Halloween III: Season of the Witch

The filming of the Halloween series continued. In October 22, 1982, the sci-fi horror film Halloween III: Season of the Witch was shown but the story at this time is no longer that of Michael Myers character. The movie is the third installment of the series. Produced by the same producers, but at this time the film was directed and written by Tommy Lee Wallace.

The lead roles were played by Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, and Dan O'Herlihy. The three played the characters of Dr. Dan Challis, Ellie Grimbridge, and Conal Cochran respectively. The center of the story was the investigation of Challis and Grimbridge to the activities of Cochran. Cochran is the owner of the Silver Shamrock Novelties Company. The investigation of the two took place on the week forthcoming the Halloween night.

It started when Harry Grimbridge (father of Ellie), a shop owner collapsed at a filling station. He was brought then to the hospital and placed under the watch and care of Dr. Challis. At the hospital, Grimbridge was killed in his room by a man in suit but later the killer killed himself as well. Challis and Ellie investigated the incident and they went to Santa Mira, California where Silver Shamrock Novelty Company is located.

They had learned that Ellie's father stayed in the same hotel where the stay and heard stories from the hotel's manager about the town's prosperity. They toured in the factory and find what we called the horrifying truth about the factory and they learned as well why all those have business in the factory meet gruesome ends.

Aside from the character change, Halloween III leaved also the slasher film genre and at this time use the mad scientist theme. Although, the death scenes remain intense, there had been less gore and graphic violence frequency for this movie. The production's budget was $2.5 million and grossed $14.4 million at the US box office which was considered as the poorest performing film for the series.

This 3rd entry in the scare and lucrative Halloween series almost derailed the entire franchise. Instead of following the plots and exploits of slasher Michael Myers, the third film spins a total and completely different tale. There is no season of the witch and for series purists, this wasn't a true blue or real Halloween movie, though the original Halloween director John Carpenter made and produced it and added a moody electronic score.

There has been some rumors and speculation that it was never the original intent of the moviemakers to call the film Halloween III; rather, the careful decision was made by Universal Pictures after the movie was completed, and, seeing that they had a precise and decisive bomb on their hands, added the Halloween title name in principally to ensure a strong box office opening and assure and secure as much of a return on their investment as much as possible.

However, the plot is commonly and inextricably linked with the holiday Halloween. After the commercial and critical failure of the film, it was thought that the movie franchise had died altogether. Yet when the 4th part Halloween 4 was released some years later after, it was pointedly and strategically subtitled The Return of Michael Myers so there would be no common confusion.