Key Takeaways
- Trick r’ Treat 2 is in development, but director Michael Dougherty doesn’t want to compromise the original film’s unique elements.
- Dougherty insists the sequel must retain the original’s nonlinear storytelling and blend of horror and comedy.
- Despite challenges, Dougherty remains optimistic that Trick r’ Treat 2 will happen under the right conditions and resources.
Trick r’ Treat 2 has been in demand since the first film debuted in 2007. Director Michael Dougherty recently gave an update on the Trick ‘r Treat sequel, noting why it may be difficult and what he’s not willing to do to get it made.
Trick r’ Treat is an anthology horror film set on Halloween night in a fictional town called Warren Valley. It tells four stories connected by one element: Sam, a demon who appears wherever a Trick r’ Treat character breaks a Halloween tradition. With his orange footie pajamas and a burlap sack over his head, Sam became an instantly recognizable horror movie icon. Trick r’ Treat received critical acclaim and became a cult classic upon release.
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Trick ‘r Treat was recently released on 4K courtesy of Arrow Video, with a new audio commentary featuring Dougherty moderated by James A. Janisse and Chelsea Rebecca of Dead Meat. During the commentary (via Collider), Dougherty provided an update on the Trick r’ Treat sequel he confirmed was being developed in 2022. Dougherty explained that Trick r’ Treat 2, which he co-wrote with Krampus co-writers Todd Casey and Zach Shields, has already been storyboarded. However, he noted why getting a sequel moving forward may be “tricky”:
“It’s tricky, because I think we really did capture lightning in a bottle with this one, and it nearly killed me. What a lot of people don’t realize is that the bulk of our favorite horror movies, especially the ones that introduced new horror icons, were all independent movies. […] There aren’t the typical metrics that a studio can point to to make it an easy ‘yes.’ Something I was adamant about in the sequel was that it has to retain this nonlinear storytelling, [and] it has to retain that weird mix of horror and comedy.”
Dougherty assured fans Trick r’ Treat 2 is not scrapped. However, he clarified that he does not want to compromise on the sequel and indicated that if he couldn’t make the film how he wanted, he’d rather not do Trick r’ Treat 2. Still, Dougherty concluded the Trick r’ Treat 2 discussion by noting that he was “very happy” with the script.
I want to do it. It’s not dead by any stretch. We have some momentum moving in the right direction for sure, but I’m also of the belief that I’m not going to compromise or make sacrifices just to make a sequel. It has the be under the right conditions with the right resources. Otherwise, I will be content with just letting this be this weird little movie that fought its way through a lot of adversity.
While it was initially released direct-to-video in 2007, Trick r’ Treat got a limited theatrical release in 2022 due to renewed interest in the spooky season favorite. So, there’s undoubtedly an audience eager to see Sam return for more Halloween mischief. However, Dougherty seemingly implied that studios aren’t as sure and may not be willing to invest as much financially as the director feels he needs to produce a worthy sequel. If this means a Trick r’ Treat sequel never moves forward, many fans would undoubtedly be disappointed. But perhaps no sequel would be better than one where the director felt he compromised on his vision.
Still, Dougherty said Trick r’ Treat isn’t down and out yet, so there’s reason to be optimistic. Although a longer wait may be disheartening, if fans have waited this long, perhaps they can wait a little longer. After all, there are still plenty of other horror movies to watch on Halloween.
Trick r’ Treat is available on digital platforms.
Trick r’ Treat
Trick ‘r Treat is a 2007 horror anthology movie from director Michael Dougherty. The film tells four different stories involving Sam, the now iconic Halloween demon. The film has several big stars, even though it was a direct-to-DVD release, including Dylan Baker, Rochelle Aytes, Anna Paquin, and Brian Cox.
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