When it comes to horror movie sequels, there’s a certain level of expectation from fans. We expect to see beloved characters from previous movies that we can follow on a new adventure, or, at the very least, the central villain return to wreak havoc like in the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street movies. Unfortunately, an infamous 80s horror sequel had none of those things, which led to it being one of the most divisive movies of all time. Now, it’s back on a new streaming home to once again spark controversy this Halloween.
If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re talking about Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Released in 1982, the third entry in the Halloween franchise completely deviated from the previous two movies. There was no Michael Myers, no Haddonfield, no Dr. Loomis, and certainly no Laurie Strode. What fans got instead was a bizarre movie that combined elements of sci-fi and Celtic mythology to create a polarizing sequel that to this day remains as divisive as ever.
Made for just $4.6 million, Halloween III earned a little over $14 million at the box office, so it definitely turned a profit for Universal. Does that mean it’s any good? That’s highly debatable. It holds just a 49% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience score sits even lower at 30%. Based on that, you’d assume it’s a stinker, but don’t be so quick to judge.
‘Halloween III: Season of the Witch’ Is A Pretty Good Movie on Its Own
Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is certainly not what fans were expecting to see in a Halloween sequel after the first two movies. The absence of Michael Myers left many scratching their heads wondering why it even bore the title. If you look at it from that aspect, then yes, Halloween III is certainly not a worthy entry in the franchise.
However, as a standalone movie, Halloween III is a pretty good 80s horror film. It’s got everything you want in a seasonal thriller, including a weird story, eerie cinematography that helps set the mood, and an excellent score by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth. Did we mention it has the phenomenal Tom Atkins as the lead trying to figure out why Halloween masks are killing kids? What’s not love about that? Check out the synopsis below:
“Hospital emergency room Dr. Daniel “Dan” Challis (Atkins) and Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin), the daughter of a murder victim, uncover a terrible plot by small-town mask maker Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy), a madman who’s planning a Halloween mass murder utilizing an ancient Celtic ritual. The ritual involves a boulder stolen from Stonehenge, the use of Silver Shamrock masks and a triggering device contained in a television commercial – all designed to kill millions of children.”
If that’s not enough to pique your interest, there’s even a catchy commercial jingle that the director created that will undoubtedly become your next earworm. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Yes, Halloween III: Season of the Witch might not be the Halloween sequel fans wanted, but it’s the one we got. On its own, it’s definitely worth 99 minutes of your time this spooky season, which makes it great for those who don’t want to invest in watching the whole franchise. You can add it to your watchlist and stream it this weekend on its new home of Peacock.