Search - Halloween 3: Season of the Witch on DVD

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch

Actor(s): Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dan O'Herlihy, Ralph Strait, Michael Currie
Director(s): Tommy Lee Wallace
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: R
Content Advisory: Violence, Graphic Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language
Movie Release: 1982
DVD Release: 10/07/2003
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 39 mins
Studio: Universal Studios
Members Wishing: 7
Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Supernatural Horror, Sci-Fi Horror
See Also: Halloween III: Season of the Witch

DVD Synopsis

The only installment of the Halloween series to abandon the Michael Myers story line, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is an intricate sci-fi horror hybrid. A week before Halloween, an older man named Harry Grimbridge (Al Berry) is wounded by a mysteriously dispassionate group of assailants in an industrial parking lot. After receiving treatment at a local hospital from Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins) -- a hard-drinking divorced father of two -- Grimbridge is killed by an assassin who later sets himself on fire. Blowing off his own kids, Challis teams up with Grimbridge's daughter, Ellie (Stacey Nelkin), to find out why the middle-aged toy salesman was murdered. The duo's search soon leads them to a Halloween-mask factory run by inventor and practical joker Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy). In between bouts of passionate lovemaking, Ellie and Challis begin to realize that the sinister old businessman has something other than treats in mind for America's kids -- something to do with the Silver Shamrock masks that Challis' children and thousands of other youngsters have bought for the holiday. Original screenwriter Nigel Kneale, whose scripts for Britain's Quatermass TV series made him a beloved science fiction fixture, sued the producers of Halloween III to have his name removed from the credits after seeing the gory finished product; director Tommy Lee Wallace ultimately received screenplay credit. John Carpenter, director of the first Halloween film, co-produced the third installment with Debra Hill, who would later soldier on without Carpenter for additional, belated sequels. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Actors

Tom Atkins - Dr. Daniel Challis
Stacey Nelkin - Ellie Grimbridge
Dan O'Herlihy - Conal Cochran
Ralph Strait - Buddy Kupfer
Michael Currie - Rafferty

Editorial Review of DVD

This third film in the Halloween cycle -- which marked a unique and distinctive break from the original story line -- has been given a solid presentation for its release on DVD. Halloween III: Season of the Witch has been given a letterboxed transfer at its original widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1, which has been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio, in English, is presented in its mono original mix, mastered in Dolby Digital Mono; the disc also features optional subtitles in French and Spanish, as well as closed captions in English. No bonus material has been added for this edition. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Teddy B. (tigerted) from TUJUNGA, CA wrote on 11/3/2009...

"The Night No One Comes Home" was the teaser for this third visit to Carpenter's "Halloween" franchise. His buddy, Tommmy Lee Wallace,who
wore several hats on the original "Halloween",directs this one in which
Michael Myers is nowhere to be found! A brand new story invloving a
terrible prank and ancient witchcraft takes the lead instead. Most die-
hard "Halloween" fans felt that they were tricked that year. Yes, the
Silver Shamrock masks are cool and the bugs and snakes are disgusting
and scary. Carpenter returns as producer and scores his legendary music
( which saves the film from corny FX and silly plot devices). What Carpenter
had in mind with Universal was to put out a different Halloween-themed movie
every year or so, but each with its own original story. Looked good on paper,
I'm sure, and Tom Atkins (from Carpenter's "The Fog" and "Escape From New York")
was perfect as Dr. Challis. The entire cast was really good and the dark humor was, too. When "Halloween III" done playing in theaters, however,
the bean counters at Universal were less than thrilled. The first two films had gone thru the roof, but the holiday was over. No more treats from Carpenter until he went over to Columbia to make Steven King's "Christine".