Just in time for Halloween, Trick ‘r Treat will be released in theaters in 4K! Many movies that are re-mastered in 4K are put back into theaters for a re-release for fans to truly appreciate the visual upgrade. However, 2007’s Trick ‘r Treat was never released in theaters to begin with. Instead, the movie was screened at festivals in addition to San Diego Comic Con, then proceeded to go directly to home release on DVD and Blu-Ray.
This October, Legendary Pictures, Warner Bros., and Saga Arts have teamed up with Fathom Entertainment to bring the beloved cult classic to theaters in 4K. For two nights only, October 14 and 16, you can see Sam on the big screen! Buy your tickets here!
An Instant Cult Classic
Trick ‘r Treat is a horror anthology directed and written by Michael Dougherty. Five interconnected storylines all converge on Halloween night in the small fictitious town of Warren Valley, Ohio.
The movie features Dylan Baker (Revolutionary Road), Anna Paquin (True Blood), and Brian Cox (The Autopsy of Jane Doe.)
Each of the stories is connected by Sam, a four foot trick-or-treating demon. He wears orange footie pajamas and a burlap sack fashioned into a mask covering his head. Sam embodies the spirit of the holiday, and enforces the holiday’s rules. He also administers punishment to those who do not abide by the rules.
A fanbase quickly grew for the movie that didn’t get a proper theatrical release. Trick ‘r Treat received widespread love from critics and horror fans alike. In 2008 at Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the movie won the Audience Choice Award. In 2009 it won the Silver Audience Award at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.
Trick ‘r Treat …2?
Fans quickly took up the chant for a sequel. In 2009, Dougherty replied to the largely growing fanbase that a sequel was certainly something he planned on doing. In 2013 he announced Trick ‘r Treat 2 was officially in the works. Unfortunately, a change in Legendary’s management derailed this project.
As the years continued to pass, the writer and director has still shown interest in doing a follow up. In 2022 he revealed a sequel was in “active development,” despite not being technically greenlit yet. The 2023 the Writer’s Guild of America strike added another delay to Sam’s return.
Currently the status of the sequel is unknown. The last time Dougherty spoke about the film was in regards to ironing out budget and schedule concern. He also said there were quite a few script ideas they were working on. As the father of Sam, he wants to choose the right path for the little guy to go next.
Dougherty told Collider in a 2023 interview;
“I mean, I love all of our favorite horror franchise characters as much as any of us, but not all of them are great. And I know we’ve grown to love even the lesser chapters of our favorite horror series. There’s always a cheese value to them, but if I’m gonna do a sequel, I want it to be as good if not better than the original, and good things take time. The last thing I would want is to see Trick ‘r Treat Part 9: Sam Goes to Space, you know? Although that does have potential, I will say.”