We continue to look back in retrospect at the Halloween franchise films that we have loved, or at least found entertaining, before they cease to exist with the release of the new Halloween II on October 19th. We continue our fond remembrance of the Halloween franchise with HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982), not to be confused with another horror masters witch classic (George Romero's Season of the Witch).
"Kids all over America want Silver Shamrock masks for Halloween. Doctor Daniel Challis seeks to uncover a plot by Silver Shamrock owner Conal Cochran."
Wikipedia Synopsis: HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH follows the story of Dr. Dan Challis as he tries to solve the mysterious murder of a patient in his hospital. He, along with the patient's daughter Ellie Grimbride, travels to the small town of Santa Mira, California. The pair discover that Silver Shamrock Novelties, a company run by Conal Cochran, is attempting to use the mystic powers of the Stonehenge rocks to resurrect the ancient aspects of the Celtic festival, Samhain, which Cochran connects to witchcraft. Cochran is using his Silver Shamrock Halloween masks to achieve his goal, which will be achieved when all the children wearing his masks watch the Silver Shamrock commercial airing Halloween night.
Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace; Written by John Carpenter, Tommy Lee Wallace, and Nigel Kneale; Produced by John Carpenter and Debra Hill; Starring Tom Atkins, Dan O'Herlihy, and Stacey Nelkin. Tommy Lee Wallace, is a long-time friend and collaborator of John Carpenter, began as an art director for Carpenter's Dark Star and was one of the editors on the original Halloween and The Fog. His other directing credits includes Fright Night Part 2, Vampires: Los Muertos (2002), and the miniseries It (1990). Carpenter initially offered directorial responsibilities for Halloween II to Wallace but Wallace declined, citing disappointment with the script. The fact he agreed to direct HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH is testament to their belief in the over-arching project.
On the lead actors front, Tom Atkins (Dr. Daniel Challis) had appeared in several John Carpenter films prior to Halloween III. Atkins played Nick Castle in The Fog (1980) and Rehme in Escape from New York (1981). As the doctor investigating into the strangeness of the Silver Shamrock he is the perfect protagonist and has expressed how much he loves vanquishing evil. Atkins has been quoted by Fangoria as saying "I wouldn't mind making a whole career out of being in just horror movies." On the opposite side of the spectrum, as much as the acting cred of Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis added to Halloween, Dan O'Herlihy as Conal Cochran (The Cabinet of Caligari, The Dead) does the same for HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH. Of course his Irish heritage helps in relation to the story being told about a 3000 year old Celtic witch wanting to replace all the children with robots. Atkins' protagonism as a stereotypical, mans man, modern American starkly contrasts with O'Herlihy's ancient European royalty mask over barbarian intentions antagonism.
Speaking of masks, the purpose of the mask story line in the film has been explained as a commentary on the fixation children have on Halloween masks and the desire to be seen for something other than who they are. This is a running theme in Carpenters Halloween franchise and especially Zombie's retelling as well. In Michael Myers case it is truly a way for him to hide behind a face that doesn't look anything like him (which is why his eyes, the windows do the dark soul, became so important to the character). In HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH the mask is a many layered tool. In Samhain celebrations the mask is a way to hide among the spirits that return to the living for the night. Cochran is wearing a mask that makes it possible for him to hide among us. The masks are also the tools by which the evil will control the living, and eventually destroying them. Thus, the method by which the living traditionally uses to hide from evil will lead to their destruction. But I digress...
Writer Nigel Kneale (BBC, Hammer Film Productions) may be the main writer of HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH, or at least idea man behind the Celtic rooted story. Which perhaps even explains the Hammer like appearance of the entire movie. Unfortunately some producers managed to bastardize the script trading cerebral horror in favor of more kills. So much so that Kneale was ready to have his name removed from the credits. This is one of the real reasons the film failed on most fronts and our first lesson on how the wrong people involved in the creative decisions can destroy a good idea. A lesson Carpenter and Hill always refer back on when they are asked to give advice to young film makers. Hill told Fangoria that the film was supposed to be "a 'pod' movie, not a 'knife' movie." As such, director Wallace drew inspiration from Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). The fictional town of Santa Mira was originally the setting of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The plot was also similar in that children were to be replaced by robots (rather than emotionless aliens) and the timing and build up were comparative. As for the rest of the plot it begins to fall apart about the time we realize the witches plans of creating little Stepford children makes title to no sense.
Though the idea behind HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH is admirable, putting it under the Halloween franchise banner was not the best move. Unfortunately, Carpenter had created a conundrum when he brilliantly agreed to name his babysitter killer movie after the pagan holiday. On one hand he had invented an icon in Michael Myers that grew more popular with every Halloween that passed, cemented in history once the sequel hit. But, it was also a good idea to have a Halloween franchise that was actually an anthology of full length films, perhaps even drawing the stories from pagan beliefs that brought us the holiday. As a stand alone film, HALLOWEEN: SEASON OF THE WITCH would be the perfect introduction to that kind of anthology. Despite the attempts at tying it to the first two films like same music, opening pumpkin, and the appearance of Dick Warlock (who donned the mask in Halloween II) as an Assassin Android and Jamie Lee Curtis' uncredited Curfew Announcer/Telephone Operator, it comes off more as an homage or even real world counterpart rather than fictionalizing everything from the first two films as intended.
Through its success and failings HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH is quintessential Halloween fodder. Putting aside the failures of having no Michael, a massacred original script, and a poorly orchestrated attempt at reinventing the Halloween franchise, HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH is a Halloween holiday film that deserves its cult following. Be fairly warned, it is not the most brilliant film you'll find. But it is entertaining and, if nothing else, infected us with the Silver Shamrock jingle that will never leave your mind. just when you think you forgot it, it will creep its way into your dreams.
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