Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

Starring: Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dan O'Herlihy
Written by: Tommy Lee Wallace

Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Year: 1982

Rating:   * *   Stars       +       (Fan Bonus - )    Total: * *

A halloween mask company sells masks with a sinister secret.

Perhaps the most clever aspect of this film lies in its title. By having "3" in the title, it suggests a continuation, or at least some continuity with its previous titles. Season Of The Witch has absolutely no connection to any film in this series. And judging from the film itself, the name Halloween seems to be the only thing going for it.

The on-call doctor investigates what seems to be a murder-suicide. He discovers a plot from an insane toy-maker who uses the masks, along with an ancient Celtic ritual and fragments from a boulder at Stonehenge, to kill millions. Tiny fragments are placed in each mask, and when the children wear them and watch the advertisement from Silver Shamrock, the company that makes the masks n Halloween night, the unthinkable will happen.

As time draws near, Dr. Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins) must stop the evil Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy) before it's too late. He has to stop the broadcast, but first, he must come out of the factory alive.

Even those wanting something outside of Michael Myers and his slashfest, fans will feel the lack of John Carpenter's writing and directing. With the name of Halloween, it almost seems that the producers expected a failure without a marketable title. The quality of the acting and direction justifies their fears even with the plot having some redeeming quality. Halloween fans generally pass on this film, however some speculate that the events of this film are from a cultist from the Cult of Thorns, the cult that is introduced in Halloween 4, and those responsible for Michael Myers. However, this is speculation, and never confirmed.

SEE THE TRAILER: Halloween III: Season Of The Witch