Season's Greetings (I) (1996) User Reviews

Sam I am.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 6/10 · 16 February 2022]

'Season's Greetings (1996)' is a short horror animation in which a young boy wanders around a desolate town on Halloween in search of candy. The film is the inspiration for Michael Dougherty's later 'Trick 'R Treat (2007)', specifically when it comes to that movie's burlap-wearing mascot. Sam, albeit in an earlier incarnation, appears in this piece and acts as its protagonist. His visual design is remarkably similar to that of his eventual live-action version, which signifies its overall effectiveness. This short doesn't depict him as you'd expect if you've already seen his later appearance, which throws you off guard and allows the final reveal to be far more blindsiding than it really ought to be. Though the animation is, at times, a tad rudimentary and the overall affair is somewhat basic, it's generally atmospheric and does a good job of drawing you into its narrative. It's generally enjoyable and balances its tone well. 6/10.

Tricky...

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 8/10 · 31 October 2014]

This short animation is very short indeed, but I really enjoy the eerie tone and atmosphere that it manages to establish in the limited amount of time. It's a classic old tale of the deceptive role-reversal kind, in which we see what appears to be a little boy trick or treating all alone in the spooky dead of night, and a missing child poster tells us that the neighbourhood isn't exactly a safe nice one. And then a dark and sinister figure appears who we can safely assume is responsible, and he approaches the strange burlap sack-headed kid in an alley, and although it's all done in silhouetted flashes, I still found the violence against a kid pretty nasty, as well as the solitary splatter of blood. It's quite the creepy and tense moment. Oh, but what is this? It wasn't the kid's blood, nor was that any ordinary kid! It was perhaps the bad man that should have watched out for him! Very cool stuff. I loved the Gothic beautiful style of the animation, which is one of my favourite styles and it was a great way to introduce an early version of that lethally mischievous impish spirit of Halloween "Sam" who I personally wouldn't tag as "iconic" just yet. In time sure, he has all the right pathos to make him a bonified "Movie Maniac" one day. I thought Michael Dougherty make spectacular use of him in the "Trick 'R Treat" anthology, which was one of the most fun and well-made I'd seen in years. Watching that film reanimated a little of my own Halloween spirit and appreciation of the season. There's really no better time to watch it, or indeed this little work of art which is much grimmer than it first seems. It's awful quick, but it has a beginning, it builds, and it has a good payoff. Excellently done, Mr. Dougherty! Happy Halloween. : )

Trick-or-treat

[Rectangular_businessman · 8/10 · 2 October 2022]

Imdb wrongly lists this as a 2004 short; in reality it was released during 1996, as it can be evidenced by its animation style, with a very blatant "Tim Burton-esque" 90s feel. (Which honestly, in my opinion, it's a key-part of its charm.)

For a debut short, this actually quite well done. The main character manages to be both endearing and creepy, and the twist at the end is pretty clever and effective.

I liked a lot the eerie atmosphere the short has from beginning to end, and even when Michael Dougherty seems to be entirely dedicated to direct live-action films nowadays, it would be nice to see another horror animation by him one of these days.

A Cute Halloween Story That Introduces Sam

[Chrysanthepop · 28 October 2009]

Dougherty introduces the adorable but not-to-be-messed-with Sam in this little feature short. Twelve years later Sam will get his own feature film title 'Trick 'R Treat'. The story here is in support of the Halloween spirit and little Sam is out to collect candies when he encounters unexpected things. The animation is done by Dougherty himself and it is all beautifully hand drawn and coloured. This gives an authentic and nostalgic feel. Even though there is no dialogue, it's a story well told with a funny surprise in the end. Overall, it's a satisfying short movie that introduces Dougherty's potential. He might have a bright future as a filmmaker. He's already proved that with the spin off 'Trick 'R Treat'.

Excellent Halloween-themed animated short

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 7 November 2012]

Lethal and mischievous, but still lovable and adorable demon Sam experiences all kinds of nifty misadventures while out trick or treating on Halloween night. Writer/director Michael Dougherty astutely pegs the infectiously fun'n'spooky ooga-booga midnight-in-the-graveyard spirit of the Halloween season complete with a black cat, a creepy old house, leering Jack O'Lantern pumpkins, an ominous hooting owl, and, best of all, a foolhardy would-be back alley mugger who gets more than he bargained for when he beats Sam up for his bag of Halloween candy. The bright, sharp, and colorful animation has a totally happening old school hand-drawn charm to it. Kudos are also in order for Evan T. Chen's superbly shivery score. Plus this short makes for a great introduction to the iconic character of Sam, who returns in a substantial part in the terrific horror anthology winner "Trick 'r Treat." A real enjoyable and on the money little delight.

Forgettable animated short

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 3 November 2015]

"Season's Greetings" is a 4-minute animated cartoon from almost 20 years ago. Iit seems that writer and director Michael Dougherty already had a soft spot for Halloween back then as by today, his most famous work is of course "Trick 'r Treat" if you do not count the films he wrote without directing. Anyway, the action here is fairly uninteresting. It's neither scary, not funny, nor entertaining for any other reason unfortunately and the animation level is pretty bad for a 1990s movie. The only thing I can say in Dougherty's favor is that this little award winning movie is a student film and was done extremely early in his career and almost all the great names from directing have made weak films very early in their careers. Dougherty is no exception. The again, he is no great name either. Forgettable watch and I do not recommend it. Not even on Halloween.

Introducing Sam

[Michael_Elliott · 31 July 2015]

Season's Greetings (1996)

*** (out of 4)

A decade before making TRICK 'R TREAT, writer-director Michael Dougherty made this four minute animated short that introduced the world to the Sam character. This film is pretty simple on plot as we see Sam getting his candy bag stolen and the aftermath. SEASON'S GREETINGS isn't the greatest thing around but there's no question that it's a nice little gem and it's really too bad, like the feature, that we don't have more of these. There are so many "fun" things centered around Halloween that it's really too bad we didn't get to see more cases played out like the one here. Having your candy bag stolen on Halloween is something most people have done, had done to them or at least have heard about so that adds to the entertainment factor here. The animation is quite nice and this is certainly an entertaining way to be introduced to the Sam character.