TRICK ‘R TREAT (2008, Blu-ray released October 6, 2009 – MSRP $35.99)
This movie came out of nowhere. It hit me up-side the head with a perfect blend of comedy, atmosphere and pure horror that, as far as I can tell, has made it the ultimate Halloween experience committed to film. I predict that very soon, for a lot of people Trick ‘r Treat will be necessary viewing every October 31st, just as A Christmas Story has become a holiday staple every December.
Trick ‘r Treat is necessary viewing for anyone who loves horror films (or maybe even films in general!) and for anyone who has a special place in their heart for Halloween. The entire film is based on the legends and lore of the holiday and the history that crafted it into the costumed candy-fest we know today. Don’t take your costume off before midnight! Never blow out a lit Jack ‘O Lantern! And always remember to inspect your candy before you devour it!
Trick ‘r Treat is the brainchild of first-time director Michael Dougherty, who has plenty of experience in the screenwriting chair, having co-penned several of producer Bryan Singer‘s directorial efforts (X-Men 2, Superman Returns.) Though he might be new to the game, Dougherty delivers with style! Trick ‘r Treat is fashioned as an anthology, like Creepshow, Tales from the Crypt and the Twilight Zone: The Movie before it. Dougherty criss-crosses four tales of terror, each taking place in sleepy little Warren Valley, Ohio on Halloween night. A principal teaching his students the ultimate lesson, a group of young girls seeking a good time and finding nothing but trouble, kids pulling a prank that backfires with undead consequences and an crotchety old man versus the knife wielding, pumpkin-headed spirit of Halloween incarnate, all run in and out of one another’s stories, tied together by that theme of holding tight to the rituals of the holiday. Don’t break tradition and tradition won’t break you! Or something like that…
Trick ‘r Treat is a lower budget affair and has struggled to find an audience. It really could have excelled given a proper theatrical release but thankfully for us, it has found a home on Blu-ray. And what a splendid home it is! You would never suspect the films modest origins from this gorgeous, rich transfer. It exhibits a great amount of detail and depth for something of its ilk. Colours are vivid and, despite some soft spots and some grain in darker moments, lend the film a dynamic, big-budget look!
The Blu-ray disc is replete with special features exclusive to the format. Dougherty’s commentary track is fairly candid and insightful, while remaining quite light and humourous, much like the film itself. He sounds like a guy who is just delighted to finally show you his labour of love. The track is useful to fans of the film as well, as it points out a lot of the inventive continuity details you most likely didn’t catch the first time around. Being a Halloween enthusiast, I also really enjoyed the featurette “Trick ‘r Treat: The Lore and Legends of Halloween“, a great fact-filled look at both the making of the film and the traditions of the season.
The true origin of the project is revealed to us through the revelation of Dougherty’s original short animated film from 1996, “Season’s Greetings“. It features the first appearance of his little pumpkin-headed character, Sam and offers up a fun little twist ending. The disc also includes a handful of deleted scenes, an examination of one of the effects sequences and exclusive features via BD-Live.
The Trick ‘r Treat Blu-ray disc from Warner Home Video is one of our Top 10 New Blu-ray Discs for Halloween 2009.
[...] this film whatsoever. And it blew me away! Mark my words, it’s only a matter of time before Trick ‘r Treat becomes the Christmas Story of Halloween – the cult film that scare-fans watch annually to [...]