Poll: Halloween III: The only good sequel to the series??

[Stingy Jack]

I read this rather unique review of Halloween III: Season of the Witch, in the anthology October Dreams. The review was written by Gary A. Braunbeck, a horror author whose work is refreshingly intelligent in a genre that is so often criticized for its mediocrity. I respect this guy very much, and this review actually made me go out and buy a copy of Halloween III. Read it, and tell me what you think.

"We all know that with the exception of Halloween 3: The Season of the Witch all of the sequels fell into the same tired formula: horny slacker teens are stalked by Micheal Myers, Donald Pleasence screams that Myers is "pure evil" and so must be destroyed, horny slacker teens are cornered by Myers, many die, but a few emerge alive, thinking Myers is dead but he isn't, and the lazy groundwork for the next sequel is laid as the credits roll and Carpenter's now-classic theme reminds us of the beauty of the original.

Yawn.

. . . No, if you're going to watch any of the sequels, then I would recommend - with more than a few reservations - Halloween 3: The Season of the Witch, not because it's a particularly good movie (it isn't), but because this in-name only sequel strove to stand out from the crowd, and that it does with a vengeance.

Originally slated to be scripted by Nigel Neale (creator of the Quartermass series), whose script was, for reasons that are still unclear, rejected, this entry in the series was written and directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and is based on the gloriously and unapologetically depraved conceit that a billionaire madman (Dan O'Herlihy), leader of a group of modern-day Druids, plans to kill 50 million children on Halloween with special, deadly masks. Made at the height of the gore-hungry 80's, this film leaves nothing to the imagination; there are crushed skulls and splattered brains galore. No one is safe in this movie, especially children -- and that's where my strongest reservation comes in; it's one thing to base all suspense on the threat of harm to children, it's another thing altogether when the gruesome death of a child is played for sensationalistic effect, as it is here in what is surely one of the lowest points in the history of horror films.

Still, I had to give it credit for sticking to its dehumanizing guns; it moves quickly, it has a genuinely horrifying idea at its center, it's a much better made film than you'd expect, and there's the plus of O'Herlihy's wonderfully dark-humored performance; if there's anything to recommend seeing this movie, it's O'Herlihy; suave, menacing, and seemingly classy, his rich baritone voice, when he explains his plans, nearly sings with bloody glee; he is so enchanted by the idea, and O'Herlihy is so good, that you almost want to see him get away with it.

Almost."

I am about to watch this movie again. I haven't seen it since I was a kid, and this review made me want to see it! Let me know what you think.

[Vodstok]

I thought it was a truly terrible movie. One of the "twists" doesnt make any sense at all (how did the woman end up being one of those android things? I dont get it). That fucking song drives me nuts.


BUT.....


It is good bad. Its the kind of cheesy shit where you giggle at the badness and wonder how the hell anyone could have thought this would actually scare people. it is bad, but very enjoyable. if it comes on sci-fi again, i will probably sit through it.

[Egekrusher]

I've only ever seen the first one, and I thought it was awful, so I never watched any of the sequels. Sorry.

[Stingy Jack]

I don't remember any androids! (See ... it's been that long since I've seen it.) But really, I'm about to sign off and go watch it.









































Really.

[Freddy Krueger.]

Worst movie EVER. Michael wasn't even in it. Truely a in-the-trash movie.

[Stingy Jack]

Originally posted by Freddy Krueger.
Worst movie EVER. Michael wasn't even in it. Truely a in-the-trash movie.

Well, was it bad just because Micheal Myers wasn't in it? What if it wasn't part of the series ... would it still be so bad?

[massacre man]

i saw it at my aunts house and fell asleep with little kids running around and a baby crying

[kpropain]

I myself actually liked the movie, I think if it would have been called something else it would have done a lot better.....

[newb]

I haven't seen this since it first came out [1982]. So I can't remember too much [ killed about a million brain cells with beer since then ]. I do remember it had Tom Atkins in it, whom I always liked [ Night of the Creeps, The Fog, The New Kids ].
Maybe if I see it at my video store I'll give it a go.

[thEsounDofdirT]

indeed... a horrible movie.. the androids were so gay i can't even describe... and i don't see how a chip would make bugs and crap come out of a mask... melt your head yes... make nasty bugs and crap appear.. no

[Stingy Jack]

Okay, I just watched this again.

Vod: The reason why that girl is an android is because the Silver Shamrock company turned her into one when they kidnapped her from the hotel room. If you'll notice, when she is rescued by the Doctor, she never says a word to him. Just follows him around. Of course, why she waits to attack him until they're in the car is beyond me.

DirT: According to the movie, Cochran is a modern day witch (or warlock, I should say), who is using a combination of modern technology and ancient power to perform a mass sacrifice on the feast of Samhain. The chips in the mask are embedded with a fleck of stone from one of the stones from Stonehenge. These stones, even a particle of them, contain "devastating" power. Which is how I suppose all those snakes and bugs are summoned into the masks.

I actually enjoyed watching this. True, the "technology" in the film is laughable (big, metal boxes with blinking white lights), and the masks look pretty dumb (I'm surprised they were such a great seller), but I have to say there are some things about it that makes me wonder what Braunbeck was talking about.

1. It DOES leave stuff for the imagination. The ending, in particular, is very chilling and effective. Also, when the nurse gets the drill to the head, they don't show it.

2. Braunbeck says "crushed skulls and splattered brains galore." I didn't see one crushed skull, or a splattered brain. What movie was he watching?? Although, the "misfire" victim was pretty gruesome! I loved that one.

3. The child dying wasn't as bad as he made it sound. The kid never utters so much as a squeak (it would have been worse if he started screaming), and he's wearing the mask, so you don't actually see what happens to him. All you see is him grabbing at the mask, then falling over as bugs and snakes pour out from under the mask.

4. I saw no Druid cult. I saw one witch (warlock), who had built himself an army of androids. That's it. Why he went from innocent toy-making to mass murder is never explained, though.

I DID like O'Herlihy's performance. I agree with Braunbeck on that one.

Overall, it's not a bad film. You have to give some credit for poor effects ... I mean, it was made in '82.

[bwind22]

I think it is a pretty good movie, but very out of place in the Halloween series. If it came out and was just called 'Season of the Witch' I bet the majority of haters would think it's a cool movie. People didn't like it when it came out because they were expecting Michael Myers and he wasn't in it. People are still doing the same thing today.

I think it was a pretty entertaining movie, but it's just out of place, IMO.

[bloodrayne]

I actually really liked Season Of The Witch...But, I personally feel that it should not have been tied to the other Halloween movies, as it had absolutely nothing to do with them...It should have stood on its own and possibly even had its own sequels...especially since they picked back up with the Michael Myers story from part 4 on...That's just like throwing "13 Ghosts" into the middle of the Friday The Thirteenth movies and calling it Friday the thirteenth Part 3...Or it would be like Dream Warriors having absolutely nothing to do with Freddy, or Elm Street...It just really made no sense that way, and that might be the REAL reason that so many people failed to appreciate it based on its own merit...Just my opinion:)

[bloodrayne]

LOL...Bwind...We apparently have the same opinion on this...unfortunately, you must have posted while I was sitting idle on this page, and then started typing (which I do very slowly, btw), and I didn't see it...Oh well, I guess I don't have to say that I agree with you:D

[zwoti]

Originally posted by bloodrayne
I actually really liked Season Of The Witch...But, I personally feel that it should not have been tied to the other Halloween movies, as it had absolutely nothing to do with them...It should have stood on its own and possibly even had its own sequels...especially since they picked back up with the Michael Myers story from part 4 on...That's just like throwing "13 Ghosts" into the middle of the Friday The Thirteenth movies and calling it Friday the thirteenth Part 3...Or it would be like Dream Warriors having absolutely nothing to do with Freddy, or Elm Street...It just really made no sense that way, and that might be the REAL reason that so many people failed to appreciate it based on its own merit...Just my opinion:)

well we all know the story behind this...............don't we?


and it is an enjoyable film, certainly better than some of the other sequels.

[KRUGERKID13]

imo this is a very under rated film i think it would be a more popular film if not given the title of a halloween movie. If this had been a film not involved with any franchises it would have been more successfull.

[jay o2 waster]

it wouldn't be so hated if it didn't have Halloween in the title. But that frickin silver schamrock somng omg it is a frickin disease like aids, herpes, or...a spraind ankle

[mothermold]

silver shamrock my balls!!! :(

[jay o2 waster]

lol

[KRUGERKID13]

yeah i like it

[massacre man]

yeah what dirt said maybe he was dirty and when his melted they climbed out of his head



1800TH POST

[Vodstok]

"Six more days to Halloween, Halloween, Halloween.
Six more days to Halloween, Sil-ver Shamrock!"

That song makes me want to put a gun in my mouth, so i guess the villain wins....

[massacre man]

happy happy halloween halloween halloween happy happy halloween silver shamrock ladadaladadalada

[Vodstok]

BANG! *Vod Slumps to the floor*


Dont worry, kids, he is in a happier place now, with Old Yeller and Marilyn Monroe....

[massacre man]

BANG *falls to the ground*

don't worry childeren he's just going to get the money vod owes him he'll be right back oh wait huh?

[rae_pierre]

That rhyme gets stuck in my head. It would be better if it hadn't been associated with the Halloween series. Why the f*ck would they give it that name if it had nothing to do with Michael? WTF.

:mad: :mad: