Second Viewing: Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

I’ve said it before and I’ll likely say it again: Halloween III is just so fucking weird that it’s fascinating. The plot is so tremendously stupid, but also kind of clever in a way…it’s hard to explain, but there’s definitely an attempt at commercialist satire, and I respect any villain whose goal is to rid the world (or at least America) of its children. Such is the greatness that is Conal Cochrane, played perfectly by Dan O’Herlihy.

But the weirdness doesn’t come just from the bonkers villainous plan that involves Stonehenge. It also comes from our protagonist, Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins), a drunk doctor who goes on some harebrained adventure with the daughter of a dead man essentially just to avoid his kids and potentially bang a woman half his age.

And it works!

He’s so not the type of character you’d put as your lead in like any movie like this, and that’s part of what makes this movie feel so magical. It’s truly unique, not just amongst the Halloween series, but in film in general.

It’s probably more interesting than good, but it’s still pretty good. The cinematography is moody and atmospheric, and it is probably a top-3 John Carpenter score.

Rating: 7/10