Halloween III: Season of the Witch, is a great movie, and if you don’t agree with me, we’re not friends.

I’m not joking. I’ve loved Halloween III since the moment I first saw it as a kid. Every week, I’d take my allowance money to K-Mart’s VHS Bargain Bin, and pick out a horror classic that was in there. For anywhere from $2 to $7, I got an education in horror, and it made me the person I am. When I was about 9 or so, I discovered Halloween for the first time. I fell in love with Michael Myers, and immediately decided I was going to be him for that upcoming year’s holiday. It was a few months later that Halloween II arrived in the bin, and I quickly snatched it up, eagerly awaiting what other antics The Shape would get up to. Of course, I loved it as well.

But then, one fine day, Halloween III: Season of the Witch appeared. I didn’t even read the description on the back. Instead, I quickly ran to the check-out lane, and purchased it for a paltry $4. I rushed my mother out of the store and back home, where I popped it into the VCR, awaiting Michael Myers to appear and carve up some teenagers.

And then, he never appeared. Instead, an incoherent, babbling mad man arrives at a hospital, holding a Halloween mask, talking nonsense about someone coming to kill us all. Soon after, a perfectly dressed man crushes the madman’s skull while lying in bed, before blowing himself up in the parking lot.

It was then that I realized this wasn’t the same rodeo. In fact, it was something far more compelling.

Sure, my little kid brain would have liked to have seen more of Myers causing mayhem, but for some reason, Halloween III spoke to me from the very beginning. I may not have comprehended it fully at the time, but there WAS an ancient cult who wanted to trick kids into wearing masks that basically melted their brains.

As a ten-year-old, I could relate to that, and it terrified the hell out of me.

Over the years, I grew to appreciate the story, and the craftsmanship of the film, even more, especially as I learned its back story.

Back in the late 70s, John Carpenter and Debra Hill had a great idea; create an anthology series in which every year, a new film under the same banner would be released, centered around the theme of “Halloween.” Genius, right? However, just after the original Halloween was released, it made a ton of money. We’re talking $47 million in the US alone, and $70 million worldwide. In 1978 terms, that is a LOT of money.

So, of course, the anthology idea was scrapped, as a direct sequel to the massive hit was in pre-production shortly after the original came out. People wanted more Myers, and so, Halloween II delivered. However, as soon as work was done on the second entry, Carpenter and Hill turned back their original idea, and took Halloween III is a whole other direction.

The idea they wanted to pursue was “the computer age meets witchcraft,” showcasing the Druids of today practicing Halloween in their old ways…very old ways.

The pair brought Joe Dante (of The Howling) on to direct, and hired Nigel Kneale to write the script. It wasn’t long after that Dante left the project, and Tommy Lee Wallace was brought on instead. Wallace was no stranger to the Halloween series, having been art director and production designer on the original.

When Kneale’s script was ordered to add more violence and gore to the script, by movie mogul Dino De Laurentiis, Kneale refused. He was quoted as saying “The main story had to do with deception, psychological shocks rather than physical ones.” Kneale requested that his name be removed from the script, and Wallace was assigned to rework it to the studio’s liking.

The film’s plot is a departure from what Halloween fans are used to, as it has more in common with Invasion of the Body Snatchers than it does the first two in the series. After that babbling madman is murdered, Dr. Dan Challis, played by Tom Atkins, teams up with the man’s daughter to figure out what the hell is going on with those creepy Halloween masks. It brings them to Santa Mira, California, home of Silver Shamrock, and also home to the cult behind the madness.

The film gets ragged on way too often, and without good merit, honestly. While it may seem to be a “lesser sequel” to the other films, it is actually quite compelling, and contains a lot of great twists and turns.

On top of that, the direction by Wallace is pretty top notch. It may not be completely visible on first viewing, but the film does an excellent job at not just paying homage to other films of its nature, but also parodying them. Hell, even right down to the tagline they gave the film, “The Night No One Comes Home,” is a clever play on the original Halloween marketing.

The shots he sets up are also pretty damn professional, from the disturbing close ups to the fantastic sweeping wide ones that accompany them. The man knows how to direct the camera, and it is overlooked in this film.

The acting is, for the most part, pretty great. Sure, there are some clunker lines here and there, but come on. It’s a horror flick. It’s to be expected. Atkins is at the time of his game here, and helps keep the story from bordering into too ridiculous of a territory. Stacey Nelkin as Ellie, the daughter of the man from the beginning of the film, is a great partner for Atkins, and the two play off each other well.

Also, how the hell can you hate the infamous “Where do you want to sleep, Dr. Challis?” scene? I mean, come on. It’s incredible.

However, nothing will ever beat the late, great Dan O’Herlihy’s turn as the villainous Conal Cochran, who just oozes evil delight in every scene he is in. I have always wanted more Cochran, and I am sad we never did get it.

The special effects were spectacular as well. While not as bloody as its predecessors, Halloween III did paint some pretty grisly pictures for the audience. Where else can you get a Halloween mask blasting right into someone’s face, causing it to become a disgusting, gaping hole? Or see a child’s head melt right before your eyes, with bugs squirming their way out of his mask. These images are striking, even by today’s standards, and are still hard to watch in full. Kudos to Don Post and his team for creating some truly memorable images.

And how could anyone forget that catchy, commercial jingle that frames the film, and is likely to be stuck in your head for the rest of the day now? Performed by Wallace himself, they specifically created to be seen on the big screen, in a dark theater, to really mess you up. It’s catchy, it’s crazy, and it will melt your own face off if you’re not careful. I STILL sing it all the time, especially during the Halloween season, because I love it so.

Look, I’m not telling you that you need to enjoy this film over the others. I’m not even telling you that it is better film, either. I am telling you, however, that you should appreciate this film for what it is.

For trying to think outside the box and try something new, the Halloween succeeded. Sure, they realized that audiences just wanted more of Michael killing folks, and they immediately want back to that for Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, but I still say that Halloween III: Season of the Witch was a movie before its time. View it out of the context of a Halloween film, and you will thoroughly enjoy it. It’s got some great scares, some wonderful effects, and is a great commentary (well, sort of). It’s a cult classic, if nothing else, and one deserves the love and respect that too many folks don’t give it.

This Halloween season, give it a try again, and you’ll see what I mean.

Now, if you excuse me, it’s almost time, kids. The clock is ticking.

Happy, Happy Halloween. Silver Shamrock.