Review of Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) by Sleez B — 17 Mar 2011

Halloween III- Seasons of the Witch.

It's all electronic as we see an orange line passing through the screen. This goes on as a line goes back and forth creating an object. We all know it is going to create a pumpkin or a jack-o-lantern, but for the purpose of the film, we sit through this as we learn the cast name. Complete, it is time to put a little black on the orange pumpkin. The music plays in the background, but there it bares any resemblance to the Halloween theme. It's almost done! As we look for the director and writer, we see that it is Tommy Lee Wallace... I'm done! Oh, it's a jack-o-lantern!

Halloween III- Seasons of the Witch opens up with a dark night in the road as we are in northern California. A middle age gentleman is jogging around the night. Huh, he seems to be in panic. He goes into a parking lot where I have figured out he is actually hiding from someone. I knew something was fishy! An old gentleman like that never jogs at night! He carelessly hides as he peers at a slow moving car. The music plays as it strikes a small resemblance to the original theme. Choke, one of the guys has grabbed our protagonist. Not to worry, the old man reacts quickly and kills his attacker with a slow moving vehicle. It happens! We quickly move out of the area and find ourselves in the hospital as a gas station owner tells us and the doctors what happened. However, we hear jarring prophecy we're all going to die! Yeah buddy, that's what all old drunken gentleman tell us now and days especially in horror movies. Ah, that was scary. Let's see what's on TV.

Eight more days to Halloween, Halloween, silver shamrock.

Dang, I gotta get me one of those cool masks. (Scream) we run to follow the point of view of Trace Adkins as Dr. Challis to see what the commotion is about. It's a nurse screaming over a murder of the old man. Yes, we do see the death scene. Back to the scene, we have Dr. Challis running through a narrow hallway trying to catch the man responsible for the old man's death. He finds the perpetrator, but it's too late. The killer self immolates himself before the eyes of a shock doctor. The police are puzzled as well. The obvious questions come and go. The plot involves the obvious teaming and investigation of the old man's death. Dr. Challis is joined by the old man's daughter, Stacey Nelkin (Ellie Grimgbridge) while calling a friend of his to investigate the old man's killer. The fresh alliance go into the town of Santa Mira (Invasion of the Body Snatchers?) to find cause, clues, or information about death of the old man. Upon their visit, we get a look in the characters at least for Dr. Challis as we learn he is divorced man. He has children and isn't around for them since has to work, but tries his darn-est. We get a scene where he buys Halloween mask for the kids, but is beaten by his disgruntled ex-wife with Silver Shamrock mask.

Two more days to Halloween, Halloween, silver shamrock.

The flick takes us to Santa Mira where outsiders aren't trusted. It reminded me of a documentary I saw somewhere in a religious fundamental town where outsiders weren't trusted and always followed. Anyways, the same follows here as the folks stay in shelter and obey curfew while saying great things about the owner of Silver Shamrock. Its residents are of Irish descent even though it fails to give an aspect on the folks. As for location, the imagery of the area is very beautiful. The screen shots look great as you sense a breath of the fresh air. Back to our disparate, they get a hotel to stay in and out of nowhere, a group folks arrive: Kupfer family and a lone woman. I though perfect timing. They all have business to deal in Santa Mira, but least concern about the folks or place. However, we learn a lot about how great the creator, Conol Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy), is. Conol is the founder of Silver Shamrock company producing toys and most known, the three popular Halloween mask. It is rumored that this will be his last Halloween, retirement? Anyways, the film goes on with nothing happening as commercials for Halloween mask play while Stacey and Dr. Challis form a relationship. It is here that I lost a lot of interest as the film snoozes as we see interaction with the protagonist, but nothing goes on to continue the interest. The flick began to drag on as I waited for something to happen. It felt like an eternity even though only five minutes passed by, crap! I began to z's and flying beds at this point.

I have to admit that I saw this flick around three or four in the morning thus contributing to the downfall. However, I saw the film Atonement (B+) around 4 am and never got bored or yawned. The decision I must make. The film is boring, so I'm mumbling and bobbing my head until a haphazard sex scene appears in the middle of nowhere with Stacey and Dr. Challis. I got up and thought what that was all about. I don't recall ever seeing anything like this. I concentrated on the motive of the decision despite knowing each other for a few days and disturbance in the next room. The film takes us to learning about an accident as Cochran's crew are there retrieving a victim. They inform Dr. Challis an accident has happened, but everything is under control. This leaves for a laughable moment as they turn their backs and yell out what happened? Misfire! It is loud enough for anyone around 10 yard radius to hear.

Happy, happy Halloween, Silver Shamrock.

It's Halloween and nothing has happened in the film despite the strange events. I was bored out of my mind and wit. I could not think of anything to say or do as we got one scene done after another. Granted, I like the choice for Trace Adkin as there is something undeniably interesting about especially his cool mustache. Ellie Grimgbridge is pretty good as supporting actress. I'm about to leave and let you guys figure it out. Hold on, I will once after I get a tour in the factory. Already in the ACT III, I am looking for something to keep me up. The factory trip has Cochran meeting up with the family as he presents himself as friendly person with good intentions despite his sinister look even when he smiles. Cochran takes a family and Dr. Challis and Ellie to tour the factory to present the creation of the most popular mask for Halloween '83. They are all the same: jack-o-lantern, skull, and witch. I was expecting to see Michael Myers mask at one point in the film, but evidence shares no link with Myers and Silver Shamrock Company. Anyways, we take a tour and clues pour out for the Challis and Stacey both exterior and interior reasons. Action takes place later with a discovery of a zany scheme especially with pineapple jam and honey.

It is around the last 20 minutes of the film that picks up as suspense enters with discovery of a scheme and action performed comically. The scheme is half-baked and sleazy as we see it performed on a family resulting in one of the most unique death scenes involving a television. Mother always said to not stand too close to the television. This was racked by Cochran as a demonstration to Dr. Challis with no motivation other than Samhain (pronounced Sa-win). He explains about the origin of Halloween, reveals his plan, and enigma of a Stonehenge that was stolen from its original place. I burst into laughter. I couldn't really buy Cochran's idea as it is too absurd especially with no exit plan. It didn't bother me that his plan would involve a Megadeth of children and parents participating in Halloween and the "big giveaway". The problem relied on visceral decline into obscurity with unintentional laughs. It sounds like a good idea, but it's too laughable for its own good. He could have mention his hate for Halloween as he blamed the Western culture for its rape of a sacred day comparable to the people who nail Santa Clause or the Easter bunny on a cross to make a statement. Heck, he could have mention over the use of Halloween for Carpenter's film.

The film takes a surprising turn on the fun level that made me clap and say oh joy. It is the ending, however, that goes out on a high note. I really liked it as it brings excitement from an already ludicrous-lethargic film. This and the first scene are the best scenes along with other shots throughout the film.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch fails to be an effective thriller as it bares resemblance to Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It worked well when John Carpenter made a Halloween using Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho as influence. Writer and director Tommy Lee Wallace does a nice job making an average film with nice screen shots and locations. Another great scene involves cities statewide as children wear the Silver Shamrock representing different ethnicities and society. I already mention about the acting earlier, but I have to give a brief mention over the zany dudes in business suits. They are Cochran's henchmen and do all his dirty work without protest or moral questioning and rethinking. I found them amusing whenever they popped out. I love the ads for the big giveaway and the big giveaway too. I could have sworn it might bring seizures to some.

Notwithstanding the scenes, the flick fails overall as an enigmatic-thriller incorporating science fiction. Downing this further, there was a chance for subtext, derision, criticism, and social commentary in the film with the following antis: Halloween, corporations, consumerism, kids, holiday, trends, Irish, androids, technology, television, government, dictatorship, and a lot more. Instead, we are left with a sleazy half-baked idea that I might split the scene if I don't die laughing. The faulty logic is visible especially with revelations of the Stonehenge thus raking the flick a lot more. This adds up to a disaster although I admit I have an admiration for it. I didn't have a problem over digression over Michael Myers although Myers appears in one scene contrary to the popular belief.

I must give this a 'no recommendation' because other than the film itself, it fails in DVD format. We have language, scene selection, play, and recommendations. Nothing more and nothing less, the consumer will be unsatisfied with the purchase. Although I am satisfied with this flick, I will only recommend it if you catch this on TV or if you are a hardcore fan. Writing this as of Jan 26, 2011, I noticed there are 9 more months to Halloween, Halloween. Extra points sick advertisement.

I do love a good joke.

Halloween.