With the theater re-release renewing my love for the property, and the sequel film still way off in the horizon, I jumped at the opportunity for any more Trick r’ Treat content and put my hand in for this omnibus collection when I saw the Kickstarter announced. My collection always felt like it was missing a copy of the comics, and this compiles both comics, plus a brand new, exclusive story. How could I not pull the trigger on it?
The existing stories still hold up quite well, excluding the private eye one that’s a bit of a stylistic and narrative mess, and the new material is some of the best the series has had to offer. Whenever Trick r’ Treat 2 becomes a reality, I hope Dougherty finds a way to weave that final story in, because he would presumably be working from the unused comics, all of which play it far more straight than the ones the first film was pulled from, and it would be the perfect one to set the tone and frame the film in one go. You immediately would get the sense that this isn’t like the first film, and it would be the perfect capper to what I imagine would be a movie focusing more on Sam’s direct impact upon people’s lives, as it’s probably the most direct impact he’s had on the lives of humans (aside from, you know, murdering them).
Back to the stories the first movie is based on for a second, it is interesting revisiting them after having seen the movie multiple times and being able to pick up on key differences. Some are for the better, some for the worse, and some are a push. One of the things I’m especially glad they changed was dropping the reference to “retard strength.” Kids casually tossing around the word “retard,” but with one of them saying she’s an “idiot savant,” not a “retard”? That tracks and doesn’t feel like an offensive doubling down. The bit about “retards” having the strength of a monkey, and the one kid later asking her if she does? Yeah, that should have gotten the axe, because that’s taking things a step too far. Mostly, though, it’s minor changes I assume were made with the input of network execs, like changing Wilkins’ remark about doing what they used to do with grandpa to comments about a mother that’s no longer with them. And things being left more to the imagination, or without the additional comedic beats of the film. Each approach has its own merits, so I won’t say one is better than the other based upon that, however.
Overall, if you want to see where the cult-classic movie got its start, plus get more Trick r’ Treat content to tide you over until the eventual second film, all in some rather slick packaging, this omnibus collection is well worth its cost. Unfortunately, though, it looks like you’re no longer able to purchase yourself a copy, since it’s a Kickstarter exclusive product, and the funding period is over. It’s a damn shame. If you can find some way to get your hands on it still, though, I cannot recommend it enough.
P.S. The title is partly due to me not being able to really point people towards this, due to its unavailability, but largely due to me forgetting about the Good Omens graphic novel Kickstarter until it was too late and now just hoping it comes out through traditional outlets too. I couldn’t make up my mind initially and hesitated, and now I’m mad at myself for it.
