Widely regarded as one of the best Halloween horror movies ever made, Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat has become a cult classic that fans look forward to re-watching every year. Making the festival rounds starting in 2007, the film eventually made its debut on physical media in 2009 with a direct-to-DVD and Blu-ray release, with a special collector’s edition coming nine years later courtesy of Shout! Factory. In the interim, fans who have been clamoring for a 4K release now have something to celebrate, as it’s just been announced that Arrow video will finally be giving Trick ‘r Treat the proper release it rightfully deserves.
Per Bloody Disgusting, the new Arrow upgrade will be available as both a Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD release and a Limited Edition Arrow Store Exclusive, which includes original poster art. Both are available to pre-order now at the cost of $35 bucks, which is a small price to pay to see Sam in high-def making his way through all four segments of the movie. These new editions are set to release on October 29, and feature a ton of bonus content you’ll have just in time for Halloween. Check out what’s included, as well as the gorgeous new trailer for the movie below.
- 4K Ultra HD (2160p) Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Archival audio commentary by Michael Dougherty, conceptual artist Breehn Burns, storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins and composer Douglas Pipes
- Tales of Folklore & Fright, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty, Breehn Burns and Simeon Wilkins
- Tales of Mischief & Mayhem: Filming Trick ‘r Treat, an archival interview with Michael Dougherty on the making of the film
- Sounds of Shock & Superstition: Scoring Trick ‘r Treat, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty and Douglas Pipes
- Tales of Dread & Despair: Releasing Trick ‘r Treat, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty and Rob Galluzzo of the Shock Waves podcast, exploring the film’s release and fandom
- Season’s Greetings, a short film from 1996 directed by Michael Dougherty with optional director commentary
- The Lore and Legends of Halloween, an archival featurette narrated by actor Brian Cox
- School bus VFX comparison
- Additional scenes
- FEARnet promos
- Sam O’Lantern
- Storyboard and conceptual artwork gallery
- Behind the scenes gallery
- Monster Mash comic book set in the Trick ‘r Treat universe
- Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
- Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
- Six postcard-sized artcards
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Becky Darke and Heather Wixson
Will We Ever Get Trick ‘r Treat 2?
Starring the likes of Anna Paquin, Brain Cox, and Dylan Baker, Trick ‘r Treat was undoubtedly a throwback to such classics as Tales from the Crypt and Creepshow, and that’s part of what made it so fun. Its anthological presentation was a breath of fresh air during a time when sequels, found footage movies, and remakes dominated the box office, causing it to stand apart from the rest, and present fans with a new horror icon by way of Sam, the mischievous little demon dressed in footie pajamas and a burlap sack who was the connective tissue between the movie’s different segments.
As it’s since become an endearing horror classic, many fans have always wished for a follow-up entry, which is something Doughterty himself has long been wanting to do, even going so far as to announce the sequel in 2013. Unfortunately, Legendary, the film’s production company, underwent a shift in management, causing a lengthy delay that has since seen the project linger in development hell. That being said, the director did assure fans in 2023 that the movie is still “active,” while also adding:
“I’ll go so far as to say that we have several drafts of a script. I brought back the same storyboard artist I mentioned before, Simeon Wilkins, so we have a stack of storyboards and a good fat stack of concept art done by Breehn Burns as well.”
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How Trick ‘r Treat Achieved Cult Status as a Halloween Favorite
Over the last decade, Trick ‘R Treat has become an annual watch for horror fans. Let’s take a deeper dive into the Halloween favorite.
There’s no word yet on any sort of production date, so it appears as if Trick ‘r Treat 2 is still a long way away, but hopefully Arrow’s 4K release will spark renewed interest from those holding the purse strings, and they’ll green-light the movie sooner rather than later. After all, it’s been 17 long years since its debut, giving it plenty of time to build up a healthy fanbase, who will surely do everything they can to make sure it becomes a box office success.