Halloween 3 - They Were Right

I thought that everyone had such a strong dislike of Halloween 3 simply because 'it's the one that doesn't have Michael Myers in,' and that they were heathens who couldn't accept a quieter, more supernatural movie. That's not why – it's just not a great movie. Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins) decides to investigate the Halloween mask company, Silver Shamrock, after a man at his hospital's death seems connected to it. What follows is a kind of messy, drawn out story that has a couple of good scares, but nothing special. The sound design in this film is strange, especially since it's John Carpenter, and he's known for his iconic soundtracks. It definitely has his touch, but why are there so many sci-fi sounding stingers when this movies called 'season of the witch?' Its revealed the creepy workers are all – androids? Mannequins? Unclear - but it's not a shock when we get music that belongs in The Thing every time they're onscreen. At least the silver shamrock song is catchy – annoying, but catchy – and it's something my dad sung every year. (Even if he didn't remember where it came from.) It doesn't help that our protagonist is plain and rather unlikable. Why are we rooting for a man who flirts with every woman he sees?Worse than that, every woman he sees seems to actively dislike him because of a failed past relationship. It doesn't work because he's not particularly witty or charming, though he does come through in a fun escape sequence at the end. Or leading lady, Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin), would be far more interesting. She's got personality and determination that make it feel like a punch in the gut when she's reduced to damsel in distress. And another punch in the gut when 'the killer always comes back.' (Especially as this villain comes back so many times that it gets tiring.)

The film is a slow burn, though the first half of the original Halloween is similar. Carpenter does a great job of building up the sense of something being wrong. And our second death in the motel is a definite pay-off with shock and horror, even if it does stray into Aster's habit of staying just a second too long to congratulate itself.

The other scares, when they do happen, are also great. The iconic pumpkin-mask-melting scene is a definite pay-off...which just makes you wish there was more of that. The effects and, of course, the music, make it great. It makes you want to see more of what these masks do - do the different variants make different things happen, like in Halloweentown 2? The cliffhanger close is full of dread, but it hold even more impact if we saw those masks get to work just one more time. That's scarier than androids? Brain-washed people?

Especially as we don't get a villain-plan explanation. We get a monologue and a vague idea, but are left with the question of exactly why Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy) is doing all this? Just a blood sacrifice? If it is, then it needs to be leant into as much as possible, because the performance is great. It's creepy like Hopkins as Hannibal, and is another thing I wish we spent more time on, instead of following Challis around as he bumbles around with his investigation, not learning much at all.

But maybe everyone's just so harsh on this film given the previous Halloween films, and that it's John Carpenter. If it wasn't attached to the franchise, I can see cult classic potential in its unasked questions and catchy jingle. It's not fantastic, it's mediocre, but at least it has a few memorable moments. That's more than can be said for others.

My problems with the sound design aside, it's not truly terrible, but audiences are right to say its not a good Halloween (as in the franchise) film. It leaves you wanting more, which isn't wholly a bad thing. Overall, its not bad background noise around October. (The season of the witch, after all.)