Product: Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Rating: 3.0
Underrated...
Halloween 3 is the only film in the series I hadn't seen until recently. Being a horror fan - and being on a rip of seeing TONS of horror movies these days - I decided to finally ignore the naysayers and pick up a copy. If one can get over the disappointment of a "shapeless" entry, there is a good deal of novelty to be had. Tommy Lee Wallace's entry stands out as a nihilistic riff on Invasion of the Body Snatchers, blending elements of science fiction, horror, and cult legends. Genre stalwart Tom Atkins is perfect as the doomed Challis, as is Dan O'Herlihy as the diabolical mask-maker.The story, which involves cursed microchips implanted in masks that cause all sorts of supernatural destruction when activated by a tv signal, is a brilliant, brutal metaphor for the downward spiral of a society obsessed with television. The set-pieces are sharp, and the film possesses an overall feeling of dread and unease the later sequels failed to replicate. The plot is unspooled with remarkable dexterity, and the ending is on par with the best of the Halloween films.