First Look: Patrick Lussier & Todd Farmer’s slasher flick Trick

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Genre veteran Patrick Lussier has released the first photo (see above) and comments (see below) from his latest film, the horror thriller TRICK.

Omar Epps heads the cast in the main role of Detective Mike Denver, a man obsessed with a serial killer that has remained one step ahead of him for years. TRICK also stars Ellen Adair (Homeland, Billions, The Sinner) as Sheriff Lisa Jayne, the sheriff in the small town of Benton who has always considered Detective Denver as her mentor. Cheryl Winston, the only survivor of the latest round of killings in her small town, is played by Kristina Reyes (Blindspot, Shades of Blue). Talbott is played by frequent George A. Romero collaborator Tom Atkins and Jamie Kennedy (Scream 1-3, Malibu's Most Wanted, Romeo + Juliet) stars as Dr. Steven. Principal photography took place in upstate New York. 

Describing his cast, Lussier says:

Reyes is Cheryl, the survivor of Trick's first rampage, her innocence slain along with the lives of her friends as she finds herself caught in the battle between Trick and those who hunt him. But who is hunting whom?  Jamie plays Dr. Steve, a recovering hipster medico and Tom Atkins, the silver fox himself, is back as the gruff Talbott, restaurateur and horror film aficionado with a soft spot for charity, church and shotguns.

 Lussier explained:

Trick is, for lack of a better term, 'slasher-noire' horror set in upstate New York, spanning five consecutive Halloweens where serial killer Trick Weaver taunts police up and down the Hudson River practicing murder as performance art. The Benton Township, where Trick's murderous journey begins, has fallen into decay, almost like Trick's initial killings didn't just claim individual victims but killed the town itself.

Perhaps most importantly to horror fans, Lussier has promised:

We've gone out of our way to make the kills as grounded and practical as possible. Gary J. Tunnicliffe, who has been my partner in murder and mayhem since 2000, has once again returned to craft a festival of ferocity, drenched in bloody steel.

The story centers on

An elusive serial killer, who descends upon a small town annually. He is responsible for gruesome murders year after year, each seemingly unrelated. No one believes this could be the same killer. Detective Denver has faced Trick once before, having -shot and killed him.  Or so everyone keeps telling him. However, Denver knows Trick is still out there, and he's coming back for revenge.

For those of you out there that might not know, Lussier's lengthy list of horror credentials began while working alongside Wes Craven on hits including the SCREAM franchise, RED EYE, NEW NIGHTMARE, and VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN. Lussier directed and co-wrote MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, DRIVE ANGRY, and was a writer and producer on TERMINATOR GENISYS. Writer Todd Farmer has a long history in the horror genre including JASON X, and THE MESSENGER and has worked previously alongside Lussier co-writing MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, DRIVE ANGRY.

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