What’s in a name? A bad or confusing title can cost a lot in the world of movies. Halloween III: Season of the Witch learned that lesson in the Fall of 1982. Critics were expecting another installment of Michael Myers running around with a knife looking for victims. Friday 13th Part 3 had played the movie theater with Jason stabbing everyone in the face thanks to 3-D. But Halloween III wasn’t coming close to the formula of how to beat a horror film series to death. There would be no Micheal Myers to create the scares. John Carpenter and crew were going to shake things up. They wanted to use Halloween to be the brand for movies about the holiday. The audience was turned off by movie reviews that pointed out that this was the night Michael Myers took off. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Collector’s Edition) makes a case that the film is better if you ignore the Halloween part of the title.
What’s the movie about since it doesn’t feature an escaped mental patient wearing a mask and wielding a knife? How about an evil novelty company? Dr. Challis (Tom Atkins) loses a patient. It’s not from malpractice. A stranger sneaks into the hospital and kills the patient. The guy blows himself up in the parking lot so nobody knows what’s going on. Dr. Challis connects with the dead man’s daughter (Stacey Nelkin). The only key to the mystery is a Halloween mask made by Silver Shamrock Novelties. They are the holiday rage as kids snatch up the masks while the company’s annoying commercials play all day long. They want the kids to watch their amazing special presentation during a TV screening of Halloween. Michael Myers does appear in the movie in the previews.
Dr. Challis hits the road to find out what’s going on at Silver Shamrock’s factory. He lies about his identity in order to meet the company’s CEO (Dan O’Herlihy). What is the secret of their ad blitz for the pumpkin, witch and skull masks? The mystery wraps itself up with mechanical toys, fierce security guards and druids. The movie isn’t for the squeamish as snakes and giant bugs come out of the faces of victims.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch would have a larger following if it was just Season of the Witch. The evil masks would have been more horror iconic if people didn’t expect Michael Myers masks rolling off the assembly line. Videostores in the ’80s and ’90s would have proudly stocked the VHS tape without worrying about renters whining that Micheal Myers really wasn’t in the film. Radio DJs would play the Silver Shamrock jingle in the lead up to Halloween to be cute. The film deserves to be re-watched instead of scoffed as a grotesque Curse of the Pink Panther. Revive Season of the Witch as part of your Spooktacular viewing party.
The video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The transfer brings out the details in the wicked masks. This was made for the Blu-ray. The clean image helps in reassessing the movie. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The mix is set up to make the Silver Shamrock jingle even more annoying.
Audio Commentaries from director Tommy Lee Wallace and actor Tom Atkins.
Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch (33:06) explores a film that deserves to be watched as a film that wasn’t part of Halloween series.
Horror’s Hallowed Grounds (19:42) is a tour of the locations with Sean Clark. He joins up with Tommy Lee Wallace to view a few places. This is essential viewing.
Still Gallery has dozens of promotional pics.
TV Spots (1:35) does it’s best to let us know this is about Halloween, but isn’t a sequel for Halloween. There’s also the promo for when it originally ran on TV.
Trailer (2:44) pushes the mask concept.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch succeeds in making the case that this film shouldn’t be viewed as a rip-off. The evil mask company plot is much better than just another killer rampage flick. It’s much better than the later sequels that brought back Micheal Myers.
Scream Factory presents Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Collector’s Edition). Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace. Screenplay by: Tommy Lee Wallace. Starring: Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin and Dan O’Herlihy. Running Time: 96 minutes. Rating: R Rated. Released: September 18, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.
