'Trick ‘r Treat' - The Masters of Horror Almost Helmed the Ultimate Halloween Anthology

Article Summary

"Trick 'r Treat" was originally pitched by Director Michael Dougherty as a fragmented film akin to "Creepshow," featuring the creative input of revered horror icons George Romero, Tobe Hooper, and John Carpenter.

Despite featuring notable horror directors known as the "Avengers of Horror," major studios initially rejected "Trick 'r Treat" because they considered vampires, werewolves, and zombies to be outdated.

After enduring a prolonged development process, a sequel to "Trick 'r Treat" is currently being produced, led by Michael Dougherty and his team of co-writers. Max will be streaming the original film this Halloween.

Director Michael Dougherty achieved a Halloween classic with his 2007 horror anthology film Trick 'r Treat. Initially, it followed a segmented structure similar to Creepshow or other related titles. Dougherty revealed that legendary directors like George Romero and Tobe Hooper were even involved. During a discussion with Perri Nemiroff from Our website's Scary Perri's Horror Series, Dougherty recounted his experience pitching the film to John Carpenter.

It all began with the optioning of the script by producer and special effects expert Stan Winston, known for directing Pumpkinhead. Winston encouraged Dougherty to pursue filmmaking instead of animation. Impressed by the first draft, Winston compared it to Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt, leading him to gather other horror filmmakers for potential involvement. At the time, Dougherty only saw himself as a writer, and the idea of directing felt impossible, especially considering the caliber of talent associated with Winston's proposal.

As soon as Winston mentioned three legendary figures in horror, Dougherty couldn't believe his ears. "And then he calls me up and says, 'Alright, I've got Tobe Hooper and George Romero. I'm working on Carpenter. I'll do a segment,' and he says, 'You might have to meet John Carpenter to convince him.'" Carpenter is renowned for creating the iconic Halloween franchise, as well as directing unforgettable films like The Thing, Escape From New York, and They Live, among many others. Dougherty knew it would be a difficult task, given the vast difference in their horror experience and Carpenter's impressive portfolio of classics. "And I'm like, 'What the f— are you talking about? You want me to persuade John Carpenter to direct a segment of this?'"

Major Studios Passed on 'Trick 'r Treat' Despite Having "the Avengers of Horror Directors" Attached

To be fair, Dougherty had a few advantages on his side. Romero, Hooper, and Winston were all fully committed to the project, meaning that Carpenter would be collaborating with his peers. Additionally, Dougherty happened to share an agent with the renowned Halloween filmmaker, giving him an advantageous connection. Despite these fortunate circumstances, the experience remained nerve-wracking for the writer/director and left a lasting impression. Unfortunately, there were inevitable obstacles that would have hindered the progression of Trick 'r Treat, even if Carpenter had agreed to be a part of it.

Regrettably, the highly anticipated star-studded version of Trick 'r Treat never materialized. However, this setback provided Dougherty with valuable experience in Hollywood. In a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed that he used this opportunity to write two films for Bryan Singer, including X2 and Superman Returns, before eventually returning to his horror script. By then, he had honed his skills enough to take on the responsibility of directing Trick 'r Treat himself, and Legendary gave him the chance. It took some time for the film to find its audience, but now it is difficult to envision the Halloween classic without Dougherty's talent for weaving horror with myth, the presence of Sam throughout the interwoven tales of holiday joy, and the outstanding cast featuring Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, and many others.

A follow-up to Trick 'r Treat is now being produced after being delayed in development for years. Keep an eye on Our website for more updates as Dougherty, along with his Krampus co-writers Todd Casey and Zach Shields, make progress on the project. This Halloween, you can enjoy streaming the original film at home on Max in the U.S.

You can watch Nemiroff's full conversation with Dougherty below.

Trick 'r Treat

In a small town on Halloween night, those who break the rules of the holiday do so at their own peril.

Release Date December 9, 2007Director Michael DoughertyCast Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Rochelle AytesRating RMain Genre Horror

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I would like to express my opinions and feelings about the article.

First of all, I am a big fan of horror movies, and "Trick 'r Treat" is one of my favorites. I love the anthology format, and I think the movie does a great job of capturing the spirit of Halloween. I also appreciate the humor in the movie, which I think is important in a horror movie.

I think it's really interesting to hear about the original pitch for "Trick 'r Treat," which would have included segments directed by John Carpenter, George Romero, and Tobe Hooper. I think it's a shame that this version of the movie never came to fruition, but I understand why the studios rejected it. Vampires, werewolves, and zombies were all very popular in the 1980s and 1990s, but by the time "Trick 'r Treat" was being made, they were starting to become a bit overdone.

I'm glad that Michael Dougherty was able to eventually make his own version of "Trick 'r Treat," and I think it's a great movie. I'm also excited to hear that a sequel is in the works. I think there's a lot of potential for more stories in the "Trick 'r Treat" universe, and I can't wait to see what Dougherty does with them.