Halloween III: Season of the Witch

This film may be part of the 'Halloween' franchise but there is no sign of Michael Myers; in fact it isn't even a slasher film. Instead we get a mystery with elements of sci-fi and supernatural horror. As the story opens Harry Grimbridge, is attacked; he escapes and is later taken to hospital. Here he states that everybody is going to die while clutching a Halloween mask. Shortly afterwards a man walks into the hospital and kills this man before immolating himself in the carpark. Ellie, the Harry's daughter, and his doctor, Daniel Challis set about investigating Harry's last days. He worked at a shop which sold Halloween masks, amongst other things, and the last known place he visited was Santa Mira; home of Silver Shamrock Novelties, the company that made the mask. It isn't long before Daniel and Ellie are convinced that there is something sinister going on there; but how it is linked to their popular masks and irritatingly catchy TV commercial remains to be discovered.

If you are hoping for a typical 'Halloween' film than this will be a major disappointment; apart from its title and the fact that it is set at Halloween it has nothing in common with them. If you are happy to watch something trying to do something new it is fun enough. There are few real scares; to be honest I enjoyed it more as a mystery than as a horror film. There aren't too many deaths and much of the unpleasantness happens off camera... there is one scene where a man's head is pulled off and another which shows the effects of the mask when activated that might be considered moderately disturbing. I liked the reveal about the company workers; I didn't see it coming. I also enjoyed the explanation as to how the masks would work; an utterly bonkers mish-mash of sci-fi and the supernatural. The cast do a solid job given the material. Overall I certainly wouldn't call this a great film but it is pretty enjoyable overall... I just hope I can get the annoying jingle out of my head soon!