7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The doorbell rings, the cry goes out: Trick 'r Treat! But, wait. What's actually going on during this ghostly All Hallows' Eve? Something eerie and unexpected. Something splattered and spooky. Something that brings ghouls, vampires and werewolves into the night.
Starring: Quinn Lord, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb, Rochelle AytesHorror | Uncertain |
Thriller | Uncertain |
Dark humor | Uncertain |
Holiday | Uncertain |
Drama | Uncertain |
Comedy | Uncertain |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Like a thief in the night, someone... something snuck into our cinematic home and snuffed the life out of the Horror Anthology. With a proud heritage that traces back hundreds of years -- before Stephen King brought us super flus and dark towers; before "The Twilight Zone" became the stuff of post-World War nightmares; before Nosferatu and Frankenstein settled into our silver-screen consciousness; even before Lovecraft, Poe, and the pioneers of all things chilling and unworldly began exploring the night -- horror anthologies reached their peak in the late twentieth century with a slew of bloody films and macabre television series aimed at the burgeoning terrorphiles and gorehounds among us. But then, without warning, the genre collapsed. Filmmakers suddenly abandoned anything resembling Creepshow and its ilk. Network executives gave up on series like "Tales from the Crypt" and movies like Trilogy of Terror. And horror fans? We sat idly by and let it all happen. Luckily, industry upstarts like first-time director Michael Dougherty didn't forget how wicked and wonderful a horror anthology could be.
Far from a gimmick, Sam is an unsettling imp that ties Dougherty's stories together...
While gritty, grindhouse aesthetics have dominated many horror films of late, Trick 'r Treat offers a sick series of unexpectedly slick and polished visuals. Thankfully, Warner's 1080p/VC-1 transfer is an equally impressive treat; one that blesses every inch of Dougherty's blood-spattered beasties with a perverse beauty generally reserved for more serious cinema. Colors, particularly gore-soaked reds and autumn-hued oranges, are warm and satisfying, lending weight to Glen MacPherson's rich, shadowy photography. Moreover, skintones are gorgeous, contrast is vibrant, and blacks -- while slightly unresolved on a handful of occasions -- are deep and foreboding. Detail is sharp and stable as well. Delineation reveals and obscures precisely what it should, textures are crisp and refined, and edge definition is clean and natural. A few soft shots muck up the proceedings, but each one should be attributed to the original source, not Warner's technical transfer. And while some errant source noise briefly disrupts the darkness, there aren't any distracting instances of artifacting, aliasing, ringing, DNR, or crush. Minor shortcomings aside, Trick 'r Treat looks much better than I expected, thoroughly outclasses its standard DVD counterpart, and is primed to please any videophile who fancies himself a gorehound.
Trick 'r Treat boasts a satisfying Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track that surpasses the usual direct-to-video drivel with a respectable mix and a rewarding sonic experience. Dialogue is clear and intelligible throughout, and prioritization is nearly impeccable, particularly when gnashing teeth and tearing flesh are involved. More importantly, the film's pulpy sound effects pack quite an LFE punch; its scares and jolts even more so. Screams, roars, and shotgun blasts resonate, clomping footfalls have legitimate weight, and crunching bone is convincing and unsettling. Granted, the rear speakers are sometimes subdued for such an aggressive mix, but rustling leaves and other persistent background noise makes it relatively easy to immerse oneself in the film's soundfield. And even though the track is a tad front-heavy at times, solid directionality and smooth pans produce an effective illusion of space. As it stands, Trick 'r Treat's restrained sound design lulls listeners into a false sense of security before sending them toward the roof each time Sam and his night-bred brethren make their presence or intentions known.
The Blu-ray edition of Trick 'r Treat arrives with a decent selection of special features, the majority of which are exclusive to this release. Sadly, all of the video content is presented in standard definition.
If you haven't had the opportunity to partake of Trick 'r Treat's anthology of terrific tales, there's no better time than the present. The Blu-ray edition features an excellent video transfer, a quality TrueHD lossless audio track, and a decent collection of supplements (including a variety of exclusives). Between Dougherty's commendable efforts and Sam Raimi's recent homecoming, things are looking up for the horror genre.
Limited Edition
2007
Limited Edition
2007
Reissue with Lenticular Slip + It 2 Movie Cash
2007
Limited Edition
2007
2007
Collector's Edition
2007
Unrated Director's Cut
2006
2009
Director's Cut
1986
2016
1985
2012
2018
2016
2015
40th Anniversary Edition
1974
2011
2019
2015
Unrated Theatrical and Rated Versions
2013
2010
Director's Cut
2007
Unrated Director's Cut
2009
Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn
1987
2011
Unrated Collector's Edition
2007