← Back to Reviews
in
Halloween III: Season of the Witch follows Dan Challis (Tom Atkins), a doctor who finds himself in the middle of a deadly plot that involves a mysterious novelty company and its owner, Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy). Dan doesn't know what at first, but something's going down on Halloween night, and it has nothing to do with Michael Myers.
Yes, because in this universe, Myers is just another killer on the TV. Back in the 80s, after "killing" him in the second film, it was the intention to turn the franchise into an anthology series each featuring a different story. Thus came this third installment, the "bastard" child of the Halloween franchise. Needless to say, audiences didn't respond well to the absence of Myers, so this installment was pushed aside, bringing Myers back in the next one, and the rest is history.
I remember seeing this back when I was a kid, and the image of a masked child collapsing while his head melts and all kinds of critters pour out was etched into my brain. I actually thought that was the very ending in my memories, but the truth is that I hadn't gone back to it since the 90s, maybe even the late 80s. So when a podcasting friend brought it up, I thought "why not?" and after watching it now, I thought "why didn't I rewatched this before?!"
Season of the Witch ended up being quite an effective thrill ride. Not only does it ditch the Myers storyline, but also leans more towards some scifi elements (androids) and the occult, than it does to typical slashers, and that angle is more my jam. Putting aside how ludicrous it is that a regular doctor ends up ensnared in all this mess as if he was a detective, the film does a great job of handling tension, creating atmosphere, and building tension, with some neat kills to boot.
Atkins is effective in the lead, even if the romantic angle with the daughter of a patient feels unnecessary. But it is O'Herlihy the one that steals the show as the mastermind behind Silver Shamrock Novelties. Once he enters the plot towards the middle of the film, he owns it as he leads us to its inevitably eerie conclusion.
At one point in Halloween II, Dr. Loomis brings up the "Samhain" festival (the original Celtic "Halloween" celebration, perhaps?) in an attempt to embellish the mythology they wanted to attach to Myers. Here, Cochran brings it up again as he explains the reasoning behind his actions, and it makes a lot more sense in how it's implemented here than it does in the first sequel. It's a pity that the studio didn't decide to follow this formula, going back to the lazier Myers storyline instead.
Grade:
HALLOWEEN III
SEASON OF THE WITCH
(1982, Wallace)
The third part on a film franchise
SEASON OF THE WITCH
(1982, Wallace)
The third part on a film franchise
"You don't really know much about Halloween. You thought no further than the strange custom of having your children wear masks and go out begging for candy."
Halloween III: Season of the Witch follows Dan Challis (Tom Atkins), a doctor who finds himself in the middle of a deadly plot that involves a mysterious novelty company and its owner, Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy). Dan doesn't know what at first, but something's going down on Halloween night, and it has nothing to do with Michael Myers.
Yes, because in this universe, Myers is just another killer on the TV. Back in the 80s, after "killing" him in the second film, it was the intention to turn the franchise into an anthology series each featuring a different story. Thus came this third installment, the "bastard" child of the Halloween franchise. Needless to say, audiences didn't respond well to the absence of Myers, so this installment was pushed aside, bringing Myers back in the next one, and the rest is history.
I remember seeing this back when I was a kid, and the image of a masked child collapsing while his head melts and all kinds of critters pour out was etched into my brain. I actually thought that was the very ending in my memories, but the truth is that I hadn't gone back to it since the 90s, maybe even the late 80s. So when a podcasting friend brought it up, I thought "why not?" and after watching it now, I thought "why didn't I rewatched this before?!"
Season of the Witch ended up being quite an effective thrill ride. Not only does it ditch the Myers storyline, but also leans more towards some scifi elements (androids) and the occult, than it does to typical slashers, and that angle is more my jam. Putting aside how ludicrous it is that a regular doctor ends up ensnared in all this mess as if he was a detective, the film does a great job of handling tension, creating atmosphere, and building tension, with some neat kills to boot.
Atkins is effective in the lead, even if the romantic angle with the daughter of a patient feels unnecessary. But it is O'Herlihy the one that steals the show as the mastermind behind Silver Shamrock Novelties. Once he enters the plot towards the middle of the film, he owns it as he leads us to its inevitably eerie conclusion.
At one point in Halloween II, Dr. Loomis brings up the "Samhain" festival (the original Celtic "Halloween" celebration, perhaps?) in an attempt to embellish the mythology they wanted to attach to Myers. Here, Cochran brings it up again as he explains the reasoning behind his actions, and it makes a lot more sense in how it's implemented here than it does in the first sequel. It's a pity that the studio didn't decide to follow this formula, going back to the lazier Myers storyline instead.
Grade: