollipop with a jagged edge. He somehow uses this to cut people’s throats, which doesn’t really seem very likely but who cares? He’s the spirit of Halloween for christ’s sake, he can’t just go round punching people in the nuts. You gotta respect a healthy sense of seasonal tradition, well you do if Sam’s around in any case. 

He also scares the crap out of Brian Cox and administers a sound hiding at the same time. Again pretty good going when the only rides he’d be allowed on at an amusement park would have teacup or fairy in the title and he’s kicking the living shit out of the man who was once both Hannibal Lecter and Wolverine’s boss. Though not at the same time. It would be cool if Hannibal Lecter was Wolverine’s boss actually now I come to think of it. Wolverine could grow new organs as quickly as Lecter could eat them in whatever ridiculously pompous and unconvincingly intellectual way he chooses. Anyway, coming back to Sam, he is probably responsible for a great deal more carnage than we see on screen but he’s just as happy sticking to the sidelines watching other people (or werewolves) do the messy stuff.

Or then again maybe his presence influences those whose path he crosses?   

It’s a million to one chance but it might just work…

You could try blasting him across the room with a shotgun. You can try blasting him limb from limb. You can try slapping him in the face with a large fish if it makes you happy but it won't work. Well the fish one might as we just made it up and you don't get to see that avenue explored in the film which is probably a good thing. The shotgun stuff however is in the film and though it does take the wind from his sails it isn't long before Sam's hand is running amok doing a pretty damn good impression of Bruce Campbell's right hand.

Who knows what it takes to get rid of this guy permanently but frankly, who would want to? Perhaps his victims might but they had it coming anyway. He's such a cool little fellow and defending Halloween is a seriously noble mission (at least it is to us). We have no doubt whatsoever that the world is, while maybe not a better place, a much more fun place with Sam in it.

Words of wisdom

Sam’s another of the strong silent types I’m afraid. 

By Matt Compton