We’re not going to spend any time reviewing Trick ‘r Treat as a film; we’ve done that in quite a few different posts on this website, including this straight-up review, this drinking game, and write-ups on why it’s one of our favorite Halloween movies. You can also listen to the Blood and Black Rum Podcast episode below. Instead, we’re going straight into the Arrow Video 4K UHD release.
4K UHD
Arrow Video has released Trick ‘r Treat on 4K UHD with a new 4K transfer from the original 35mm camera negative. It previously received a 2K scan from Scream Factory back in 2018 and had a previous Blu-ray release even before that. The Scream Factory release was already quite strong, but Arrow Video’s 4K offering does feature an incremental upgrade to the picture quality. In truth, it’s not overtly noticeable, either in screenshot comparisons or moving picture, but the results do yield some additional background details.
The more noticeable change on this release is the inclusion of Dolby Vision/HDR 10 and a different color grading. Arrow Video’s colors tend to push a lot more cyan than I remember ever seeing Trick ‘r Treat, with many dark scenes taking on that blueish hue with a brightness that, in my opinion, feels slightly unnatural. While one could argue the bluer push is intended to display the brightness of a full moon on Halloween night, the luminescence tends to lose some of the shadows and darkness that was present in Scream Factory’s grading. With that said, the Dolby Vision certainly makes other elements pop, like the visceral orange tones of lit jack-o-lanterns and the intentionally filtered school bus sequence. But my main gripe comes with the brightened blacks, something that detracts from the overall atmosphere of the film. One can also notice a much more clumpy grain presence in those darker cyan sequences; whether that’s inherent to the film itself and contrast was used to cover it up in previous releases is not known. With that said, on the commentary Dougherty himself praises the transfer, so presumably this is the way the film was intended to look.
Audio on this disc comes in both 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0, which is the same as prior releases. The 2.0 stereo is the main track and 5.1 is available for selection. Both sound good, with the 5.1 surround offering up a more enveloping experience with music and sound effects. English subtitles are also included.
Perhaps a bigger draw to this release than the PQ are the new extras, since Arrow Video has assembled pretty much everything from Scream Factory’s prior disc as well as a large number of new interviews and featurettes. A new audio commentary featuring Michael Dougherty and the duo behind Dead Meat is included; rather than a traditional audio commentary that constantly follows the film, it does seem like more of an overarching conversation that has been edited to fit into various key moments. Overall, it does shed a nice light on the influences of the film, Dougherty’s inspirations from childhood, and a lot more tidbits viewers may have missed. This disc also retains the older audio commentary with Dougherty.
New featurettes include various interviews with cast and crew. Quinn Lord, the human version of Sam, provides a quick interview about how he got the role and its influence on his life. Production Designer Mark Freeborn talks about working with Dougherty, identifying the best setting in Vancouver, and designing the Kreeg house. Director of Photography Glen MacPherson discusses lighting the sets as well as bringing Dougherty’s detailed concept designs to life. Costume Designer Trish Keating talks about creating all of the Halloween costumes, the challenges of making some of them from scratch, the need for multiple different outfits, and more. Patrick Tatopoulos, Creature Designer, discusses crafting the werewolf women of the film’s transformation sequence. Mark Freeborn also gives a brief appreciation of make-up effects designer Bill Terezakis.
Along with those new options, there are archival featurettes with Michael Dougherty and various crew members. One is a look at the creation of Trick ‘r Treat including Dougherty’s discussion about his short “Seasons Greetings” evolving into the film. Another is a behind-the-scenes look at actually filming the movie, a third involves a lengthy interview with composer Douglas Pipes about coming up with the themes of the film (originating from the kids’ trick-or-treat jingle), and finally a look at how Trick ‘r Treat eventually got released even despite obstacles and it being a “passion project” of Dougherty’s.
This also includes the original “Season’s Greetings” short along with audio commentary from Dougherty. Conceptual artwork and storyboard galleries, a behind-the-scenes gallery, a collection of the FEARnet shorts for Trick ‘r Treat marathons (missing a few from past release), and the “Monster Mash” story from his graphic novel are included. There is also a featurette on Halloween myths and legends, deleted scenes with optional commentary, and school bus special effects work are all included here.
For packaging, Arrow Video gives the film new slipcover/front cover artwork along with reversible original art, still postcards, and a double-sided foldout poster. A booklet with new essays from Becky Darke and Heather Wixson provide even more supplemental material.
Extra Features
- NEW 4K restoration by Arrow Films, approved by writer-director Michael Dougherty
- 4K (2160p) Ultra HD 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
- NEW audio commentary with writer-director Michael Dougherty moderated by James A. Janisse & Chelsea Rebecca from Dead Meat Podcast
- Archival audio commentary by Michael Dougherty, conceptual artist Breehn Burns, storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins and composer Douglas Pipes
- NEW Becoming Sam, interview with actor Quinn Lord (1080p; 9:30)
- NEW The Devil is in the Details, interview with production designer Mark Freeborn (1080p; 12:12)
- NEW If Looks Could Kill, interview with director of photography Glen MacPherson (1080p; 17:02)
- NEW Designs to Die for, interview with costume designer Trish Keating (1080p; 15:31)
- NEW Bark at the Moon, interview with creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos (1080p; 8:59)
- NEW Mark Freeborn Remembers Bill Terezakis, a tribute to the late make-up effects designer (1080p; 3:20)
- Tales of Folklore & Fright, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty, Breehn Burns and Simeon Wilkins (1080p; 16:06)
- Tales of Mischief & Mayhem: Filming Trick ‘r Treat, an archival interview with Michael Dougherty on the making of the film (1080p; 19:47)
- Sounds of Shock & Superstition: Scoring Trick ‘r Treat, an archival featurette with Michael Dougherty and Douglas Pipes (1080p; 11:11)
- 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 (1080; 7:24)
- Season’s Greetings, a short film from 1996 directed by Michael Dougherty with optional director commentary (1080p; 3:54)
- The Lore and Legends of Halloween, an archival featurette narrated by actor Brian Cox (1080p; 27:27)
- School bus VFX comparison (1080p; 1:14)
- Deleted and alternate scenes with optional commentary by director Michael Dougherty (1080p; 17:14)
- FEARnet promos (1080p; 3:48)
- Sam O’Lantern (1080p; 1:00:33)
- Stills gallery (chapter breaks; 1:08)
- Storyboard and conceptual artwork gallery (chapter breaks; 3:51)
- Behind the scenes gallery (chapter breaks; 2:36)
- Monster Mash comic book set in the Trick ‘r Treat universe (chapter breaks; 0:19)
- Trailer (2160p; 2:28)
- NEW Reversible sleeve featuring original and commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
- NEW Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and commissioned artwork by Sara Deck
- NEW Six postcard-sized artcards
- NEW Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Becky Darke and Heather Wixson
Verdict
Trick ‘r Treat is a great Halloween film and Arrow Video has given it a magnificent release loaded with new extras. Its new 4K scan isn’t anything to scoff at either besides a potentially subjective color grading. Recommended.
