Let us be blunt and to the point: The Horror genre has been on a steady decline since the early 2000s. Call it evolution, trends, or a perception of what Horror is, but to many, any film made over the last 15-20 years has left something to be desired.
Unfortunately, the way it is, this does not mean there are exceptions to this broad generalization. In fact, there are many well-done independent Horror films still being made, but anything worth the time from a major film company is a dime a dozen. However, in 2009, a little film called Trick ‘r Treat emerged as a big surprise from Warner Bros. Pictures.
Originally screened at numerous film festivals between late 2007 and the summer of 2009, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures toyed with the idea of a theatrical release in 2008 but soon dropped it. An extremely odd decision, considering Trick ‘r Treat had a Horror feeling vastly different than anything at the time, they finally released directly to DVD and Blu-ray on October 6, 2009.
It was a bit of a letdown because no one truly knows what the film could have been if it had a legitimate theatrical run. Why? Because once more people viewed it at home, it became a Horror favorite. To start with, Trick ‘r Treat possesses a true Horror film ascetic, like something made during the ‘80s or even the early ‘90s. Second, it is one of only a few well-done anthology-like Horror features.
Different than, say, 1982’s Creepshow or 1990’s Tale from the Darkside, Trick ‘r Treat features four Halloween Horror stories with one common element in each of them… Sam. Who is Sam? He is a trick-or-treating demon disguised as a little child wearing orange footie pajamas with a burlap sack over his head. Following in the tradition of a character-centric Horror film like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Child’s Play, or Hellraiser films, the character of Sam appears in each story entwined within Trick ‘r Treat, which all flow seamlessly together.
Boldly created a new modern Horror film character; since Trick r’ Treat’s release, Sam has been merchandized successfully to fans’ figures, costumes, etc. This leaves you with the burning question – why was there never a Trick ‘r Treat sequel? No one truly knows, but the only logical explanation one can come up with is that major film studios have completely lost touch with the real Horror-loving community.
Nonetheless, the original Trick ‘r Treat writer/director, Michael Dougherty, stated that he is open to the idea of a new film. Dougherty, who wrote big hits like 2003’s X2 and 2006’s Superman Returns, has also shown an interest in Horror beyond Trick ‘r Treat… having written and directed 2015’s Krampus. Krampus is also a pretty solid original film, so perhaps studios should get the hint and let Dougherty create more Horror films, or at least a Trick ‘ Treat sequel. Only time will tell, but at least in 2024, fans can enjoy Trick ‘r Treat for the first time ever in 4K Ultra HD.
Released to 4K Ultra HD through Arrow Video on October 29, 2024, the limited edition arrived just in time for Halloween and is loaded with many goodies. Beginning with the 4K Ultra HD transfer, Dougherty himself approved it, and the quality is superb. Giving you sharper imagery, the audio is also flawlessly transferred for the ultimate viewing experience of Trick ‘r Treat.
Matching this, you also have tons of new interviews, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck, a double-sided foldout poster featuring the same, plus six postcard-sized art cards. All packaged together nicely, this edition trumps the prior home media releases in each category. In the end, if you know and love Trick ‘r Treat, or are you just a fan of original Horror that balances humor and terror, Cryptic Rock recommends this limited edition 4K Ultra HD release, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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