HALLOWEEN III: Season of the witch

I hear a lot that the third Halloween is the worst one. People say it’s dumb because Michael Myers isn’t even in it. Well, I hate to break it to ya, but almost all the Halloween movies with Michael are dumb! Honestly, I actually like the idea of the third movie. The plan was to make Halloween into an anthology series, with each entry being a completely different story. But the love for Michael Myers was too strong, so they brought him back and never looked back.

So, I sat down to actually watch Halloween III as an independent movie, and… honestly, it’s not all that scary, but it’s a decent film in its own weird way. But let’s delve into the review.

Story – 5.1

The story follows Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins), who stumbles into a bizarre conspiracy involving the Silver Shamrock toy company. Turns out, their Halloween masks are rigged with microchips and pieces of Stonehenge (yes, really), designed to kill kids in a gruesome ritual when a TV commercial plays.

It’s ambitious and creative, but also messy. The pacing drags in places, and some of the twists are more goofy than scary. Still, credit where it’s due: at least it tried something new instead of rehashing Michael Myers again.

Monsters/Villains – 5.5

There aren’t really “monsters” here, but the villain, Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy), is memorable. He plays the evil toy maker with a calm, unsettling charm that makes him stand out. The whole idea of using Halloween masks to wipe out children is disturbing, even if the execution is kind of cheesy.

And let’s be real — the Silver Shamrock jingle (“Three more days till Halloween…”) is maybe the creepiest thing in the film — mostly because it gets stuck in your head forever.

Actors/Characters – 5.1

Tom Atkins is solid as always, but his character feels a bit one-note — the classic horror movie doctor/detective who drinks too much and jumps right into danger. Stacey Nelkin, as Ellie, works fine as the mysterious companion, though the chemistry feels forced.

The standout is O’Herlihy as Cochran, who gives the movie its best performance. Without him, the story would feel way more forgettable.

Joe Score – 5.3

Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a fascinating misstep. It doesn’t work as a Halloween sequel because audiences wanted Michael Myers, not killer masks and Stonehenge magic. But judged on its own, it’s a quirky, flawed cult movie that’s grown more appreciated over time.

It’s not great, but it’s worth a watch — especially if you’re curious about what might’ve been if the anthology idea had caught on.