Mask Up: Cult Classic Trick ’r Treat Returns to Theaters in 4K for Two Nights This October
Trick ’r Treat, the Mike Dougherty horror anthology that first reached audiences on DVD in 2009, will play in theaters in 4K for two nights this October. The re-release comes from Fathom Entertainment in partnership with Warner Bros., and it will include a remaster of Dougherty’s original short that introduced the film’s masked child, Sam.
What Trick ’r Treat is
Trick ’r Treat is a horror anthology written and directed by Mike Dougherty. It ties together several Halloween-themed stories, including a werewolf plot featuring Anna Paquin, a serial killer segment with Dylan Baker, and a storyline with Brian Cox being stalked by the masked child known as “Sam.” Warner Bros. Pictures originally released the movie on DVD in 2009.
The 4K re-release and dates
Fathom Entertainment and Warner Bros. have prepared a 4K remaster of Trick ’r Treat for theatrical presentation. The film will be shown in theaters for two nights only: October 14 and October 16.
Along with the feature, Dougherty’s original animated short that inspired the film will be presented in a 4K remaster before the movie.
Cult status and visibility online
Trick ’r Treat has a strong cult following and a recognizable image in the horror community, largely centered on the character Sam. However, the film remains relatively underseen compared with some later indie horror titles.
For example, Letterboxd data shows that indie breakouts like Terrifier have been logged more often than Dougherty’s film on the platform; you can compare that to Trick ’r Treat’s page here. Additionally, the film has been the subject of recurring sequel discussion, as noted in community threads such as this Reddit post.
The original short: Season’s Greetings
Dougherty’s short film Season’s Greetings was made in 1996 while he was a student at New York University. That short introduced the Sam character and later inspired Trick ’r Treat; the short will be included as a 4K remaster and shown before the main feature during the theatrical dates.
Where to find tickets
For a full list of participating theaters and showtimes, check Fathom Entertainment’s release page: Fathom’s Trick ’r Treat release page.
