Unearthing the Untold Story: Director Unveils Original School Bus Massacre Segment in 'Trick 'r Treat'

Article Summary

Michael Dougherty's original alternate version of the School Bus Massacre in Trick 'r Treat was swapped because of a trending trope in horror movies.

The director's unique and intriguing choice in the movie was to transform the werewolf pack into an all-female group.

Exciting fans of the cult classic horror, Trick 'r Treat 2 is currently being developed with a completed script.

In Trick 'r Treat, released in 2007, the pivotal moment that sets the events of the movie in motion is the result of a school bus crash orchestrated by neglectful parents. This disturbing sequence is one of the standout moments of the film. Surprisingly, it almost didn't happen. In a Q&A session with Our website following a screening of the movie for Scary Perri's Horror Series, director and writer Michael Dougherty shared that the original plan for that segment was different. During the interview, Dougherty revealed to Perri Nemiroff that there were minimal script changes from the first draft to the final version. However, the concept of a school bus massacre was ultimately chosen over the initial idea due to a popular trend in the early 2000s.

“The only difference was that initially, the rock quarry story took place in a cemetery where the kids were playing a game of ghost in the graveyard. In the original ending, it was revealed that the group of kids had enticed the girl to the cemetery because she was actually dead, yet unaware of her state. It's not a terrible twist, but considering the recent popularity of films like ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘The Others,’ the surprise revelation of being deceased had become a common trope by that point.”

Dougherty Reveals Other Changes to 'Trick 'r Treat'

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Moreover, Dougherty mentioned an additional alteration to the narrative that aimed to make Trick 'r Treat unique. The director explained that initially, the werewolf pack comprised both males and females. However, he decided to deviate from this concept after realizing the fascination of having exclusively female werewolves. Even in today's standards, the presence of a female werewolf pack remains somewhat unexpected, thus emphasizing the wise decision.

Trick 'r Treat 2 is finally in the making after a long anticipation, with the script already completed. This exciting news brings joy to the numerous dedicated fans of this horror franchise, as the return of the chilling character, Sam, is now imminent. Catch the original Trick 'r Treat movie streaming on Max in the U.S.

You can watch our full interview with Michael 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 RRuntime 82 minutesGenres Horror, ComedyWriters Michael Dougherty

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I am thrilled to hear about the original school bus massacre segment that was considered for the movie "Trick 'r Treat." The director's decision to steer away from cliché twists and surprises is commendable, and I appreciate his commitment to originality. The idea of transforming the werewolf pack into an all-female group is particularly intriguing, as it adds a unique and unexpected element to the story. This choice showcases the director's willingness to challenge conventional norms and explore new possibilities, which is exciting to see in the horror genre.

The fact that "Trick 'r Treat 2" is currently in development with a completed script is incredibly exciting news for fans of the franchise. The return of the chilling character, Sam, is highly anticipated, and I am eager to see what new scares and surprises the sequel will bring. The original "Trick 'r Treat" movie is a cult classic, and I believe that the sequel has the potential to be just as successful, if not more so. Overall, I am very excited about the future of the "Trick 'r Treat" franchise and can't wait to see what the director has in store for us.