UPDATED: Trick 'r Treat: DVD Release Date in Sight?

Meet the new news... same as the old news.

The problem with running your own blog is that sometimes news breaks, and you haven't got time to post something on it until... well, until you have time to post something on it.

Here's the bottom line: Mike Dougherty's Trick R Treat is most likely being released on DVD and Blu-Ray THIS October.
FINALLY.

Now here's the longer version of that news for people who loooooove details...

Back on October 23, 2008 I had the pleasure of making the invite list for Drew "Moriarty" McWeeny's screening of Mike Dougherty's Trick 'r Treat. Hosted by Aintitcool.com the screening was held in one of the Mann's Theaters right in Hollywood.
It was NOT in the grandiose Chinese, but that's ok because I was getting to see the movie I had deemed to be the end-all be-all for Halloween movies.

You see I had been following this film since it was in production, oh so many years ago.
I had originally heard about this movie through the BloodyDisgusting.com website and immediately fell in love with the handful of officially released publicity photos leaked to the site.

My interest peaked more when I got a look at the poster for the film: a childlike innocence with creepy undertones and all rendered in subtle black and orange hues.

Then it was the summer of 2007 and as I popped in my copy of the 2 Disc Special Edition of Zach Snyder's 300 I got treated (ha!) to the film's trailer. Starting off with vintage looking footage in a small 16 mm-looking frame, it had me hooked. Because one of the things that makes the Halloween season endearing to me is its connection to pleasant childhood memories. Then the music washed in and the frame expanded to a very Widescreen John Carpenter-esque Panavision shot with flickering jack o' lanterns in the corner and a Little Red Riding Hood walking through some moonlit woods... and I knew that this was the movie for me.



Then... nothing.

Rumors abounded about the fate of the film. Warner Bros. dropped it from its theatrical release schedule. Then there was no word about a DVD release.
Getting back to the Trick 'r Treat screening in Hollywood: Mike Dougherty was THERE at the screening and he happily did a Q&A afterwards.
Did he --the film's DIRECTOR-- know when it was going to be released?
Nope.

Then just recently on Mike's MySpace page was this simple post:

Keep Watching the Skies

Two announcements are coming. One in June, the other at Comic-Con in July. Fun stuff that makes me smile...and finally relax. Thanks for all of your messages and support.

Other websites started to break the news that the trailer had been posted on About.com and the new trailer was exactly the same... except for the final title slate that said simply "Coming to Blu-Ray & DVD This October."

Oh Warner Bros. ... is it true?

If it is... that... that would be the best darn Halloween present you could give a Halloween Addict. If I may ask, Mister Warner: if you're skipping a theatrical release take a little dough (Dough-erty? Ha!) and make it a pretty release.

Here's what my dream disc would look like: First of all it would have the gorgeous poster art on the front. The FIRST poster. The one where you can't quite make out what that little kid is doing... if it's even a little kid.
Don't give me floating heads of Anna Paquin, Brian Cox and the like. The poster is already done. You can even get it from Mike Dougherty's MySpace page at super hi-rez. Done and done.
Cost?
Zero.

Then I'd like it if you actually made the pastic DVD case orange. I think it would stand out on the shelf nicely.
Odds it'll happen?
Zero.

Lastly, I'd love it if the disc itself looked like Sam's jack o' lantern lollipop, complete with the bite taken out of it. Check out the cropped pic to see what I'm talking about.
Odds of it happening?
Zipsky.

But you know what? I don't mind. Because if I get this movie in the month that is the most fit to be watching it in... that'll be just grand. Sitting there with a bag of Halloween colored Giant Chewy Nerds and watching one of the best Halloween-themed films ever made? That's enough for me.

As far as the extras on the DVD, I'd love it if WB included the original animated short called "Seasons Greetings" by Mike complete with commentary. You can view that video HERE.

I realize I haven't told you much about the film, and that's on-purpose. I don't want to ruin anything for you. It's not a complex film. It just knows what it is. And those who know what it is, have a great time watching it.

Just know this:
It's a love letter to Halloween.
A gorgeous homage to things that go bump in the night.
And though it's not breaking any new ground, it's the type of film whose viewing transcends generations and becomes a tradition.
Put THAT on your DVD box Warner Bros.

To read up on my other thoughts on the film check out my past posts HERE.

UPDATE!
According to the Warner Bros. press release for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the Friday the 13th Remake/Reimagining/Restart, the Friday the 13th Extended Killer Cut Blu-ray Disc has a BD Live special feature that says simply:

• Sneak peak of upcoming horror Trick R Treat

There it is in PRINT!
Now we all just have to wait 'til the disc drops on June 16th to get even MORE info!

And dammit... now I gotta go buy a Blu-Ray player.
I was really hoping to wait out Blu-Ray and just jump on the next format called "Crystal FX 2" or something. Nope. They're gonna get my money... dammit.
Link to order Friday the 13th Killer Cut are in the Amazon links below.
Pre-order............. NOW!

UPDATED AGAIN! 8/14/09
Release date per Shocktillyoudrop.com is October 6, 2009.
Woo freaking Hoo!