This “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD release is now available from Arrow Video. It is available at most retailers, and an Arrow Video Exclusive edition can be purchased through the company’s website.
I adore horror anthologies and have since I was young and watched the incredible George A. Romero film Creepshow (1982). I was definitely younger than I should have been when first watching the movie, but it inspired me to catch up with several other top-notch titles over the years, including Dead of Night (1945), Tales from the Crypt (1972) and many others. Trick ‘r Treat is one title I caught as an adult and believe stands among those listed above as the best anthologies out there.
Arrow Video is giving the picture a new 4K Ultra HD “Limited Edition” with a brand-new restoration approved by director Michael Dougherty. The results are fantastic and the movie looks better than ever. The Halloween sets and costumes pop off the screen, making this edition an absolute joy to behold.
If you haven’t seen the movie, it is set in an Ohio town on Halloween. Everyone is going about their holiday-related activities and the film focuses on four different stories. One involves a high-school principal and father (Dylan Baker) who happens to be a serial killer trying to bury a body in his backyard without his son, or his neighbors, finding out. There is a tale about a group of kids who head out to a quarry to play a prank with deadly results. Another story involves a shy student (Anna Paquin) looking for a date to accompany her to a Halloween party. And the last story features a cranky old man (Brian Cox) going toe-to-toe with a memorably monstrous trick-or-treater named Sam (Quinn Lord).
The film has a great visual style, with bright décor up everywhere, making the sets and locations shine magnificently. The stories themselves are all engaging, with plenty of twists and turns throughout. The actors are phenomenal, with Baker, Cox, Paquin and the others all making memorable impressions. Various characters make surprise appearances in other stories, walking by in the background or getting involved in the proceedings. The movie doesn’t actually have a linear narrative, meaning that you never know exactly who will pop up at any time, adding to the fun. The dark sense of humor also works and the jokes are almost all on-point. And finally, the malicious trick-or-treater Sam is an iconic mini-monster that is impossible to forget (and is now a familiar face to horror movie fans). This is a fantastic title that any horror fan will appreciate.
As you might expect, the disc is marvelous as well. Yes, the image quality is top-notch and so sharp that all the background details are clearly visible. You can literally read so much more onscreen that there’s an added layer of enjoyment in revisiting the film and looking in the corners of the frame.
The new extras are also enjoyable. Of course, there is an archived Dougherty and crew commentary track, but there is a new commentary with the writer/director moderated by the Dead Meat podcast. It’s very informal and friendly, delivering more little-known facts about the picture. It seems that Doughtery spent several years developing the movie, creating his own production art that was passed on to the crew members to get the right look and feel for the film. He notes all of the changes he made through various drafts, and that the stories didn’t really intersect or jump around in time until later versions of his script.
Dougherty notes that, in telling the story, he was presenting Halloween from four different perspectives. One is told from the point-of-view of a child, another from the perspective of a young woman, a third from an adult, and the last seeing the holiday through the eyes of a senior. It is very apparent after hearing this, but never occurred to this reviewer before (or the podcasters).
The director also goes into his own Halloween traditions and tells stories about the making of the picture and why Warner Bros. wouldn’t get behind it. It seems that J-horror and Saw-esque movies were trending, and while he believed his film was ahead of the curve, the studio was scared at this film’s commercial prospects. However, he is pleased that it did find its audience on disc.
Doughtery also mentions how great the cast were to work with, most notably Brian Cox, who apparently was having a blast with his role. He says that the actor saw the film for the first time with a huge audience at the San Diego Comic-Con and had an exceptional time watching the picture with them.
And he mentions that he has a completed script for a sequel(!) and that he’d be pleased to start shooting, but that he won’t unless he is given complete freedom by any potential producers to make it his way.
Another bonus is an interview with actor Quinn Lord, who plays the villainous Sam. He was a youngster at the time and remembers being suited up in the monster costume. The actor notes how much fun he had and that it was a really enjoyable experience stalking characters on camera. In fact, the only thing he regrets about the shoot was not being able to do all the stunts because of safety concerns.
There is also a discussion with the director of photography, who notes Dougherty’s enthusiasm for the project and recalls being presented with all of the art for the film. He says the filmmaker’s enthusiasm was infectious and talks about the shoot and creating the film’s distinctive look.
Additionally, there are interviews with the production designer and the costume designer. The first individual also notes working off of the director’s own art and ideas and being proud of how it all came together. The movie was shot in Vancouver, Canada, and he remembers having to help create a wooded area on a soundstage for the party scene after a storm destroyed the original shooting location in Stanley Park. The new discussion about costumes goes into how Sam’s was made, as well as the other notable get-ups featured in the film.
There is also a new feature with effects designer Patrick Tatopoulos and the enjoyable time he had working on the picture.
Additionally, you’ll get all of the archival extras from earlier editions. This includes cast and crew interviews, featurettes on the movie’s creation, production, release and fandom. There is a 1996 short film made by Dougherty that includes the Sam character, a history of Halloween narrated by Brain Cox, deleted and alternate scenes with commentary, concept art, promos for the film, publicity materials, a comic book set in the world of the characters and much more.
As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get a double-sided reversible sleeve with original and new artwork, a foldout poster, six artcards and an illustrated collector’s booklet.
Trick ‘r Treat is not only an excellent Halloween film, but also one of the best anthology titles out there. This “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD package is exceptional. It looks incredible and the extras are equally entertaining. If you’re looking to pick something up movie-wise for the holiday, this is a must-own!