Dive into the sinister and darkly humorous world of Trick ‘r Treat, written and directed by Michael Dougherty (Krampus). This anthology film communes with the spirits of classic horror portmanteaus like Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt, weaving together four chilling tales, all taking place during the same fateful Halloween night.

Follow the secretive and disturbing life of a high school principal who leads a double life as a ruthless serial killer; the journey of a young girl (Anna Paquin, X-Men) looking for love who finds something infinitely more macabre; a group of teenagers playing a prank with disastrous consequences; and an old man (Brian Cox, Succession) confronted by Sam, a mischievous trick-or-treater with a terrifying secret.

With its interwoven tales of terror and unforgettable characters, Trick ‘r Treat has cemented itself as a Halloween essential, paying loving homage to the golden age of horror comics and 80s creature features with a slick modern style sure to send shivers down the spine of any fright fiend. Get ready for the scariest Halloween of your life – and remember, always check your candy!

For thoughts on Trick ‘r Treat (2007), please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

No Streaming Required | 4K UHD Trick 'r Treat, Land Of The Dead, I Walked With A Zombie & More

Video Quality

Arrow Video presents Trick ‘r Treat with a stellar 2160p transfer in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio remastered from a 4K/16-bit scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative and graded in 4K HDR10/Dolby Vision which was approved by writer-director Michael Dougherty. This film was previously released by Warner Bros. on Blu-Ray in 2009, which was fine for the time but looks much worse upon reflection with its ancient VC-1 codec that is rendered obsolete with this new presentation. The upgrade to 4K resolution is an enchanting viewing experience that breathes new life into this one topped off by a virtually flawless encode. With a film as visually whimsical as this one, you want it to look the best it possibly can. The degree of complex detail and clarity on display makes the film feel brand new as you experience every disgusting makeup effect and notable ridges of the costumes and production design.

One of the most illuminating aspects of the disc is the application of Dolby Vision for pinpoint color output that takes this artfully composed film and reveals new facets. The hues of the costumes and the orange of the pumpkins are just a few of the things that stand out. Everything is nicely suffused to immerse you in this world. The black levels are deep with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights show no indication of blooming. While there are scenes in bright party stores and flashbacks to daytime sequences, this feature thrives in darkness much of the time. This transfer shows nothing in the way of damage or digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. Arrow Video has a winner for fans.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a great DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that executes this soundscape with strength and precision. The track has an incredible sense of directionality with sounds always emanating from the correct channels. The playful score from Douglas Pipes establishes the tone of this story from the opening credits which fills the room effectively. Dialogue comes through clearly in the front channel without being clipped by any sound effects or the score. The film is littered with environmental effects that engage the surround speakers for a fully immersive experience. The movie showcases numerous violent moments that wake up the low end. There are no shortcomings with fidelity or damage to the track. This audio presentation is every bit as good as the video side of things. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The first pressing of the Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Trick ‘r Treat includes a 32-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by Becky Darke and Heather Wixson. This provides great insight into the film and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The release also comes with a double-sided fold-out poster and six postcard-sized art cards. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentaries: One new and one archival commentary track is provided in which some of the creative figures explore the film. Through these tracks, we get two eras of perspective on the production, the legacy of the film, the background of the performers, the easter eggs in the film, the production design and special effects, and so much more that gets covered quite thoroughly throughout these tracks.

- Audio Commentary #1 (New): Writer-director Michael Dougherty moderated by James A. Janisse & Chelsea Rebecca from Dead Meat Podcast

- Audio Commentary #2 (Archival): Michael Dougherty, conceptual artist Breehn Burns, storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins, and composer Douglas Pipes
Becoming Sam: A new ten-minute interview with actor Quinn Lord who discusses his preparations for the audition, the characteristics of Sam, working on set as a child actor, his interactions with fans over the years, and more.
The Devil Is In The Details: A new 12-minute interview with production designer Mark Freeborn who discusses coming on board the project, the detailed ideas of director Michael Dougherty, shooting in Vancouver, creating a “classic” look for the neighborhood, and more.
If Looks Could Kill: A new 17-minute interview with director of photography Glen MacPherson in which he discusses getting involved with this project, the infectious enthusiasm of Michael Dougherty, rigging up the lighting designs, shooting on film, creating various moments from the film, and more.
Designs To Die For: A new nearly 16-minute interview with costume designer Trish Keating in which she discusses getting involved with this project, collaborating with Michael Dougherty, creating the costumes for the various segments, the challenges of the shoot, and more.

Bark At The Moon: A new nine-minute interview with creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos in which he discusses getting involved with this project, how the werewolf concepts differed on Trick ‘r Treat, and more.

Mark Freeborn Remembers Bill Terezakis: A three-minute extension of the Mark Freeborn interview in which he reflects on the talents of his friend, the late make-up effects designer Bill Terezakis.

Archive Extras

- Tales of Folklore & Fright: A 16-minute archival featurette with Michael Dougherty, Breehn Burns, and Simeon Wilkins that takes a look at the origins of Trick ‘r Treat with Season’s Greetings, the journey to the feature film, and more.

- Tales of Mischief & Mayhem: A 20-minute archival interview with Michael Dougherty who discusses the production of the film in Vancouver, the challenges of the shoot, and more.

- Sounds of Shock & Superstition: An 11-minute archival piece with Michael Dougherty and composer Douglas Pipes that delves into the creation of the score for the film.

- Tales of Dread & Despair: A nearly eight-minute archival featurette on the release of the film, the marketing challenges, the building fandom of the film, and more.

- Season’s Greetings: The original four-minute short film that inspired the feature is provided with optional commentary from Michael Dougherty.

- The Lore and Legends of Halloween: A nearly 28-minute archival piece that takes a look at the history and traditions behind the Halloween holiday narrated by Brian Cox. This also includes some insights into the making of the film.