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Trick 'r Treat

2007, Horror/Mystery & thriller, 1h 22m

What to know

Critics Consensus

A deftly crafted tribute to Halloween legends, Trick 'r' Treat hits all the genre marks with gusto and old fashioned suspense. Read critic reviews

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Trick 'r treat videos, trick 'r treat   photos.

Interwoven stories demonstrate that some traditions are best not forgotten as the residents (Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker) of a small town face real ghosts and goblins on Halloween. Tales of terror reveal the consequences of extinguishing a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight and a grumpy hermit's encounter with a sinister trick-or-treater.

Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language|Horror Violence)

Genre: Horror, Mystery & thriller

Original Language: English

Director: Michael Dougherty

Producer: Bryan Singer

Writer: Michael Dougherty

Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2014

Runtime: 1h 22m

Production Co: Legendary Pictures

Cast & Crew

Anna Paquin

Dylan Baker

Leslie Bibb

Rochelle Aytes

Sam , Peeping Tommy

Lauren Lee Smith

Tahmoh Penikett

Michael Dougherty

Bryan Singer

Thomas Tull

Executive Producer

Alex Garcia

News & Interviews for Trick 'r Treat

Know Your Critic: Dani Bethea, Pop Culture Writer and Horror Connoisseur

The 16 Scariest Horror Anthology Segments

Why Trick ‘r Treat Deserves Cult Status

Critic Reviews for Trick 'r Treat

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There are no featured reviews for Trick 'r Treat because the movie has not released yet ().

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Trick 'r treat, common sense media reviewers.

Fun, gory Halloween horror has violence, language, nudity.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

On the surface, the movie is about facing conseque

No role models here. Even the most innocent-seemin

With the exception of the occasional small role or

Characters killed. Woman attacked by unseen force,

A man is apparently aroused by his wife's bare mid

Sporadic uses of "f--k," "s--t," "t-ts," "a--hole,

Woman who appears very drunk answers the door for

Parents need to know that Trick 'r Treat is a cult-favorite horror anthology consisting of several intertwining stories taking place on Halloween night. Despite the presence of the cute monster "Sam," it's not a movie for kids. It includes several killings, dead bodies, blood and gore, severed heads and limbs…

Positive Messages

On the surface, the movie is about facing consequences for not following the traditions of Halloween, but, like many horror anthologies, it's actually about facing consequences for bad behavior in general. Bullies and predators of all types pay a heavy price for their behavior. On the downside, this punishment is regularly doled out in a most violent and unpleasant way...

Positive Role Models

No role models here. Even the most innocent-seeming of characters eventually show a dark, or even cruel, side.

Diverse Representations

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sporadic uses of "f--k," "s--t," "t-ts," "a--hole," "ass," "Goddamn," "Jesus," "Christ," "whore," "freak," "retard," "crap," "screw you," "shut up." Middle finger gesture.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Trick 'r Treat is a cult-favorite horror anthology consisting of several intertwining stories taking place on Halloween night. Despite the presence of the cute monster "Sam," it's not a movie for kids. It includes several killings, dead bodies, blood and gore, severed heads and limbs, broken bones, stabbing, slicing, biting, shooting with a shotgun, ghosts, zombies, monsters, jump-scares, and more. There are a few strong sexual situations and sex-related dialogue, some female toplessness, an image from a pornographic tape (a topless woman seems to be having sex, riding on top of someone off camera), kissing, and a boy spying on a woman in a dressing room. Sporadic language includes uses of "f--k," "s--t," "t-ts," "a--hole," "Goddamn," "whore," etc. A character drinks whiskey alone at home, and Halloween revelers drink beer, drink from flasks, and appear drunk. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (2)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 2 parent reviews

this movie has a part where the killer slide this girl with his DAME SUCKER

Outdated in some ways, but otherwise something good to eat, what's the story.

In TRICK 'R TREAT, we witness several intertwining stories as they unfold on Halloween night, all of them witnessed by a mysterious trick-or-treater in footie pajamas and a burlap mask called "Sam." Emma ( Leslie Bibb ) and Henry ( Tahmoh Penikett ) return home from an evening of fun, and Emma proceeds to take down their decorations before midnight, ignoring Henry's warnings. School principal Wilkins ( Dylan Baker ) has laced his Halloween candy with cyanide and buries the bodies of unsuspecting kids in the backyard. Several teens play a prank on an outcast girl, Rhonda (Samm Todd), attempting to convince her that a busload of dead teens has come back as zombies. Shy Laurie ( Anna Paquin ) is invited to a costume party; she dresses as Little Red Riding Hood but has trouble finding a date… until a masked man attacks her and tries to bite her. Finally, Mr. Kreeg ( Brian Cox ) is a curmudgeonly man who uses his dog, Spite, to scare kids away. But he gets the fight of his life when he encounters Sam...

Is It Any Good?

Horror anthologies are a dime-a-dozen, but they rarely work as well as this one does, with its brisk pacing and excellent casting, and its alluring combination of prankish humor and sincere dread. Written and directed by Michael Dougherty , Trick 'r Treat is also one of the few Halloween -set movies that captures the spirit of the holiday. Yet it almost wasn't so. Completed in 2007, the movie showed in several film festivals, was delayed for two years, and then quietly released to home video in 2009. But it became a huge cult favorite -- perhaps due to the "Sam" character's unique combination of cute-n-creepy -- and finally received its first official theatrical release in 2022.

Running a snappy 82 minutes, it's admirable how beautifully the stories twist and flow and snap together, most with little tricks and twist endings that reference other parts of the movie. Dougherty even manages to slip in little bits and pieces of the real history behind the holiday, including the warning that you should keep your protective jack-o-lantern lit until after midnight. ("Sam" himself is named after the Gaelic celebration known as "Samhain.") As much fun and as satisfying as Trick 'r Treat is, however, it contains iffy material and is not for kids. Sam is cute, yes, but he could cause nightmares that last into November…

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Trick 'r Treat 's violence . How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

Is the movie scary? What is the appeal of horror movies ? Why do we enjoy being scared?

What are some of the lessons that the characters learn during the course of this story? Are they lessons that can be applied to life?

Which characters could be considered bullies ? What causes bullying? What are some of the best ways to handle bullies?

How is alcohol depicted? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : October 6, 2009
• Cast : Anna Paquin , Brian Cox , Dylan Baker , Leslie Bibb
• Director : Michael Dougherty
• Inclusion Information : Asian directors, Female actors, Bisexual actors, Asian writers
• Studio : Warner Bros.
• Genre : Horror
• Topics : Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Run time : 82 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : horror violence, some sexuality/nudity and language
• Last updated : March 18, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Trick 'r Treat

Five interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: an everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the guy for her; a group of teen... Read all Five interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: an everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obs... Read all Five interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: an everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband; and a mean old man meets his match with a demonic, supernatural trick-or-tr... Read all

• Michael Dougherty
• Anna Paquin
• Dylan Baker
• 407 User reviews
• 249 Critic reviews
• 6 wins & 7 nominations

• (as Connor Levins)

• Bud The Cameraman
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia The kid with the lollipop in his mouth, who peeks in on the girls in the changing rooms when they are trying on Halloween costumes is Quinn Lord who plays Sam throughout the rest of the movie.
• Goofs When Mr. Kreeg gets his Achilles tendon sliced, He is Later seen standing on it.

[Steven gets prepared to bury Charlie's body in the backyard]

Steven : [Steven takes the tarp off of Charlie] Happy Halloween.

Billy : [shouting from the top floor bedroom window] Daddy! I'm back from Trick-or-Treating!

Steven : [whispers] Billy. Shh. Please, be quiet.

Billy : [shouts] Why?

Steven : Because you'll bother the neighbors, now go watch Charlie Brown and I'll be in in a minute.

Billy : Charlie's Brown's an asshole!

Steven : Billy Wilkens! Language.

[Steven sighs continuing to bury Charlie]

• Connections Featured in Trick 'r Treat: The Lore and Legends of Halloween (2009)
• Soundtracks Spider Blues Written and Performed by Johnny Douglas Courtesy of Imaginary Friends Music Partners

User reviews 407

• heavenlycenobite
• Mar 21, 2019
• How long is Trick 'r Treat? Powered by Alexa
• November 27, 2015 (Latvia)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Warner Bros.
• Trick or Treat
• Ladner, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
• Legendary Entertainment
• Bad Hat Harry Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $12,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 22 minutes
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos

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Trick 'r Treat Review - Best Damn Horror Movie in Years!

by Alex Billington October 24, 2008

I'm not a horror movie guy. Never have been, never will be. But in the last few years I've grown to respect certain films from the genre, whether for personal reasons or for critical reasons, but it's rare that I ever come across a horror movie that I genuinely love . Yesterday night I finally found one. I'm not sure whether it's my childhood affection for Halloween and the act of trick or treating that provoked my appreciation for this movie, but whatever the reason, by in the end I walked out a bigger fan of horror than I've ever been. Michael Dougherty's Trick 'r Treat is, in my own opinion, the absolute best horror movie I've seen in years and it's sadly being buried by Warner Brothers. Unless I convince them to change their mind.

I attended Moriarty's special screening of Trick 'r Treat in Hollywood last night and really didn't know what I was walking into. I had heard a few good things and knew that it was an ensemble film, but that's about it. And that's the best way to go into this. I'm hesitant to already begin talking about it because this is a classic in the making and the only way to further progress that is to make sure audiences know as little as possible going in. With that being said, I'll introduce as little of the film as possible in order to whet everyone's appetite, otherwise no one will even give this a chance when they should be.

Trick 'r Treat is a throwback to the classic Halloween horror movies of past and dwells on the holiday's age old traditions and rules that seem to have been forgotten nowadays. It features four intertwined horror stories all tied together by one creepy little villain that might as well be the next Freddy or Jason. He's so disturbing but brilliantly designed that he instantly has an unforgettable yet iconic horror look. But there's so much more than just that! From a disgruntled principal to four feisty females to a school bus disaster and teenage prank to ole Mr. Kreeg's freaky visitor, these four stories are told within just a few hours on one Halloween night. It's really a simple as that - don't break the rules of Halloween.

This is one of those movies that as soon as I walked out of it, I wanted to talk with everyone around me about every last detail. It's a fantastic film for so many reasons and I want to try and cover all of them, but that's ultimately impossible. Michael Dougherty , who wrote and directed the film, deserves so much praise for two enormous reasons: first , the writing was extraordinary for a horror film and I'm amazed that all of the stories pulled together so smoothly and the dialogue was so original; and second , his visual style was very refreshing and unique and should be an inspiration for nearly all horror directors.

Another area of Trick 'r Treat that really stood out was the acting. Dylan Baker gives one of the funniest and engaging performances in the film, although I won't reveal who his character is or what he does. Brian Cox also does a remarkable job in a role that seemed challenging to pull off as well. Additionally, I've got to mention Anna Paquin , Lauren Lee Smith , and the gorgeous Leslie Bibb , who all do a fine job as well. Just thinking about the acting, how often is it that we ever see a horror movie full of good actors? Trick 'r Treat doesn't just have good actors, it has stunning actors who really helped take this movie to the next level.

Considering all things, Trick 'r Treat might actually be a nearly perfect film. There isn't much to complain about save for some personal annoyances, particularly those surrounding some werewolves that show up - although the audience cheered in that scene during my screening, so maybe that's just a complaint only I have. Because besides that, Trick 'r Treat was pretty much a flawless horror film . So much so that I think it has the potential to be a huge hit and start a new franchise in a genre that is getting staler every year. There hasn't been a horror movie this original and this inventive since Wes Craven brought us Scream in 1996. I guess it only took twelve years to finally find the next great horror franchise.

The problem with Trick 'r Treat is that Warner Brothers, who smartly produced this in the first place, seems to have given up on it when it comes to distributing. After originally planning to release it in October of 2007, they pulled it from the schedule and cut off all promotions last minute. A year later and we haven't heard a thing and I really don't know why. What are they sacred of? I hope this screening was encouraging enough to convince them that Trick 'r Treat literally is the next big horror movie, and I mean big . It needs some strong grass roots support (like this review) and it needs to be released on Halloween. So maybe next year, if we're lucky, Warner Brothers will officially unveil Trick 'r Treat .

All that I can leave everyone with is a strong suggestion to see this movie as soon as you can. If you ever hear it mentioned again or have the opportunity to see it, don't miss it . Trick 'r Treat needs to be seen for the first time in a dark theater, with the least amount of prior knowledge, and as close to Halloween as possible. Only then will you truly be able to get the best Trick 'r Treat experience and hopefully come to love it as much as I did. I just hope Warner Brothers is smart enough to eventually provide that opportunity to moviegoers sometime in the future. It's so rare for me to find something like this, but as far as I can recall, Trick 'r Treat is the only extraordinary horror movie I've ever truly loved.

Find more posts: Hype , Movie Reviews

55 Comments

I've wanted to see this ever since I saw the preview for it on the 300 DVD. It looks excellent and I just couldn't believe it last year when it wasn't released. I was hoping for a release this year but I guess I will have to hope for next year. I guess if it isn't Batman or Harry Potter, Warner Brothers just doesn't have any faith in it.

Jim on Oct 24, 2008

Wow Alex. I'm so ecstatic by your review! You really did enjoy the flick! I'm not much of a horror fan myself, but my interest is greatly stimulated by reading this. I sure hope WB makes a sound decision and releases this. I, too had been following this flick since last year for a release date and I had previously read rumors that the flick was going straight to DVD. I hope it's not true as it'll be a damn shame!

Spider on Oct 24, 2008

I have never seen or heard anything about this movie. I like the concept and being a huge horror movie fan I think I will need to check it out.

CK on Oct 24, 2008

Looks almost as good as Satan's Little Helper

REAL6 on Oct 24, 2008

I have been waiting for this movie for so long 🙁 It makes me sad I will have to wait even longer...we need a good horror movie with a good story...

Maxx on Oct 24, 2008

They could always pull a Midnight Meat Train and be featured on the Fear.net on demand channel.

Josh on Oct 24, 2008

I don't know if I should love you or hate you. 😕 I've been wanting to see this for so long, this is torture.

tzarinna on Oct 24, 2008

I went to the halloween convention in Las Vegas this year and one of the biggest vendors said this movie would be in theatres this fall and that it would begin a new franchise like Freddy and Jason. It's interesting to read about what WB is doing with the film.

CRNBRD on Oct 24, 2008

I had almost forgotten about this film... Thanks for the input, I'm looking forward to watching it

William on Oct 24, 2008

wow, just watched the trailer, looks decent, although Im not a fan of horror films.

Derek on Oct 24, 2008

Warner Bros isn't going to distribute the film in theaters. Though they do plan on releasing it on DVD at a undetermined time.

B33 on Oct 24, 2008

I had completely forgotten about this movie.... but now I remember how exited I was for when I saw the trailer some time ago. **** Warner Bros for not having enopugh balls to go ahead and release it!!!!

Tomi on Oct 24, 2008

Why do people think Scream is so fucking good. This movie looks to be cool, but quit comparing new horror to Scream. It's like when every review compares every thriller to Hitchcock. So many great horror movies have come out...

wm on Oct 24, 2008

Explain somthing to me...if you don't like horror and "never will" then why write a review? So, because you, someone who doesn't like horror, like this movie, it's supposed to be worth watching. I don't buy it. Why should I eat at a steak house run by vegatarians? If you don't like it, don't reveiw it. Let someone else do the review. This reminds me of our local Arts/Entertainment reviewer who complained about the Predator's "fishnet stockings". If you don't like, don't get it, don't review it. Perhaps this will be a movie worth watching but I won't take your word for it.

Defeatedfrog on Oct 24, 2008

I had first read about Trick Or Treat right here on first showing.net a while back and was supremely interested. Its nice to know that it wasnt my imagination that this film seemd to just dissapear. Please WB, release this movie next October. I really want my faith in the horror genre to be restored.

Alex on Oct 24, 2008

Scream was good the first run through. He pretty much mentions originality, instead of it being real good.

L on Oct 24, 2008

I wanted to see this since I first saw the trailer and that was two or so years ago? WB really let the ball drop on this one.

Ryan on Oct 24, 2008

They need to put this out. Seriously, I'm sick of waiting...

Tyler on Oct 24, 2008

I find it so crazy that a studio will spend all that time and money to make a brilliant movie and then not release it because it doesnt look to be the next Titanic. If they would just get their heads out of their *sses then they could realize the true value in these movies and market them in a way that will please both sides.

Looks freaky , i like the dude with the pumkin sack head. They should at least put this on DVD so it can get a cult following an they can make a profit. I'll keep this one in the back of my head in case i spot it at a dvd rack someday.

BadKarma on Oct 25, 2008

Hey I was just at Barnes and Noble and saw the book, "Trick or Treat". I was hoping it was the screenplay, but it was just the making of the movie but the pictures are freaky as hell. The werewolves the and the other characters. I'm really excited to see this movie now. I thought it was just some low budget b type of movie but it actually looks a lot more then that! I really want to see this! If anybody is interested you should check it out!

The_Phantom on Oct 25, 2008

This sounds fucking awesome. Period.

jman571 on Oct 25, 2008

I just happened to watch 300 because Im going to be a Spartan for Halloween and this was the first trailer on the DVD, wth whens it comign out etc etc looks great!

Richard on Oct 25, 2008

I've been waiting 2 years for this film. It looks amazing. I could of sworn i seen some witches flying in the trailer? Anyway great review! I'm super excited. I can not wait to own this film. IT'S ABOUT TIME WE GET A CLASSIC HORROR FILM that we can pass down to our children's children!!!

Patrick on Oct 25, 2008

Hot damn, am REALLY excited to see this! The trailer was awesome. Am surprised that you think its that good Alex, cause it looks pretty low budget. Can`t wait to see this!! ...whenever it comes out lol

buddhistwisdom7 on Oct 25, 2008

I've been waiting and waiting on this movie to be released. I don't care if it is on the big screen, on dvd, or on on demand. I just want to see this movie. I was so excited when I first heard about it and then when I didn't see it out last year I was confused. I looked all over and there seemed to be a complete lack of information about this movie. WB is majorly messing up with this one. It should have been released last year, this year, or better be next year!! God I wish Hollywood didn't suck so bad!!

Syko on Oct 27, 2008

Cool. I don't remember seeing this on the 300 DVD, but that's probably because I blocked it out thinking it was another run of the mill slasher. You say Brian Cox is in this? Excellent. He's a terrific actor, I'm in. And another thing, you're right, Alex. I don't remember any really good original horror movies that made an impression on me like Scream, which I thought was going to be trash until I saw it. Except for Audition. Did anyone see Audition?

JL on Oct 27, 2008

Have I ever heard of this before? No. Am I dying to see it now? Yes!

kevjohn on Oct 27, 2008

i actually thought that the trailer sucked.

darrin on Oct 27, 2008

i want to see this. i must see this 🙂

lalafrog2003 on Oct 30, 2008

Well, Darrin, I think you suck. The trailer looks kickass!

CruJones on Nov 1, 2008

what can i do to make these bastards change their' minds? Im thinking the severed head of a horse!

Ray on Nov 2, 2008

They should have released it this year...I guess we'll have to wait until next year! But I'd rather wait and see it during Halloween IN a theater then having it go straight-to-dvd and watching it at home.

Yum on Nov 5, 2008

I only recently viewed a trailer for this film but i was instantly hooked! Ive been a fan of the cinema horror genre for as long as i can remember and it is very rare that i see a preview for a film that sparks this much interest in me. In a time where everyone wants to be "the next great thing" in horror films so many of the movies that are released are laughable at best and the good stories are brought down by poor scripts or faulty endings(a.k.a. "The Happening"). Its sad to see highly anticipated films that could possibly bring horror movies out of a recent "indie" funk be put on a shelf because of hollywood politics. Whatever the case may be i am ecstatic about the release of "trick or treat"and i am going to show everyone possible the trailer i sat in "childish bliss" watching.

Ghost on Nov 8, 2008

where can i find this movie did it come out yet?

jessy on Mar 20, 2009

Warner Brothers...they simply care about profit. If it's not Harry Potter or the next Titantic, forget about it. This film deserves to be released. I saw it at a special screening, and I was hooked. Easily a 9/10.

Matt on Apr 6, 2009

OMG i WANNA SEE THIS FREAKING MOVIE!!!!!! ive waited 3 freaking years for this movie but i found this thing that said that the movie is going to be released on dvd October of this year (09) they should just let it freaking open up in theaters and i guarantee you THOUSANDS bout millions for people will in fact go see this movie even if they put it out now which all of us on here would very much love 🙂 because they havnt put out a good horror movie in YEARS about time they did 🙂 ok 😀

adrean on Apr 20, 2009

I am a huge horror film buff. I love scary and thrilling horror movies. When I first got a glimpse of this film, I was aching to see it. Slasher classics like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street are some of my favorites, but true originality is a real treat. I am definitely hoping for a Halloween release this year, especially with such a huge real of summer hits in 2009 so far.

John on Aug 3, 2009

the official site lists the release date as october 6th!!! it's about time this was released ^_^ anyone doing the contest at trtmovie.com???

john c. on Aug 28, 2009

hmmm sorry 2 say ppl i jst watched this movie its 11.45pm.I didn't get scared or there was nothing big to say as horror in dis movie.because of these comments only i download it but nothing huge as da comments given.

Natali on Sep 29, 2009

here is the deal ..the movie was way awesome.. i dont know what you all are talking about ... This movie is a mix of many mythical characters and good stars are in this movie ... Its a sort of Creep Show type of stuff.. its really nice... the setting is really cool .. i mean if you were smoking a blunt and with a tons of friends and wanted to watch a movie at the night .. this is the movie to watch ... its on movieplex.org in its DVD print ..look it up ...

about it on Oct 1, 2009

This movie was SOOO SWEET I wish it was longer and I hope they make more 🙂 Im gunna buy it asap!

Adam E M on Oct 7, 2009

This was the single worst horror film I have ever seen. There was no plot whatsoever, the characters had little if no background, and it jumped from group to group without any connection. Maybe I am missing something here, but I hope that this movie never comes out in theaters so the American public can be spared.

Nick on Oct 12, 2009

This film is such a delight! I can't begin to praise it enough! 9.5 out of 10! Mr. Daugherty is already talking about a sequel so we'll get more Trick 'r Treating in a couple of years! Warner Bros. really missed the boat on this one. Talk about a sterotypically clueless studio - this film would easily have made $50 to $100 million at the box office, plus dvd sales. Now they only get the dvd sales. News flash Warner morons: good movies should be released!

WeirdMinnesota on Oct 29, 2009

How much did you people get paid to say this movie was good?

Sarah on Dec 22, 2009

I love this movie, i am a huge horror movie fan and i have been my whole life. this was probably the best horror movie i've ever seen. @43 you did miss something, obviously the hole fuckin movie or at least the begining, each short story is based on 1 of the 4 rules of halloween and that my friend is tw plot of the movie so go back and rewatch it. @45 i didn't get paid, i got it as a xmas present biz-nitch

guh on Jan 3, 2010

**is the plot of the movie** - is what i meant to say

Purchased this movie on dvd. I totally agree with Alex... the only fail bout the movie is that it is so short! ... 😀 and that on DvD it dosent fill out the screen so i wished that ive saw it in the movies.. :'(

Martin on Feb 28, 2010

This was the single worst horror film I have ever seen. There was no plot whatsoever, the characters had little if no background, and it jumped from group to group without any connection.

Garage apartment plans on May 8, 2010

There is a connection your just to stupid to see it

Skykid20 on Apr 18, 2012

I found so many interesting stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the excellent work.

Green screen backgrounds on May 13, 2010

I watched this movie yesterday.. t`was freakin creepy xD

Cindy on Oct 29, 2010

This movie was horrible. There were so many scenes that were never explained or finished. Why was the principle killing kids? What happened to red riding hood and the vampire? Stupid and horrible.

Becky on Dec 26, 2010

Some poeple are so stupid. Does everything need to be explained to them???? This movie was excellent.

Dolan Kristina on Jan 15, 2011

This movie is unique. It's not funny, it's never scary, but it's perfect. A weird combination of cruelty and cuteness that makes the best horror movie of all time.

David Alejandro Gutiérrez Guti on Dec 10, 2012

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Trick 'r Treat

Where to Watch

Anna Paquin (Laurie) Brian Cox (Mr. Kreeg) Dylan Baker (Steven) Rochelle Aytes (Maria) Quinn Lord (Sam) Lauren Lee Smith (Danielle) Moneca Delain (Janet) Tahmoh Penikett (Henry) Brett Kelly (Charlie) Britt McKillip (Macy) Isabelle Deluce (Sara) Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Schrader) Alberto Ghisi (Chip) Samm Todd (Rhonda) Leslie Bibb (Emma) Connor Christopher Levins (Billy) James Willson (Alex) Patrick Gilmore (Bud The Cameraman)

Michael Dougherty

Five interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: an everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband; and a mean old man meets his match with a demonic, supernatural trick-or-treater.

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Saturday, October 31, 2020

Review: trick 'r treat.

Director: Michael Dougherty

Screenplay: Michael Dougherty

Hundreds of horror movies are based on Halloween, but not many are able to capture the essence of this day. Candy, costumes, and fun mix with some magic and horror to create the most chilling night of the year. “Trick ‘r Treat” is one of the few movies that manages to capture all of the characteristics of this particular night in an excellent horror-comedy.

In the town of Warren Valley, everyone is getting ready with their costumes and decorations to celebrate Halloween night. Vampires, werewolves, living dead, and killer pumpkins roam the streets, but not all are costumes. “Trick ‘r Treat” is an anthology that presents five interwoven stories, all taking place on Halloween night.

Usually, horror anthologies have a story that connects all of the individual ones, and they have little relationship with one another, which generally makes them feel like a collection of short films instead of a full movie. Michael Dougherty (“Krampus”), the director and screenwriter of this movie, takes a different route with “Trick ‘r Treat” and mixes the stories in a way that they all play out as segments of a single story and they don’t feel like unrelated short films. Also, characters cross-over from stories and are relevant to them, contributing to the cohesion among them.

How Dougherty connects the stories and how characters pop up between them shows the cleverness and the attention he pays to details. Not only on the script but also the visuals show a care that is seldom seen in a horror-comedy, and every take looks polished and flashy. It also helps that the cast does an excellent job with the acting, and it shows that they had fun while making the movie.

In many horror anthologies, one or two stories are added that are substantially weaker than the rest, and they seem to have been added just to stretch the runtime. This is not what happens in “Trick ‘r Treat”, where each story is at least good, whit some excellent ones. And let’s not forget Sam’s character, who makes his way to each story and has his time in the spotlight in the last one, and who is the perfect blend between adorable and frightening.

“Trick ‘r Treat” has built a cult following and has become one of the favorite movies to watch during Halloween for many, and with good reason. Not only is it fun and macabre, but it captures the essence of Halloween night without being too frightening, which allows anyone who enjoys this celebration to have a good time with it. Of all the movies available based on Halloween night, “Trick ‘r Treat” is the movie to watch on it.

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Trick 'r Treat Blu-ray Review

This blu-ray is definitely a treat..

In This Article

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Trick ‘r Treat

Review by brian eggert october 9, 2009.

Monsters, child murderers, and creepy little kids—oh my! Trick ‘r Treat ventures into horror anthology territory to spin four delightfully spooky tales wrought with shocks and macabre humor, all taking place on one twisted Halloween night. Long shuffled around on the theatrical release schedule, and then forgotten on the dusty shelves in the Warner Bros. vault, the film finally premieres on home video. But don’t take this limited debut out on the film. The studio refused to invest in a full theatrical distribution, and not for artistic reasons, but because anthologies are hard to advertise, and because not releasing it provided a convenient power play.

Taking a cue from horror magazines of yesteryear, Trick ‘r Treat opens with comic book-style animation over the credits, recalling, but superior to similar introductions in Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt . However, there’s no skeletal host to the four stories, just Sam, the mute, masked, twisted kiddie guardian of Halloween. Sometimes he stands back and observes, and other times he’s what frightens us the most. Each of the film’s stories interweaves to avoid an episodic feel, and they all occur around the same time, some overlapping. Desperate screams in one story become muffled Did you hear that? in another. It all takes place in the suburban town of Warren Valley, Ohio, where fallen leaves blanket the ground, scarecrows protect every yard, and cheap costumes range from Sexy Kitten with mesh pantyhose to the garden variety holes-in-a-bed-sheet ghost.

The film’s writer-director Michael Dougherty ( X2: X-Men United ) laces each account with rules about Halloween itself, whether they stem back to the ancient festival Samhain or come from urban legends now commonly associated with the holiday. For instance, one story reminds us to always check our candy. Tubby juvenile delinquent Charlie (Brett Kelly) doesn’t check his, and he ends up prey to his bloodthirsty school principal (Dylan Baker). But the characters must also have holiday spirit, which is jealously and violently defended by Sam. If someone decides to blow out a jack-o-lantern before the night is over, like killjoy Emma (Leslie Bibb), Sam appears and bloody retribution ensues. With his razor-sharp sucker and eerie costume, at first, you’ll want to know what he looks like under that mask, and then after you see him, you’ll wish you could unsee his horrifying face.

Sam seems to walk us through each story. He’s passive when the virginal Laurie (Anna Paquin) dons her Red Riding Hood costume and heads into the forest, followed by the town’s resident vampire. And he’s barely there when a group of children find something horrible when they decide to pay tribute to the victims of the “Halloween School Bus Massacre” in an abandoned rock quarry. He’s an observer of death, partaking only in the opening and finale. When the crusty old Mr. Kreeg (Brian Cox) doesn’t give candy to the children knocking on his door, Sam visits him. But then, how does Mr. Kreeg relate to the other stories? Discovering how each is connected presents a complete mosaic, versus a series of detachable episodes.

Dougherty previously worked with the film’s producer, Bryan Singer ( Valkyrie ), on Superman Returns , the monumental disappointment that all but ruined a tentpole Warner Bros. franchise. Bad blood pumped about the studio after the Man of Steel’s latest adventure failed to achieve the blockbuster numbers it should have. And doubtless, when Dougherty’s film wrapped in 2007, the studio’s marketing gurus took one look at this collection of horror stories and scratched their heads. Its release met delay after delay, despite the positive pre-release buzz and early praise from various horror film festivals. But with commercial failures like Grindhouse , how do you sell audiences on such a high-concept idea, especially when any choppily cut trailer can sell standard horror fare about ghosts and serial killers?

This is pure speculation, but perhaps Warner Bros., faced with a risky promotional campaign, decided to dump the film, Hollywood-style because it conveniently dealt a harsh blow to Dougherty and Singer for their failure on Superman Returns . Regardless, the exceptionally entertaining pageant of thrills and demented dark comedy speaks for itself, suggesting the studio’s mistreatment stems from something other than dissatisfaction with the final product. The film is simply too original and too fun to be considered anything less than a creative achievement. When theaters offer little more than remakes, Saw sequels, and increasingly unsavory gunk, Trick ‘r Treat makes a strong case for staying home.

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Trick ‘r Treat (2008) – Horror Movie Review

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By Melissa Antoinette Garza

Horror fans have been teased with the prospect of the latest horror anthology TRICK ‘R TREAT (2008) for what seems like forever. Initially, it was set for a Halloween 2007 theater release but without a declared reason why Warner Bros. pulled it from the schedule. It was kept on the back-burner with only scattered updates that made the anticipating public build expectations for a movie that they were unable to see. Finally, two years later, it finally made its way on a straight-to-DVD format, and though being denied the ability to see it on the big screen, one must still be happy that the delay is finally over.

The trailer hailed it as the best Halloween film in years. Though it may not be as great as advertised, it is a film that truly does not disappoint. Trick ’r Treat opens with a familiar CREEPSHOW feeling as comic book drawings for the upcoming tales are flashed in the opening credits.

Four original tales are interwoven and ultimately connect in a small town on Halloween night. Every character is one that captivates and the stories told though not terrifying are fun, inventive, and even a bit surprising.

The first tale depicts a demented school teacher Steven (Dylan Baker). He returns home as a young rude obese boy is stealing the chocolate he left for all of the trick-or-treaters. Instead of being angry, Steven encourages the boy to eat the candy. He gorges and ultimately dies a horrific and painful death. Steven brings the body of the child in the backyard and places him into an already dug hole.

As he begins to bury the body, Steven’s young son yells out the window and asks his father to come and carve with him. Steven agrees to as soon as he’s finished, but meanwhile his old drunk neighbor Mr. Kreeg (Brian Cox) overhears the ruckus and asks what is going on. Steven quickly covers and offers a friendly “Happy Halloween,” which is responded to with a gruff “screw you.”

Later this develops into another story which follows Kreeg. It is very apparent that this old drunk hates Halloween. He doesn’t give the children candy who come to his door but only greets them with a vicious sneer. He wants nothing to do with the holiday itself. He would rather stay alone with his dog, his shotgun and a bottle of whisky watching television. As he sits on his couch flipping through the channels to find anything that isn’t Halloween related, a strange thing occurs. A very small child with a potato sack around his head shows up but is denied candy. This treater however isn’t one that’s easy to get rid of. Though Kreeg closes the door on him, he still appears in the house. He can climb up walls and onto ceilings. The Halloween lover has painted in blood all over Kreeg’s bedroom “trick or treat.” During a long battle, Kreeg pulls the sack off of the young boy revealing a demon. This however isn’t just an evil awful entity. It’s actually an embodiment of the holiday itself playing as a powerful reminder to spread the holiday cheer.

This same demon follows a young couple who have come home from a large Halloween parade. Henry (Tahmow Penikett) gleams like a child as he tries to cheer his less than enthusiastic wife Emma (Leslie Bibb). She like Kreeg is not a fan of Halloween. When he tries to get frisky, she demands that he takes the decorations down first. When he looks less than eager to and promises to do it tomorrow, she gets angry and tells him she’ll take them down herself. She angrily strips the sheets off the scarecrow setups but soon is greeted with the holiday demon who is none too pleased that she thinks so poorly of the holiday.

We soon meet awkward uncomfortable Laurie (Anna Paquin) who is preparing for her Halloween date. She and her three more confident friends meet up in a costume shop. Whereas Laurie chooses a more dignified Little Red Riding Hood costume, her sister and friends opt for more revealing Snow White, Cinderella, and Belle costumes. Laurie explains her nervousness to her sister Danielle (Lauren Lee Smith) who tries to offer some encouraging words.

Laurie wanders in the woods by herself where she encounters the mystery man. He soon reveals his teeth and sinks them deep into her neck. The end result is a cool twist with great special effects and an 80s horror appeal that at the same time remains original.

The last tale and by far the best follows a bunch of children who decide to investigate an old town legend. Years ago, the parents of the ‘special’ children in town sent them to a separate school on a separate bus. The difficulties of raising these kids and dealing with the townspeople who looked down upon them became too much and they paid the bus driver to chain the children to the seats and run the bus into the lake. The plan backfired on the driver however, and one of the children escape to the steering wheel and while the driver was in the back, the entire bus was driven over the cliff with everyone expected to be dead. No one had heard from the driver nor the kids ever again.

Pretty bully Marcy (Britt McKillip), the young nice popular boy Schrader (Jean-Luc Bilodeau), Chip (Alberto Ghisi) the chubby boy who is just happy to be tagging along and follower Sara (Isabelle Deluce) decide to pull a prank on the very eccentric idiot savant Rhonda (Samm Todd). For Halloween she placed in front of her house dozens of lit pumpkins. The gang of kids convince her to travel down to the lake with them so they can offer the jack-o-lanterns as offerings for the lost souls. She goes down with the kids and advises them that as long as the pumpkins remain lit they are protected. Soon, the children play a cruel prank on her but the plan goes awry and they are faced with a group of very unhappy zombies.

The make-up is especially fantastic in this tale. The acting is great and the story is very compelling. The legend would make for a great full-length movie if properly done. It could definitely be something the likes of Village of the Damned or The Children.

In the end, the production was fantastic. Every tale holds the attention and the way in which they are tied together is fascinating. The creators went to great effort to ensure that the nostalgic 80s vibe of the “Creepshow” and “Night of the Demons” era holds throughout. It isn’t a terrifying horror film nor is it one that would make anyone lose sleep. There are a few isolated creepy moments but more than anything this is a great movie to watch on Halloween when there are a mix of horror fans and those who scare easily.

It’s sad that while the Saw franchise is shoved down the throats of everyone on a yearly basis, “Trick ‘r Treat” missed its moment on the big screen. Overall, it’s definitely one to watch and one that horror fans will enjoy immensely.

Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10

Sherman Hemsley RIP 1938-2012

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Trick ‘r Treat (2007) Movie Review – 31 Days of Halloween

Four interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: an everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the one guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank, and a bitter old recluse receives an uninvited guest.

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Movie review.

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Halloween is almost here and we are up to day 30 of our K-O-Ween 31 Days of Halloween feature . I thought we could use a little variety today so I have turned to a movie that does the whole Halloween thing better than almost any – Michael Dougherty’s 2007 Horror Anthology Trick ‘r Treat.

Anthology horror movies are often very hit and miss. I mean, if we are honest, that is sort of in their nature. They will have a few good segments, a few bad ones and a couple that are pretty average. Trick ‘r Treat is different from most horror anthologies, though. This is a movie that is legitimately solid from start to end.

Every segment is fun in its own way and the way they all connected together is fantastic. Better than almost any other similar movie, in fact. But that’s not the main reason I am featuring this movie today.

Perfect Halloween Movie

The main reason is that Trick ‘r Treat just gets the Halloween feel so damn right. It feels like a Halloween movie through and through. From the numerous Halloween parties taking place to the liberal use of carved pumpkins right down to just the feel of the movie itself. Trick ‘r Treat might be one of the most perfect October horror movies in a long time.

The movie consists of five stories that all take place within the same small town. One features a couple returning home from a Halloween party to find something strange in their garden. Another sees a pumpkin smashing boy having a grizzly encounter with his school’s principle. The third follows a group of friends as they head to the lake where a school bus full of children disappeared to perform a ritual.

The fourth sees a group of young women making their way to a Halloween party with a difference and the last sees an anti social elderly man being attacked in his own home by a malicious pumpkin headed creature.

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The Best Horror Anthology?

It all sounds like pretty standard horror movie stuff and, for the most part, it is. There’s some cool moments, some effective tension, some creative setups and a few surprises. But it isn’t anything you haven’t seen before. There are plenty of horror tropes here and, for the most part, the movie projects what is about to happen before it does. It’s not massively scary but it doesn’t really need to be. The stories are just quick, punchy, and a lot of fun. They don’t overstay their welcome, either, which is a good thing.

The cool thing is the way the movies are all connected. Since the events are all taking place in one small town. All of the stories are interconnected. They are taking place at the same time and one will lead into another seamlessly or will set something up that can be revisited later. The timeline is non-linear so does bounce around a bit but it does it so well. It’s brilliant and feels like one of the best ways to present a horror anthology that I have come across. And I have watched a ton of horror anthologies.

The connecting story is almost always the worst. They are almost always vaguely linked to the individual segments themselves and often feel completely tacked together. That’s just not the case with Trick ‘r Treat. The connecting story doesn’t exist in the traditional sense. Each story simply leads on to another while simultaneously setting up a later one. It’s so much better than the norm and makes the movie so much more enjoyable. The Christmas anthology A Christmas Horror Story does something similar but, as a movie, Trick ‘r Treat is leagues better.

Flows So Well

It’s very clear that a ton of care has gone into this movie. It’s not easy to tie disparate segments together but it works so damn well. Naturally that is, in large part, due to the movie having only one director. Meaning that a consistent theme can be maintained throughout. But the segments are still unique and interesting enough to keep the horror anthology feeling alive. A lot of effort has gone into this movie to make each story interesting in its own way.

I am sure fans of Goosebumps and the like will understand when I say it’s like binging a show like that. The segments feel the same but the stories are different. It hearkens back to things like Tales From The Crypt as well. Just fun horror stories that don’t hang around to long, offer a bunch of thrills and leave before they get old. It is no surprise to me that this movie is becoming a cult classic. I loved it the first time I saw it and loved it even more on a rewatch. To be honest, I enjoyed it more than the majority of films I have watched in the past year. 

A Lot of Horror

Trick ‘r Treat manages to cram a lot of horror into its short runtime. We have werewolves, vampires, killer headmasters, ghostly children, an adorable sack wearing child monster, and so much more. The variety is what makes it so good. As mentioned above, each story is unique and each story is interesting. You aren’t seeing the same thing twice. And as a very nice bonus each story features an equal amount of pure Halloween goodness. This isn’t just horror, this is Halloween horror.

Our sack wearing monster, Sam, became a bit of a horror icon. And his segments are a lot of fun. He features quite frequently throughout the stories and is something of a tie that binds them together. I believe he went on to receive merchandise including a Funko POP! and a Sideshow Collectibles figure and more. Trick ‘r Treat absolutely needs a sequel. Michael Dougherty said one is in active development right now and I hope it happens because this is one of the best Halloween themed horror movies around.

Final Thoughts and Score

There may not be a more pure and unfiltered Halloween movie on the market. Sure, others feature Halloween or are set on Halloween. But Trick ‘r Treat is an ode to the day itself. It’s a brilliant anthology with five fantastic segments and one of the best ways to bring it all together I have seen. It is perfect October viewing but save it for Halloween itself. It will put you right in the mood. It is absolutely my favourite horror anthology and a movie every horror fan needs to watch.

Trailer: Trick 'r Treat (2007)

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[Review] ‘Trick ‘r Treat’ Is An Instant Cult Classic

I know this is going to sound like a backhanded compliment, but I really didn’t expect Michael Dougherty ’s Trick ‘r Treat   to be as good as it was. Not only was this Dougherty’s feature directorial debut, but it’s a film that tells four different stories intermingled into one… for most this would mean instant disaster, for Dougherty it means instant cult classic.

Treat takes place in an unnamed town during All Hallows Eve (Halloween) where four groups of people all have their own unique, yet terrifying story to tell. One follows Dylan Baker and his son who have too much fun with trick or treaters; then Anna Paquin and her friends lour a bunch of guys to the forest for a night of partying; all the while a group of kids are taking pumpkins to the site of a bus crash where the spirits of the dead are said to be haunting; lastly, an old-bitter man ( Brian Cox ) gets visited by a costumed boy named Sam (who becomes an instant horror icon) who teaches him the seriousness of the holiday.

Dougherty has been trying to get this film off of his artwork and into theaters for a long, long time now… it was worth the wait. The best way to describe Trick ‘r Treat is that it reminds me of a live-action Nightmare Before Christmas , or a film that takes place in the same world. The character designs are colorful, unique and completely unnerving, especially the final ‘creature’, Sam, who torments the old man. The gorgeous set design only added to the atmosphere of the film, really bringing this artists vision to life. Welcome to Michael Dougherty’s world.

Dougherty’s screenplay was extremely well written as the conversations were realistic and there wasn’t a single taste of cheese to be found… it was all sweet as sugar. Not only was he able to mingle together four intricate stories into one feature film (without breaking into segments like Creepshow ), but he also threw in homage after homage to some of our favorite old-school horror films ( Evil Dead 2, The Thing ).

The film ends extremely strong and I could hear the audience really soaking it in; they were screaming, laughing, jumping, chattering and hooting as the final scenario unfolds. The audience is very representational of what type of film this truly is… in short, Trick ‘r Treat is F-U-N . It’s a trip back to the ‘80s when the goal was to excite and entertain, not torment you. Dougherty’s film is the type of movie you can bring anyone to, whether it’s a date or your kid. It’s not overly violent or too funny, it’s as Goldie Locks says “just right!” This is the type of film that will ensure you forget about all your worries and will captivate you until the very end (maybe even bring back the spirit of the holiday, which feels long lost).

With all sorts of uber-violent movies hitting theaters every October, this is a horror film made for every single person who enjoys going to the cinema. And don’t count on seeing it only once, you’ll find yourself watching sucker every Halloween until the day you die.

Editor’s Note: review cleaned up on Oct. 29. 2018.

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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Trick 'r Treat - Blu-ray Review

{googleAds} <div style="float:left"> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-9764823118029583"; /* 125x125, created 12/10/07 */ google_ad_slot = "8167036710"; google_ad_width = 125; google_ad_height = 125; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div>{/googleAds}The horror anthology is nothing new; however, its success to failure ratio is a muddled affair at best. Only a few attempts have truly been pop culture landmarks and those are usually relegated to television - namely, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Tales from the Crypt come to mind. When it comes to horror movie anthologies; however, there are historically (and hysterically) more attempts and fewer successes: Creepshow worked well enough and... well... there's Creepshow. So when a film comes along attempting to weave several scary stories together as one film, like Trick r' Treat does, audiences and critics alike join together in anticipation because we want to be scared, we want to laugh at ourselves, and we all like good stories especially when they are cleverly linked. Trick r' Treat is the film we all should be celebrating this Halloween; it's that good.

Blu-ray Details:

Screen Formats : 1.85:1

Subtitles : English SDH, Spanish, French.

Language and Sound: English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 French: Dolby Digital 5.1.

Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access; trailers.

Supplements:

Audio Commentary - with director Michael Dougherty is informative and amusing. It includes interesting tidbits about the movie that help illuminate the connections between each story.

Featurettes

• The Lore and Legends of Halloween (SD, 28 minutes) - This is fun and interesting a perfect match for the film. It includes interviews from the makers and stars of Trick r' Treat.

Additional Scenes (SD, 17 minutes) - interesting and help to fill in the gaps in the storylines as they cross over. One sequence involving a character named Charlie should never have been cut, but included here makes the release near perfect.

Animated Short

• Season's Greetings (SD, 4 minutes) - This is the short film the movie was based upon. It's fun stuff and very imaginative. Not to be missed. There is an optional commentary included with the short from Dougherty.

BD Live! opens a whole new world of special features including an F/X comparison of some sequences of the movie.

Number of Discs: 1 with Keepcase Packaging

{pgomakase}

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Review: Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

June 22, 2016 Ray Marek III Reviews

Trick ‘r Treat is a horror anthology that came out in 2007.  It is written and directed by Michael Dougherty, the same guy who wrote X-men 2, Superman Returns, Krampus and X-men Apocalypse.  While those are bigger budget, summer blockbusters, I think Trick r’ Treat may be his finest work…although Krampus was a lot of fun and not a summer blockbuster.  That is one of the things about Trick ‘r Treat and Krampus, they are horror and they are fun.

Trick ‘r Treat is broken in to a total of six parts, but they all connect.  They do take place in the same, fictional town of Warren Valley, Ohio.  The stories are very good by themselves, but wrapped together in a bow.  There were parts of the story I simply thought would end, well like most horror cliches.  But that is where the movie succeeds, it doesn’t do what you think it should.

Each segment is different, but like I said, it all is in the same place and all parts seem to intersect.  But the main part of the movie seems to center around a figure named “Sam”.  A little…guy who is kind of the keeper or even the spirit of Halloween.  He spends his Halloween punishing those who break or do not follow those traditions.

In this movie there are a couple of different actors who I would not expect to see in a movie like this.  But Brian Cox, who was also in the Ring and Anna Paquin, but I did forget this was pre-True Blood.  Other than Sam, Anna Paquin was possibly one of my favorite parts of the movie, again what happens to her is unexpected and welcome.

Trick ‘r Treat is a very good horror anthology.  It is kind of a throw back in many ways and has very good suspense.   Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall “Fresh” approval rating from critics of 86%, It is a shame that it is the only one.  There are many anthologies, but this one really works.  In this day and age, why is it so hard to make movies?  Back in the 1980s, it seemed like everyone was farting out movies.  Look at Friday the 13th, great series, but there were 8 movies in 10 years.

Here is info on a possible sequel from Wikipedia.  I am not sure how accurate this information.

Michael Dougherty announced in October 2009 that he is planning a sequel, but later stated that there were “no active development nor an attempt at a pitch.” He went on to say that “[the] more fans continue to support and spread the movie, the more likely it is that Sam will rise from the pumpkin patch once more.” Dougherty helped create a short promotional Easter trailer for FEARnet’s Trick ‘r Treat 24-hour marathon for Halloween 2011; the trailer showed a family’s Easter celebration turning into one of horror, with Sam watching the chaos outside whilst wearing rabbit ears.    In October 2013, Dougherty and Legendary Pictures officially announced a sequel, titled Trick ‘r Treat 2 . Dougherty said he plans to “shake it up a little bit” with the sequel.

I see it all over Facebook on different horror pages, Trick ‘r Treat 2 coming in 2017.  I seriously doubt that is true, there is hasn’t been any news since 2013, according to Wiki, but from CinemaBlend…

Trick ‘r Treat 2 doesn’t currently have a release date, but is in the works behind the scenes – so hopefully we’ll hear more about its development and production dates in the coming weeks or months.

Trick ‘r Treat is an underrated movie and it is good old fashioned horror.  If you haven’t, see it soon.  There are some genuinely scary moments.  This movie is perfect to be show on Halloween.

IMDB.com  has a rating of 6.8 and I rate it a little higher, 7.6 .

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