Over the years, the horror anthology has become a staple of genre thanks to films and TV series like Tales from the Crypt, Tales from the Darkside, and Creepshow (1982) to name a few. However, Trick ‘r Treat sets itself apart from the pack for the fact that it also functions as a heartfelt tribute to the Halloween holiday as well as the customs involved. Originally released direct to home video by Warner Bros. – the film was originally meant for theatrical release – Scream Factory has picked up the film and has given it the Collector’s Edition treatment.
The Production: 3.5/5
On Halloween night in the small town of Warren Valley, Ohio, the festivities are mixed in with a little bit of the macabre for those who don’t honor the traditions. A reveler (Leslie Bibb) ignores the warning to not take down your Halloween decorations until the festivities end. A high school principal (Dylan Baker) teaches one of his students the importance of checking your candy. A group of students come face to face with a dark secret from the town’s past in the local quarry. A young woman (Anna Paquin) out with her friends looking for a date gets more than she bargained for. And a recluse (Brian Cox) comes face to face with a trick-or-treater who won’t go away without candy. It’ll be a Halloween to remember, but not everyone will be around at the end of the night…
Built upon the anthology film framework of previous genre movies while employing a Pulp Fiction style narrative, Trick ‘r Treat is both an affectionate valentine to Halloween as well as an entertaining horror film. The origins of the movie started as a brief animated thesis film for director Michael Dougherty when he was in film school; it evolved into the film with his main character from the thesis film – Sam – recurring throughout the stories. However, the film never really reached theaters as initially planned; it ended up on the shelf for a couple of years until – after a few screenings at festivals – the movie made its debut on home video where it got some strong notices from fans and critics. Despite its fate, Trick ‘r Treat has managed to already attain a cult following for its unique take on Halloween as well as offering up a few neat twists along the way.
Among the cast there’s a mixture of fresh faces as well as a few familiar ones. Dylan Baker is notable as the school principal who harbors a dark double life while adhering to the traditions of Halloween; Anna Paquin also has a memorable appearance as the young woman looking for her ‘first time’. Brian Cox is great as the reclusive curmudgeon who faces the tenacious trick-or-treater; young Quinn Lord casts the memorable impression as Sam, the peculiar trick-or-treater who serves as the connecting thread to all the stories. Among those who either survive Halloween night or fall prey to not following traditions are Leslie Bibb, whose character learns you should never take down your decorations before the night is through, Brett Kelly as the young vandal who learns you should always check your candy before eating it, Britt McKillip, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Samm Todd, Alberto Ghisi, and Isabelle Deluce as the group of students who learn that the town’s urban legend is – in fact – real, and Lauren Lee Smith, Rochelle Aytes, and Moneca Delain as a group of young women who acquire dates, but what happens to them is better seen than talked about here.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
The original 2:35:1 aspect ratio is intact in this HD transfer, taken from a new 2K scan of the original film elements. Film grain is organic throughout, with fine details and color palette rendered faithfully and strongly; there’s nary an instance of age-related issues, makings this an easy improvement over the previous Blu-ray release of the movie.
Audio: 5/5
There are two audio options for this release: a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track (the default option) and a 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track. Both tracks render the dialogue and sound effects strongly, with ambiance and fidelity given to Douglas Pipes’ atmospheric score; there’s hardly an instance of issues related to age on either of these tracks. Whatever your preference, you can’t go wrong because both represent likely the best the movie has ever sounded on home video.
Special Features: 5/5
Commentary by director Michael Dougherty, concept artist Breehn Burns, storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins and composer Douglas Pipes – Carried over from the original home video release, the quartet talk about the movie as well as a few interesting stories in the process; all in all, a very entertaining track.
Tales of Folklore & Fright: Creating Trick ‘r Treat (16:05) – The first part of four new featurettes reveals the origins of the movie; with director Michael Dougherty, concept artist Breehn Burns and storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins.
Tales of Mischief & Mayhem: Filming Trick ‘r Treat (19:46) – The second part looks back at the filming stage of the movie as well as a few memories from Dougherty.
Sounds of Shock & Superstition: Scoring Trick ‘r Treat (11:10) – Part three looks at the film’s score as well as some of the inspirations and themes behind it; with Michael Dougherty and composer Douglas Pipes.
Tales of Dread & Despair: Releasing Trick ‘r Treat (7:22) – The fourth and final new featurette looks at the movie’s release and reception; with Dougherty and author Rob Galluzzo.
Trick ‘r Treat: The Lore & Legends of Halloween (27:25) – Carried over from the original home video release, the featurette looks at some of the Halloween traditions and their origins; narrated by Brian Cox, among those interviewed include producer Bryan Singer, Dylan Baker, authors David J. Skal and Lisa Morton, Anna Paquin, Samm Todd, Brett Kelly, and Michael Dougherty, just to name a few.
Deleted & Alternate Scenes (17:13) – Carried over from the original home video release, eight scenes that were deleted from the film or contained alternate footage from the final cut; the scenes are viewable with optional commentary by Dougherty.
School Bus FX Comparison (1:13) – Carried over from the original home video release, a side-by-side comparison of the school bus scene from the numerous effects employed to the final product.
Season’s Greetings Short Film (3:54) – The 1996 thesis film in which the movie had its origins is presented here in a brand new 2K scan from the original 16mm elements; it can be viewed on its own or with commentary by Michael Dougherty.
Monster Mash: A Story from the Trick ‘r Treat Graphic Novel – A selection from the graphic novel is presented here in the same fashion in which you can browse through a still gallery.
FEARnet.com Shorts (12:56) – A series of 15 promos for the movie and subsequent all day Halloween movie marathon for FEARnet.com.
Theatrical Trailer (2:27)
Storyboard/Conceptual Artwork Gallery (19:13) – 224 stills showcasing the storyboard and conceptual artwork of Simeon Wilkins and Breehn Burns – respectively – for certain scenes and stories are presented here.
Behind the Scenes Still Gallery (13:11) – 160 stills chronicling the production are presented here.
Overall: 4.5/5
While it may not have gotten the widespread theatrical release it should’ve deserved, Trick ‘r Treat did manage to find an audience and become a modern cult favorite. Scream Factory has well surpassed the previous Warner Blu-ray with a great new transfer as well as a great slate of bonus features both new to this release and carried over from the previous Blu-ray. This is an easy upgrade for fans of the movie.
Mychal has been on the Home Theater Forum’s reviewing staff since 2018, with reviews numbering close to 300. During this time, he has also been working as an assistant manager at The Cotton Patch – his family’s fabric and quilting supplies business in Keizer, Oregon. When not working at reviewing movies or working at the family business, he enjoys exploring the Oregon Coast, playing video games and watching baseball in addition to his expansive collection of movies on DVD, Blu-ray and UHD, totalling over 3,000 movies.
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