Good evening, my dear ghouls and ghoulettes! The Season of the Witch is upon us and, much like last time, we’re going to travel back to the horror movies of old and talk about one of my favorite Halloween movies: Halloween III — the film everyone loves to hate.
I know, without a doubt, that there are a few people who’ve already clicked away (or skipped over this piece completely) because of this article’s title and decided to become “anti-Jtech”… But, if you’re still here, grab a warm cup of witch’s brew and kick back in your coffin while I become the most hated man in the horror community for being unabashedly, madly in love with Halloween III.
“But It Doesn’t Have Michael Myers in It!!”
Now, before I get started, I want to say that yes, some people do love this movie and there are already several blog posts about it on the internet. And, no, this isn’t going to be an elaborate history of the franchise. I’d simply like to tell you why it’s one of my favorite films and why you should at least give it a chance (or another chance if you viewed it, and rejected it, in the past!).
Halloween III: Season of the Witch has been getting hate since its release in 1982 when John Carpenter and Debra Hill decided to take Michael Myers out and put an anthology-type spin on the series.
The film, with the same Halloween title as the previous films, was simply a great horror story taking place during the Halloween season.
For those who haven’t seen Halloween III but are familiar with the other 11 installments in the franchise: It’s about a doctor whose patient dies mysteriously in his hospital and, with the help of the patient’s daughter, seeks out the cause of death. That leads them to Silver Shamrock, a company that makes Halloween masks. The catch? Silver Shamrock’s masks are designed to kill everyone wearing one on Halloween night.
Okay, so that description was pretty vague… but I really don’t want to spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it.
As I previously stated, it doesn’t feature our butcher knife-wielding, masked friend whom we all love so much. Which is the primary reason it’s left people upset/disappointed for so many years now.
Or, at least, that’s what I’ve come to understand. I mean, it can’t be the movie itself… Can it?
Why the Hate?
So, for those who’ve seen it and hate it: why do you hate it? It’s such a wonderful movie! It’s packed with awesome effects and one hell of a storyline. And who can forget that iconic Silver Shamrock commercial?!
Is it merely the fact that Carpenter and Hill would dare make a movie without our beloved boogeyman Michael and call it a Halloween movie?
Or maybe it was the fear that Halloween III marked the end of the night-stalking serial killer? (It didn’t, by the way).
Why do YOU choose to deny the masterpiece that is Halloween III: Season of the Witch? Let me know in the comments!
But first… let me tell you why I love it so very much.
Only Love on My End!
As I write this and think back on how much I enjoyed the film, I wonder… If it had been released under a different title and separated itself from the Halloween franchise all-together, would people still feel the same way?
Or, would people praise it for the movie it is — and not completely trash it for what they thought it “should” have been?
These are questions we may, unfortunately, never know the answer to.
At the end of the day, no matter what I say or how I feel, there will always be people who ultimately dislike the movie. However, if you’re one of those people, I implore you to give Halloween III another chance.
Try to think of it as its own movie. Separate it from the overall franchise. You cannot deny the greatness of this movie. You can’t!
For those yet to see it, please check it out and go into it with the understanding that it’s not a Michael Myers movie. It’s just a great movie that was lost in a franchise way, way back in good ol’ 1982.
In closing, I’d just like to say that if anyone has an opinion on this movie, whether you share my love for it or you’re someone who loathes it, please let me know why.
I’d love to get everyone’s take on this film! Leave me a message in the comments below, start up a discussion in the HorrorFam.com forums, “at me” on Twitter, or — hell! — shoot me an email! I’ll respond. I’d genuinely love to hear from you all!
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Do people still hate Halloween 3? I thought at this point it was rehabilitated for the most part.
I’m curious how that breaks down among people old enough to see it when it came out or people younger, who I imagine mostly know to not expect Myers?
I’d watch the hell out of Rob Zombie’s Halloween 3, by the way.
Oh man. I’d be really curious to see a Halloween III remake helmed by Rob Zombie! lol. I’m not too keen on remakes usually, but, if I saw that was in the works, my curiosity would definitely be piqued!