Q&A: 'Trick 'r Treat' writer-director Michael Dougherty

"Trick 'r Treat" is a rare breed: a horror anthology. It’s also a bit of a throwback to the kinds of movies made during the 1980s, one of the heydays of horror. The movie began production in late 2006 and was supposed to be released in late 2007 but ended up sitting on the shelf, much to the consternation of Legendary Pictures, the company behind the movie, and the man behind it, Michael Dougherty, who wrote and directed the movie. It seems like Warner Bros. just didn’t know what to do with what it had.

The movie finally made its debut on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday. There was a release party and signing at Los Angeles’ Golden Apple comic book store earlier this week and another signing is planned at Dark Delicacies in Burbank.

Heat Vision talked to Dougherty about the long-awaited release, the future of distribution, and horror:

Heat Vision: It’s been a long road. How does it feel to have the movie actually come out into the universe for all to see?

Michael Dougherty: It feels awesome. Really awesome. The question I always get is, "Am I bummed about not getting theatrical? Theatrical, theatrical, theatrical, what happened?" blah blah. It would be easy to bitch and moan about that, but the ending in this story is turning out to be a really happy one.

I don’t know what’s happening, but people are really embracing it. And I’m flattered by that. And I think making a good movie that hopefully stands the test of time is more important than how it got distributed.

I checked the sales chart on Amazon today and it was the No. 1 horror DVD. And they listed it under "sci-fi" and it was outselling “Transformers 2.” I don’t know how that is possible, but I was staring at the computer screen and there it was.

It was weird, and I’m happy we got to this place.

Heat Vision: There were screenings of this at festivals, there were dolls and books, all for a movie  that was not getting released.

Dougherty: The first screening was in Austin at Harry Knowles’ Butt-Numb-a-Thon. That was the first time that things turned around for me as a filmmaker, because that was the first time I realized, “Oh wow, people actually like this movie. It’s not a disaster." 

Screamfest reinforced that. I was a little more confident then because I knew we’d be hitting people who at least understood that genre. But that was a big boost. A lot of online journalists came, so when that screening was over, we had 60 pages of reviews, all of which were good.

Yet it was still this nebulous limbo we were stuck in. Yes there were toys and books and comic books and merchandise but no movie. It was bittersweet. It was loved, but its fate was still uncertain.

Heat Vision: I think the power of fans is greater. We’ve seen that with "Kick-Ass" and “Harry Potter” fans have been credited with getting a release for his movie “Cherrybomb.” Fan involvement is getting movies picked up for distribution and seen.

Dougherty:  A bit like “Paranormal Activity.”

Heat Vision: “The Tournament” is opening Screamfest and is hoping for some kind of positive outcome. Had your movie played now, do you think the outcome would have been different?

Dougherty: I’ve reached a point where it doesn’t matter. And I don’t know who much of that will matter down the road. We’re reaching a day and age where the generation of kids growing up expect to have the option of going to the theater or watching a movie at home. I think that window is going to close completely, soon.

But I think, in the meantime, I think it’s smart for distributors to look at that limited-release fan demand method of distribution. I think what Paramount is doing with “Paranormal Activity” is genius. It’s genius. The movie holds up and it’s the kind of movie that people want to show their friends because they want to see them terrified.

Why not try to open it in two cities and let the fans post on Facebook or send out tweets about getting it in their hometown? I really wish we could have tried that model with “Trick 'r Treat,” but by the time the decision had been made it was too late.

I would love it if smaller films had a chance to find their audience and grow, like what Paramount is doing.

Heat Vision: What is it about horror that you love?

Dougherty: I find being scared fun. I was the kid who loved going into the haunted house rides. I’m a fan of horror as a whole, but I’m a bigger fan of fun horror movies. A lot of which were born in the '80s. Your “Poltergeists,” your “Gremlins.” Even “Nightmare on Elm Street” -- it’s half slasher, half fantasy monster movie.

For whatever reason, that method of making horror movies has gone away, which I found depressing. I wanted to make a movie which filled that void. Where it’s fun to be scared. Not every horror movie has to be depressing and torturous to get through.

Heat Vision: So you’re not a fan of torture porn?

Dougherty: I don’t want to be misconstrued as being anti-torture-porn or anti-remake. I love all kinds of horror, just like my music tastes vary.  I just think that horror as a genre needs more balance. It’s OK to have remakes if you have originals. It’s OK to have some torture porn or Japanese horror remakes if you’re making horror comedies.

Heat Vision: Have you seen "Zombieland"?

Dougherty: I love “Zombieland.” It’s more of a comedy, but it’s using horror conventions, so it counts as a horror comedy. But watch “Poltergeist.” It’s a really funny movie.

Heat Vision: Really?

Dougherty: Look at the dynamics between the characters. You have a midget who walks in, and she’s the psychic who is supposed to take care of this paranormal activity. It’s definitely quirky.

Heat Vision: It’s tough to make movies like that anymore. They’re either super big movies or super small.

Dougherty: It would be nice to go back to what we had in the '80s, which was mostly original horror movies and the occasional remake. The remakes were done at a level of quality which said a real passionate filmmaker was behind it, like "The Fly" and "The Thing."

Comments

[twitter.com/Kristal_Bailey]

This film had such great buzz, I'm really surprised it didn't get a theatrical release. Especially with Anna Paquin being a recognizable name thanks to True Blood. But, like he said, it's that it's out at all. I can't wait to watch it!

http://toointerestingfortwitter.blogspot.com

[Miss Sarah]

I'm really surprised too! I have seen plenty of straight-to-DVD horror films and they were AWFUL. But this one looks legit for sure. I mean it has actual actors that people have heard of and that are popular and it looks scary and fun. I can't wait to rent it!

[folic acid]

Those who love it, like I, will still be watching it with great devotion. Those who merely liked it will not be able to help themselves from putting it on as background to their Halloween parties. And those who hated it, well, those who hated it don’t exist. They can’t exist. To hate Trick ‘r Treat would be to hate the entire spirit of Halloween, a spirit Dougherty apparently has complete domain over.

[Aion kinah]

i will still be watching it with great devotion. Those who merely liked it will not be able to help themselves from putting it on as background to their Halloween parties. And those who hated it, well, those who hated it don’t exist. They can’t exist

[HUBBARDCARA21]

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