Movie Info
Movie Name: Halloween 3: Season of the Witch
Studio: Universal
Genre(s): Horror
Release Date(s): October 22, 1982
MPAA Rating: R
I think it is actually the Silver Shamrock song earworm that actually kills them…not Stonehenge
When a man is killed clutching a Halloween mask from Silver Shamrock, Dr. Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins) and the man’s daughter Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin) decide to investigate his death and backtrack along the path he took before the attack. Daniel and Ellie travel to the town of Santa Mira, California where Silver Shamrock has set up shop and counting down the days to Halloween. The owner Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy) seems to be housing secrets, and Daniel and Ellie must discover what they are. Halloween is coming quickly and time is running out!
Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a horror science-fiction thriller. The movie was produced by John Carpenter and followed Halloween II from 1981. The film was met with negative reviews but has gained a cult following over the years.
Dr. Daniel Challis…Robot FIghter!!!
Halloween III (when it was released) was like a slap in the face. Despite the nice creepy poster of children walking across a hill in the setting sun, Halloween III didn’t have anything to do with Halloween or Halloween II…aka no Michael Myers. People going into Halloween III expecting a slasher weren’t met with one. Instead, Halloween III: Season of the Witch presents an odd science-fiction story with its own merits.
John Carpenter didn’t originally intend Halloween to be a franchise about Michael Myers. The movie was supposed to be an anthology but with the success of Halloween, Halloween II carried on the story. Halloween III attempted something new, but it isn’t what people wanted.
Stonehenge or Michael Myers…you decide!
I actually think the story is a valid story (especially in today’s world). It is essentially a terrorism story. Imagine if people watching the Super Bowl or any big TV event had their Doritos suddenly kill them or have Alexa emit a high pitched frequency that murders everyone with a smart house? It is actually a really good concept, but it is done oddly here.
The cast is rather typical of these type of films. Tom Atkins was a Carpenter go-to and is decent as the lead, but rather generic. Stacey Nelkin isn’t very developed as his co-actress who seems like fodder for a rather deathless horror movie. Dan O’Hearlihy eats up his scenes with fervor but comes off as cartoonish. I like Kupfer family played by Ralph Strait, Jadeen Barbor, and Brad Schacter who meet their fate at the hands of the mask.
BRING BACK MICHAEL!!!
The movie unfortunately looks rather cheap. The sci-fi isn’t very sci-fi and this doesn’t make much sense from a man who can create perfect replicas of humans in robot form. The music takes its cues from the other Halloween films and that is a good thing…plus, that Silver Shamrock commercial is so catchy.
Halloween III is a misfire but more in that it could have been something good if it hadn’t been tied to Halloween. I could actually see a remake (or a movie that steals the idea and plot) and think it would actually be pretty good. “Hurry up for Halloween! Silver Shamrock!” Halloween III: Season of the Witch was followed by a return to the original storyline in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers in 1988.
Related Links:
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
