Halloween III deserves credit for attempting to take the franchise in a fresh direction, moving away from the conventional slasher formula of its predecessors. Instead, it presents a Halloween-themed mystery with a brand-new cast of characters. It's worth noting that this is the only film in the Halloween series that doesn't feature Michael Myers, apart from a brief cameo where John Carpenter's original movie is playing on a TV.
However, the major drawback of Halloween III lies in its lacklustre central characters, Daniel and Ellie, portrayed by Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin. Both performances are subpar, and their romantic subplot feels so misjudged. The significant age gap of 24 years between the two leads makes their relationship feel very uncomfortable. Furthermore, Daniel's motivations are unclear throughout the film. We are left wondering why he is so determined to investigate the murder of Ellie's father, considering he has no personal connection to the victim and is a doctor, not a detective.
Despite these shortcomings, Season of the Witch does have its merits. The entire storyline revolving around the Silver Shamrock company is utterly absurd, yet I found its unpredictability enjoyable. Never did I expect Halloween III to feature an army of robots. The film's strongest moments occur in the last half hour, resembling an early James Bond movie, with the protagonist trapped in the villain's lair and fighting to escape. It's worth mentioning that John Carpenter's score is exceptional, evoking a sense of dread that the visuals sometimes lack.
However, the major drawback of Halloween III lies in its lacklustre central characters, Daniel and Ellie, portrayed by Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin. Both performances are subpar, and their romantic subplot feels so misjudged. The significant age gap of 24 years between the two leads makes their relationship feel very uncomfortable. Furthermore, Daniel's motivations are unclear throughout the film. We are left wondering why he is so determined to investigate the murder of Ellie's father, considering he has no personal connection to the victim and is a doctor, not a detective.
Despite these shortcomings, Season of the Witch does have its merits. The entire storyline revolving around the Silver Shamrock company is utterly absurd, yet I found its unpredictability enjoyable. Never did I expect Halloween III to feature an army of robots. The film's strongest moments occur in the last half hour, resembling an early James Bond movie, with the protagonist trapped in the villain's lair and fighting to escape. It's worth mentioning that John Carpenter's score is exceptional, evoking a sense of dread that the visuals sometimes lack.