Movies
‘Trick ‘r Treat’: Unearthing The Classic’s Hidden Easter Eggs
Recently, Variety ranked Trick ‘r Treat number three in the 21 Best Halloween Movies Ever – only topped by Hocus Pocus and Halloween (1978).
It’s interesting, though, given that the movie initially flopped upon release. Over the years, the film and its lollipop-wielding icon, Sam, have picked up a cult following, whose fans have since helped skyrocket it to the level of popularity we see today.
It’s nice to see the movie getting mainstream recognition. Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween staple in my household, and our small, murderous friend Sam makes me ecstatic every time I see him. He’s so precious.
Plus, the interwoven stories and comic-style horror are reminiscent of the classics like Tales from the Crypt, Cat’s Eye, and Creepshow – while the setting and character design make it all feel like Halloween night. It’s easy to see why Trick ‘r Treat is now a Halloween classic to even large media outlets like Variety.
However, with so much greatness going on, picking up on every detail the film offers can be challenging. Several Easter eggs in Trick ‘r Treat go unseen by many viewers, so let’s dive in.
Recently, Variety ranked Trick ‘r Treat number three in the 21 Best Halloween Movies Ever – only topped by Hocus Pocus and Halloween (1978).
It’s interesting, though, given that the movie initially flopped upon release. Over the years, the film and its lollipop-wielding icon, Sam, have picked up a cult following, whose fans have since helped skyrocket it to the level of popularity we see today.
It’s nice to see the movie getting mainstream recognition. Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween staple in my household, and our small, murderous friend Sam makes me ecstatic every time I see him. He’s so precious.
Plus, the interwoven stories and comic-style horror are reminiscent of the classics like Tales from the Crypt, Cat’s Eye, and Creepshow – while the setting and character design make it all feel like Halloween night. It’s easy to see why Trick ‘r Treat is now a Halloween classic to even large media outlets like Variety.
However, with so much greatness going on, picking up on every detail the film offers can be challenging. Several Easter eggs in Trick ‘r Treat go unseen by many viewers, so let’s dive in.
Hidden Details in Trick ‘r Treat
Halloween Through the Years
Each story in the film depicts how different age groups experience the holiday, effectively representing a lifetime of Halloween.
- Billy Wilkins shows us Halloween during young childhood, where we’re guided by our parents and follow family Halloween traditions.
- The next age group, our “UNICEF” trick-or-treaters, are examples of trick-or-treating with friends when we first gain independence during the tween and teen years.
- Little Red Riding Hood takes us to a little more grown-up Halloween, where young adults party and try to find themselves.
- Meanwhile, people like Mrs. Henderson, Principal Steven Wilkins, and our ‘Opening’ sequence couple (Emma and Henry) exemplify Halloween in our prime adult years. The parties are still happening for some, but now it’s also about the kids and handing out candy – and we’re all slightly angry.
- All culminating in old age and the end via Mr. Kreeg, the bus driver.
Kreeg, you may remember, after going toe to toe with Sam for a couple of rounds, eventually succumbed to the vengeful spirits of the Halloween School Bus Massacre. Mr. Kreeg must have sensed his fate for years, as his door has eight locks – one for each of the eight children he helped murder.
Quinn Lord’s Appearance in Trick ‘r Treat
Quinn Lord was only seven when he starred in Trick ‘r Treat as Sam. In the film, he made an additional, minor appearance as the boy with the lollipop in the dressing room scene.
Horror Movie References in Trick ‘r Treat
Viewers can spot numerous classic horror icons throughout the film through prop placement and costume design.
Kreeg, the bus driver, looks awfully like John Carpenter and this was done absolutely on purpose. In fact, in an interview with Collider, Michael Dougherty revealed that Brian Cox, the actor behind Mr. Kreeg, said:
“I have one request. I wanna look like John Carpenter.”
Brian Cox’s appearance was only one of many references to John Carpenter and his works. For example:
- When the children emerge from the fog during the Halloween School Bus Massacre segment, the shot is reminiscent of one from John Carpenter’s The Fog.
- Additionally, when Kreeg sees Sam’s severed hand moving, his remark is the same one Palmer had when the head crawled off in The Thing: “You gotta be fucking kidding.”
It’s arguable whether the crawling severed hand references Evil Dead 2; however, the scene where Sam slices Kreeg’s Achilles’ tendon is undoubtedly a Pet Sematary reference. This iconic attack move is not the only reference to King, as the iconic 1958 Plymouth Fury, better known as Christine, can be spotted on the street.
You can find more movie references in Trick ‘r Treat in characters’ costumes, such as Billy Wilkins, who dressed as Chucky. Speaking of the Wilkins family, did you catch all the details in Principal Wilkins’ storyline?
Principal Steven Wilkins’ Sinister Halloween Night
Since we see Steven Wilkins’ story unfold in various nonlinear scenes throughout the film, it can be easy to lose track. So, let’s review.
Principal Wilkins started his Halloween night by handing out candy. He gave a chocolate bar to our pal Sam, who used it later as a weapon against Kreeg. It was a formidable weapon because of the razor inside – indicating that Wilkins was putting razor blades in the candy.
Of course, this is unsurprising, as in our first few moments of meeting Wilkins, we also watched him poison and murder a child. After grappling with the body in the yard for a time, he returns inside to carve a man-o’lantern with his son.
Later, a man with a mask and vampire fangs exsanguinates a young girl in an alleyway. The same vampire follows our Red Riding Hood to the werewolf bonfire, intending to make her his next victim. After he attacks her, Red Riding Hood is finally ready to tap into her werewolf roots.
These events lead to the ultimate reveal that those are fake fangs, and the seeming “vampire” was just Steven Wilkins in costume. He died, undoubtedly shitting his pants as he watched the girl who was supposed to be his victim transform into a werewolf and devour him. A fitting end. But did you notice that Wilkins wasn’t the only character we knew who became werewolf lunch?
Coach Taylor’s Wild Night in a Hotdog Costume
A small side story that often goes unnoticed in Trick ‘r Treat is the adventure of Coach Taylor. While at one door, one of our trick-or-treaters lamented that Coach Taylor was in a hotdog costume getting busy with somebody in a pig costume. He was quite the partier, as you can also spot his costume on the ground at the werewolf bonfire.
Michael Dougherty put tremendous effort into making Trick ‘r Treat the Halloween classic it’s become. By paying homage to some of the great horror that’s come before it while serving us a multitude of interwoven storylines in a setting that bleeds Halloween, Trick’r Treat is one of the greatest Halloween movies of all time. Did you pick up on these hidden details in Trick’r Treat? Are there any we missed? Sound off on social media or in the comments below!
My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Carrie (1976)
A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.
You can watch Carrie on January 1st.
Marshmallow (2025)
A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.
You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.
Chain Reactions (2024)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.
You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.
You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.
Mother of Flies (2025)
A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.
You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.
New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety. Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.
I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great.
Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.
City of Shadows (2025)
When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.
Frankenstein (2025)
Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix.
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them.
The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.
Troll 2 (2025)
A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward.
These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.
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