Trick 'r Treat

Trick 'r Treat is a film of interwoven stories that occur on the same block, on the same night. A couple finds what happens when they blow a jack o' lantern out before midnight, a high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer, a college virgin might have met the right guy for her, a group of mean teens play a prank that they take too far, and a hermit is visited by a special trick or treater.

The film is an anthology of Halloween-related scary stories. One thing that ties the stories together is the presence of Sam, a mysterious pint-sized trick-or-treater with a burlap pumpkin mask, who makes an appearance in all the stories, as a 'friendly-reminder' to those who break the Halloween traditions.

Produced by Bryan Singer, Trick ‘r Treat is a creepy, darkly comic celebration of the scariest night of the year: Halloween. The film’s ensemble cast includes Academy Award-winner Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Leslie Bibb, Dylan Baker and Tahmoh Penikett. In the tradition of Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt comes interwoven tales set on Halloween night. Trick ‘r Treat is a collection of creepy stories that mixes fun with fear, candy with poison, and laughter with screams.



It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten.

Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick.

Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem... the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety-human and otherwise-try to survive the scariest night of the year.

Director and Writer: Michael Dougherty
Produced by Bryan Singer

Cast:

Anna Paquin ... Laurie
Brian Cox ... Mr. Kreeg/Principal
Leslie Bibb ... Emma
Dylan Baker ... Steven Wilkins
Rochelle Aytes ... Maria
Quinn Lord ... Sam / Peeping Tommy
Lauren Lee Smith ... Danielle
Moneca Delain ... Janet
Tahmoh Penikett ... Henry
Brett Kelly ... Charlie
Britt McKillip ... Marcy
Isabelle Deluce ... Sara
Jean-Luc Bilodeau ... Schrader

The film had many title changes before filming began. Originally titled Season's Greetings was changed because it sounded too much like a Christmas film. Then it was called Halloween Terrors, Jack O' Lantern Tales, October the 31st, and Trick or Treat. The final title was kept but since there was already a movie of the same name out, they changed the spelling to Trick 'r Treat.

The film was originally to be released in October 2007 for a Halloween release. Warner Bros., without explanation or reason, pulled the film from the schedule and no reschedule date was announced. There was brief talk that the film would finally be released around Halloween 2008 and possibly early 2009 but neither release ever materialized. The film was finally released straight to DVD in October 2009.

Buy now on DVD or Blu-ray

Trick ‘r Treat DVD

Trick ‘r Treat Blu-ray

Editorial Reviews:

Wizard Magazine
"The best Halloween film of the last 30 years."

Fangoria
"No film since John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN has captured the creepy spirit of the holiday." "We have a new classic on our hands."

I cannot think of a film more deserving of a 5/5 rating than
TRICK 'R TREAT. Writer/director Michael Dougherty has crafted a film that transformed me into a five-year-old child in a Dracula cape and plastic fangs, riveted in stunned horror as his vision played out before me. Somehow, it succeeds in being both terrifying and charming, like a dark old painting that still reminds you of home.

Rating: 5 out of 5