The story feels, at times, like merely a framework for Bradbury to hang his anthropological lessons on, but its still an enjoyable and educational read. In the course of one Halloween night, Moundshroud and company will visit the burial rituals of ancient Egypt, a Dia De Los Muertos celebration in Mexico, the Festival of the Dead in mythic Greece, and a Druid harvest festival.

'Halloween', a 1981 painting by Mugnaini that does not appear in the book. The boys' mode of transportation on this bewitched tour is a giant patchwork kite, pieced together from the leftover scraps of a hundred carnival posters and powered by Moundshroud's magic. The adventure appropriately begins at this exemplar haunted house, home of an old wizard, Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud, who invites eight trick-or-treating visitors to learn why they dress in costumes and go door to door to collect candy every October 31st. This oil painting by Ray Bradbury, titled 'The Halloween Tree', precedes the book by 12 years. Moundshroud on a journey through time and space to experience the various cultural traditions that preceded and shaped our modern Halloween. Set entirely on one Halloween night, it's the adventure of eight boys, each dressed for trick-or-treats as a different spooky archetype (skeleton, Jack-O-Lantern, a witch, the grim reaper, etc.) who are led by the mysterious Mr. The first edition cover art, painted by longtime Bradbury collaborator Joseph Mugnaini. With the help of an unlikely ally, a mysterious figure named Moundshroud, Tom and his pals must journey into the Land of the Dead to save their friend.Ray Bradbury's scary stories are frequently steeped in the atmosphere and iconography of Halloween, but his 1973 book The Halloween Tree is perhaps the consummate expression of his love for All Hallows' Eve. Then, their friend Pip gets suddenly abducted by a powerful demon from the Land of the Dead.

However, when they their plans for Halloween night have changed when they instead go investigate the strange happenings in their small town.

RELATED: Horrorstör Film in the Works at New Republic Picturesįirst published in 1972, The Halloween Tree follows the story of Tom and his schoolmates, who went out together to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. and production company 42 ( Military Wives, The Courier, Watership Down: Traitors) while Charlie Morrison is set to oversee the project. The film will be co-production between Warner Bros. Pictures in the process of developing a film adaptation of author Ray Bradbury’s fantasy novel titled The Halloween Tree with Will Dunn attached to write the screenplay. The Halloween Tree film in the works at Warner Bros.Īccording to Deadline, Warner Bros.

The halloween tree novel