Why you should give Halloween III: Season of the Witch another chance

As a seasoned gamer and horror movie enthusiast with a penchant for the unconventional, I must say that I find myself standing up for the unsung heroes of cinema – the movies that are often maligned but secretly loved by many. This month, I’m taking on the task of defending one such film: Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

I love movies a lot of people love to hate. Are they actually bad movies, though? Well, yeah, some of them are so bad they’re good—looking at you Troll 2—and that is part of their charm. But some of them get more hatred than I believe they deserve. Each month, I’m going to defend a movie I think fits that bill. I will start this month with a personal favorite to defend and on theme for the spooky season: Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

Over time, the film “Halloween III: Season of the Witch,” initially released in 1982, has garnered a devoted cult fanbase. However, it remains a movie that people either love to criticize or dislike intensely. It often finds itself on lists ranking the worst sequels. Critics’ comparisons with the first two installments were harsh, and many viewers felt it didn’t measure up to its predecessors.

If you’ve gone through Curtis Richards’ novel adaptation, it clearly states that the voice urging Michael to commit murder is actually Enda’s, a 15-year-old from ancient Celtic times. Enda was deeply in love with, or perhaps obsessed with, Deirdre, King Gwynwyll’s daughter. After she humiliated him, he took his anger out on her and her lover during a ritual event at Samhain, which is equivalent to Halloween today. The villagers avenged Deirdre by killing Enda, but his spirit was cursed, condemned to roam the earth eternally, repeating the tragic events of that night from long ago.

In Halloween III, we delve into the ancient traditions associated with Halloween and transform from a typical slasher film to a horror movie blending supernatural elements with a touch of science fiction. The plot revolves around the origins of evil, sorcery, and Celtic folklore connected to the holiday, as well as the sinister powers of Samhain, which seems to be linked to the character Michael Myers.

John Carpenter and Debra Hill originally didn’t agree to work on Halloween III because they wanted it to be a standalone film in the Halloween series, not a sequel to the second installment. Their vision was for Halloween to become an anthology where each story would revolve around the holiday. However, this concept never materialized due to the poor response the movie received upon release.

Is Halloween III: Season of Michael Myers considered the top film in the series? Not necessarily. While I don’t believe anyone would claim it surpasses the original in terms of story or atmosphere, as the original is undeniably a classic, it stands out as one of the most enjoyable films within the franchise for various reasons.

Firstly, this film is unique in its boldness to tackle a subject many other movies shy away from – making children the victims. It unsparingly combines the spirit of Halloween with a chilling twist: Halloween masks imbued with dark magic that can destroy kids as soon as they wear them via their televisions, exposing the commercialization of the holiday.

It turns out that the entire scheme was orchestrated by the wicked Conal Cochran, portrayed brilliantly by Dan O’Herlihy, using a nationwide ad campaign for his firm, Silver Shamrock, to distribute the haunted masks across the country.

Don Post’s practical effects leave an indelible impact, with particularly intense scenes standing out. One such instance involves a character unwittingly peddling cursed masks; upon touching one, it emits a laser that sears her face, resulting in a gruesome explosion of her head. Another memorable sequence unfolds near the end, where a child dons a pumpkin-themed mask only to be instantly vaporized, his visage melting within the mask as it adheres to his face.

In this film, Tom Atkins portrays Dr. Dan Challis with great passion and conviction. The climactic scene where he’s trapped and frantically calling someone on the phone leaves a lasting impression. And if that doesn’t convince you of its entertainment value, let me add that it features an irresistibly catchy jingle for the Silver Shamrock company, which you can easily find by searching “Silver Shamrock Jingle” online. Enjoy your discovery!

Is the hate this movie gets deserved?

From my perspective as a passionate Halloween fan, I must admit that this film deviated from the familiar pattern set by the first two movies in the franchise. Unlike the usual Michael Myers’ nighttime slashing spree, there was no one being stalked and killed in this movie. This departure, however, didn’t diminish my enjoyment of it. Instead, I found it to be a refreshingly creative and bold take on Halloween, which undeniably contributed to its status as a beloved cult classic.

If you’re able to overlook the lack of Michael Myers in this film, there’s a good chance you’ll find something entertaining about it.

2024-10-06 18:25