Trick 'r Treat

Name: Trick 'r Treat
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror, Comedy
Released: October 4, 2009
Duration: 82 min
Cast: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker

2009

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Generally favorable reviews based on 86 Ratings

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 86 Ratings

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Trick 'R Treat

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Home Video | Release Date: October 4, 2009 | R

Starring: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker

Summary: Four interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: An everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the one guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband.

Director: Michael Dougherty

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Horror, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 82 min

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Critic Reviews

Joe Leydon

Trick ‘r Treat neatly apportions scary and campy elements while cleverly interlacing four storylines on Halloween night in an Ohio hamlet. Read full review

Zack Handlen

The idea of a Halloween-centric anthology is solid, but the subject deserves stronger material than this reheated mush. Read full review

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User Reviews

VenomTHQ

Oct 20, 2011

THE DEFINITIVE Halloween must-see movie! I can't say enough good things about this movie. Great writing, well-acted, good effects, and a new movie "villain" for the ages! Just Watch It!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

ArcanaThe4th

May 28, 2019

Trick r' Treat is by far my favorite anthology-type movie. It knows exactly how to pull of the kind of not-so-terrifying, not-so-not-funny mood it wants to have and manages to be both funny and scary without pulling hard on either direction and never taking itself too serious, has memorableTrick r' Treat is by far my favorite anthology-type movie. It knows exactly how to pull of the kind of not-so-terrifying, not-so-not-funny mood it wants to have and manages to be both funny and scary without pulling hard on either direction and never taking itself too serious, has memorable stories and Sam is an awesome, freaky character to have a story centered around. It's the perfect watch when you want a marathon of horror movies, especially on Halloween and especially with friends.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Knicksfan7

Jun 12, 2011

I totally agree with jpetty on this one. Why is their no reviews for this film? This movie was great, I was scrolling through the list of horror movies the watch on Netflix and I came about this film, and I never regretted it. This movie was excellent. It set a new standard for Horror andI totally agree with jpetty on this one. Why is their no reviews for this film? This movie was great, I was scrolling through the list of horror movies the watch on Netflix and I came about this film, and I never regretted it. This movie was excellent. It set a new standard for Horror and for Halloween films. It had alot of comedy along with alot of terror throughout. I laughed and I shuddered in fear. This is the first film I have ever seen that has made me laugh and then get scred just a moment after. I was lost as to what was going on the entire movie and I love how it just all came together in the final minutes of the film. This deserves a 10/10 for me, very fun film, I recommend it to anyone.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

hankwmardukas

Nov 28, 2018

For the next four weeks, in honor of Halloween, I will be reviewing four special horror movies. Some you may have heard of, some you may not have. Some old, some perhaps new. That is, if the frugal head of our company Puritan Pictures, Pat Collier, will finally, for once, spring for anFor the next four weeks, in honor of Halloween, I will be reviewing four special horror movies. Some you may have heard of, some you may not have. Some old, some perhaps new. That is, if the frugal head of our company Puritan Pictures, Pat Collier, will finally, for once, spring for an actual movie ticket for me. At any rate, the next few weeks here at The Puritan Post will be a mystery grab bag akin to that of trick-or-treating itself. And what better way to kick off the Halloween season with perhaps the most quintessentially Halloween flick of all time, the understated tour de force, Michael Dougherty’s Trick R’ Treat.  

Trick R’ Treat is one of the many underrated classics to come out in 2007 (For more on 2007, see Issue No. 8 of The Puritan Post). The cult classic, writer and director Michael Dougherty’s first feature, is a movie that if you’ve seen, you probably love. It centers around five interwoven storylines all set on Halloween night and basically plays like a Halloweeny Pulp Fiction. Dougherty has since gone on to create another Holiday horror classic in Krampus, but Trick R’ Treat remains his magnum opus. It is phenomenally written, sharply directed, and simply timeless. The flick sports an absolutely stellar cast including Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Leslie Bibb and the kid from Bad Santa who always asks, “Would you like me to fix you some sandwiches?”.

What I love most about Trick R’ Treat is that it is totally ruthless as a horror movie. Its moral compass is uniquely unforgiving. Characters who commit minor movie sins suffer the same perilous fate as those who perpetrate the most grave of acts. This sinister sort of ethics fits so perfectly for a film that embodies the spirt of Halloween. The now iconic horror character of Sam, who actually debuted in an animated short by Dougherty entitled “Seasons Greetings”, is the perfect horror anti-hero. Sam visually and thematically represents that aforementioned relentless morality Dougherty instills in the picture. Whether it is with the Sam character or with others, Dougherty rides a rather fine line between fantasy and reality with the flick that is another one of my favorite aspects of the movie. Early on in the film, we aren’t sure whether this movie exists in the “real world” so to speak. However, without spoiling anything, those questions are put to rest by the end.

It was recently announced that Trick R Treat 2 is in development, to be written and directed by Michael Dougherty. I had mixed emotions to hearing this news, as I feel that, if done correctly, a sequel could actually work. However, there are some movies that are meant to stand alone. Just ask the filmmakers behind the Donnie Darko sequel, S. Darko. Only time will tell if Trick R Treat 2 can hold up to its undoubtedly legendary predecessor. Perhaps in the future I will review that movie for The Puritan Post. Maybe by 2020, Collier will finally have enough money to pay for me to see new releases. I won’t get my hopes up though.… Expand

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RobertOBrien

Jul 4, 2015

This is my favorite horror anthology movie of all time. Not every story is superb, in fact, only two of the four are what I would call great, but even in the lesser stories, this movie feels like Halloween.

The essence, the atmosphere, the look, this film encompasses everything Halloween.This is my favorite horror anthology movie of all time. Not every story is superb, in fact, only two of the four are what I would call great, but even in the lesser stories, this movie feels like Halloween.

The essence, the atmosphere, the look, this film encompasses everything Halloween. And I love how instead of the traditional "show-each-story-separately-and-in-order", this movie has the four tales take place in the same town, on the same night, at the same time, where all Hell's breaking loose and supernatural terrors are attacking the town's inhabitants. Every tale intertwines and it never feels clunky, it all flows together in a nice, concise, and beautiful manner.

While the movie isn't exactly terrifying, it is very dark, very humorous, and thrives on atmosphere. My favorite tales being The Halloween School Bus Massacre and Demonic Trick 'r Treater at the end of the film. And the ending, without spoiling anything, even though you might see it coming, it is still awesome.

I definitely recommend this one, especially on Halloween. When it brings you back a time in your youth, when on Halloween, any horrific thing you could think of, seemed possible.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

akshatmahajan

Sep 22, 2020

Trick 'r Treat is a good and different kind of horror movie. Meshing comedy and horror so seamlessly, and telling very entertaining and well-tied together stories taking place on Halloween. This is a good halloween based movie.

The film tells four interconnected stories about murder andTrick 'r Treat is a good and different kind of horror movie. Meshing comedy and horror so seamlessly, and telling very entertaining and well-tied together stories taking place on Halloween. This is a good halloween based movie.

The film tells four interconnected stories about murder and supernatural activity on one particular Halloween night. Not told in linear order, it's kind of fun to piece together the film, leaving the audience to think about the film, after watching it.

I was very invested in the characters and the story when watching the film.

Some stories were actually chilling to watch. The film knew when to be funny and when to be scary.
The movie, with the costumes, sets, and lighting really sets the tone and atmosphere of the film.

Overall, I liked this film. Give it a watch, you will enjoy it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cameronmorewood

Nov 15, 2012

Trick 'r Treat had a good idea, but was spoiled by rotten execution. The jokes are stale and the horror is laughable at best.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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