'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.
Review of Season's Greetings
