Trick 'r Treat (4K UHD Review)
- Review Date: Oct 31, 2024
- Format: 4K Ultra HD
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Director
Michael DoughertyRelease Date(s)
2007 (October 29, 2024)Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures (Arrow Video)- Film/Program Grade: B+
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: A+
Review
Trick ‘r Treat not only became a beloved Halloween tradition for many a horror fan, but it also spurred on a number of other filmmakers to revive horror anthologies, creating a number of them in its wake. It was a slow start though as it was delayed for two years after screening at film festivals and receiving acclaim from critics and audiences. Rather stupidly, it was ported straight to home video in 2009, bypassing a wide theatrical release altogether. However, it did find its audience, and put director Michael Dougherty on the map after having mostly been known for animation, and writing projects for Bryan Singer.
The film takes place in a small town on Halloween night, where various stories are interwoven with the character of Sam, a silent, mask-wearing trick or treater in pajamas, acting as a deadly conduit between them. In the first, the school principal (Dylan Baker) teaches the rules of Halloween to a rascally, candy-stealing trick or treater, but in a shockingly murderous manner. In the second, a young girl is terrorized when a group of trick or treaters frighten her severely after leading her into a watery quarry, where legend has it that a group of children in a school bus drown many years before. In the third, a group of beautiful young women dressed in costumes take their dates to the woods for a bonfire party, among them Laurie (Anna Paquin), who stays in town a while longer in search of the one. In the fourth, Kreeg (Brian Cox) is a crotchety old shut-in who openly hates Halloween, but finds himself attacked in his home by a mysterious force.
Trick ‘r Treat is one of the best Tales from the Crypt movies never made, carrying the same diabolical moral sensibilities, but still managing to produce interesting and likable characters. As it unfolds and we realize how interconnected these stories are, we’re taken on a haunted hay ride through the countryside of our own. The story elements and the characters are all strong with fun performances and some surprising twists along the way. The Middle America setting is thoroughly authentic, even if some of the Halloween costumes and décor is a bit exaggerated. None of that matters since the point is a macabre sense of fun, seeing evil characters get their just desserts and rewarding the Halloween faithful, all while soaking in the season with all that it has to offer. There are also plenty of nods to classic horror films from John Carpenter and The Evil Dead for those paying attention, none of which are distracting and feel integrated into the film organically.
Seventeen years on, Trick ‘r Treat holds up beautifully. It’s considered a modern day classic of sorts for a reason. It’s very well made and despite knowing how the stories connect and their eventual outcomes, it’s highly re-watchable. Talk has been brewing for years about a potential sequel, but in truth, getting a Halloween-themed horror film this good is really all we need.
Trick ‘r Treat was shot on Super 35mm film by cinematographer Glen MacPherson using Panavision cameras and lenses, finished as a Digital Intermediate, and presented in the aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Arrow Video debuts the film on Ultra HD from a new 4K 16-Bit scan and restoration of the original camera negative, graded for High Dynamic Range in HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and presented on a triple-layered BD-100 disc. A hyper-stylized film, Trick ‘r Treat’s UHD release is very impressive. Bitrates sit between a near constant 80 to 100Mbps range, rising far above that many times over. Grain is tight for the most part, though there are a few moments during the Halloween School Bus Massacre segment when it’s a little clumpier, which seem natural and not a mistake made by Arrow or Warner Bros. The same goes for the film’s black levels. There are times when they drop a bit compared to some of the scenes surrounding them, but again, they seem to be a part of the fabric and not technical errors. The HDR grades wring out much more detail in the shadows, but also boost the color palette significantly with rich hues in every environment. The image is stable and clean throughout with no apparent issues. It’s a crisper and more organic experience than either of the previous Blu-ray releases, neither of which were poor to begin with. Yet the increased clarity and detail with bolder color trumps them both.
Audio is included in English 2.0 LPCM and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional subtitles in English SDH. The Scream Factory Collector’s Edition Blu-ray included 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio options, and neither of the tracks included here bear any significant differences. They’re excellent with plenty of ambient push, though not overly aggressive in the surrounds. Dialogue exchanges are clean and clear, while sound effects, music, and score are given the appropriate amount of dynamics with terrific clarity.
Trick ‘r Treat on 4K Ultra HD sits in a black Amaray case alongside a set of six postcard-sized art cards, a double-sided poster and insert featuring new artwork by Sara Deck on one side and the original theatrical artwork on the other, and a 32-page booklet containing cast and crew information, More Than a Sum of Its Parts: The Use and Subversion of Horror Tropes in Trick ‘r Treat by Becky Darke, Celebrating Trick ‘r Treat’s Epic Journey from Cult Film to Beloved Halloween Classic by Heather Wixson, restoration information, and a set of production credits. Everything is housed in a slipcover featuring the same new Sara Deck artwork. The following extras are included, all in HD:
- Commentaries:
- NEW Audio Commentary by Michael Dougherty, James A. Janisse, and Chelsea Rebecca
- Audio Commentary by Michael Dougherty, Breehn Burns, Simeon Wilkins, and Douglas Pipes
- NEW Becoming Sam: Quinn Lord on His Iconic Role in Trick ‘r Treat (9:30)
- NEW The Devil Is in the Details: An Interview with Production Designer Mark Freeborn (12:12)
- NEW If Looks Could Kill: Creating the Visual Style of Trick ‘r Treat (17:02)
- NEW Designs to Die For: Celebrating the Work of Costume Designer Trish Keating (15:31)
- NEW Bark at the Moon: An Interview with Creature Designer Patrick Tatopoulos (8:59)
- NEW Mark Freeborn Remembers Bill Terezakis (3:20)
- Archive Extras:
- Tales of Folklore & Fright: Creating Trick ’r Treat (16:06)
- Tales of Mischief & Mayhem: Filming Trick ’r Treat (19:47)
- Sounds of Shock & Superstition: Scoring Trick ’r Treat (11:11)
- Tales of Dread and Despair: Releasing Trick ’r Treat (7:24)
- Season’s Greetings with Optional Commentary by Michael Dougherty (3:54)
- Trick ’r Treat: The Lore and Legends of Halloween (27:27)
- School Bus FX Comparison (1:14)
- Additional Scenes with Optional Commentary by Michael Dougherty (7 in all – 17:14)
- FEARnet Promos (6 in all – 3:48)
- Sam O’Lantern (60:33)
- Trailer (2:28)
- Image Galleries:
- Stills (67 in all)
- Storyboard and Conceptual Artwork Gallery (230 in all)
- Behind the Scenes Still Gallery (155 in all)
- Monster Mash Comic Book Set in the Trick ’r Treat Universe (18 in all)
The previous audio commentary with Michael Dougherty, concept artist Breehn Burns, storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins, and composer Douglas Pipes has been included, but newly-added is an audio commentary with Michael Dougherty, moderated by James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca from the Dead Meat Podcast. Also new to this release is a set of interviews. Becoming Sam speaks to actor Quinn Lord about his role as the film’s infamous demonic mascot. The Devil Is in the Details talks to production designer Mark Freeborn about his work in the film. If Looks Could Kill interviews director of photography Glen MacPherson, who talks about his career leading up to Trick ‘r Treat and the style he created for it. Designs to Die For speaks to costume designer Trish Keating, detailing her work for the film, expressing her enthusiasm for the project. In Bark at the Moon, creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos talks about his sketches and concepts for the monsters in the film. In Mark Freeborn Remembers Bill Terezakis, Freeborn pays brief tribute to the late make-up effects designer.
The archival extras include a series of interviews conducted by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures with Michael Dougherty, Breehn Burns, Simeon Wilkins, Douglas Pipes, and writer and podcaster Rob Galluzzo, which act as an extended, pseudo-making of documentary. Season’s Greetings is the original 1996 animated short that inspired the film made by Michael Dougherty, who provides optional commentary. The Lore and Legends of Halloween is a documentary narrated by Brian Cox that speaks to the cast and crew about the origins of the holiday and how it’s explored in the film. School Bus FX Comparison is a side-by-side comparison with the breakdown of the visual effects and the final version. The Additional Scenes, which also feature optional commentary by Michael Dougherty, are more like a series of scene extensions. The FEARnet Promos offer some humorous ads for the film. Sam O’Lantern is an hour-long, Yule log-type type of presentation in which a jack-o-lantern carved to look like Sam sits solemnly in the foreground while subtly spooky things happen in the background. Last is the film’s trailer and several Image Galleries featuring on-set photos, storyboards and conceptual artwork, behind the scenes photos, and the Monster Mash story from the Trick ’r Treat: Days of the Dead graphic novel.
Arrow Video has given Trick ’r Treat another overhaul with an improved picture and even more great bonus materials. This goes without saying, of course, but it’s essential Halloween viewing, and the new 4K Ultra HD is the best option for that. Highly recommended!
- Tim Salmons
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