HALLOWEEN III Season of the Witch takes a break from the Michael Myers storyline. As Halloween approaches Silver Shamrock Novelties is planning something big and very evil… An ancient evil.
Dr. Challis stumbles upon this plot and along with Ellie, the daughter of a man who was killed in his care while escaping from Silver Shamrock Novelties, team up and follow the trail to Santa Mira where the factory is located. Posing as a married couple, they gain access to the factory and meet its owner Conal Cochran. Challis learns that Cochran has stolen a rock from Stonehenge and is using its power to bring about the end of the world on Halloween.
Cochran plans to harvest this power via specially modded chips on the backs of his Halloween masks and will activate them during “The Big Giveaway” while all the children will be watching. Cochran captures both Ellie and Challis. The doctor is well aware of the devastation of Cochran’s plot…so he escapes and with the help of Ellie, he leaves the control center exploding in bursts of flames. He races to get help and to stop the commercials from airing. But, Cochran will have the final Halloween trick of the night.
A novelization of the film was published in 1982 by science-fiction writer Dennis Etchison under the pseudonym Jack Martin. The book became a best-seller and was even reissued two years after the film’s release, in 1984.
The voice of the announcer in the Silver Shamrock commercials and radio spots is that of the film’s writer/director Tommy Lee Wallace. Wallace was also the voice during the ‘horror-thon’ for Halloween and Halloween II.
The voice of the phone operator and the curfew announcer is Jamie Lee Curtis.
Dick Warlock, (Assassin) was also the stunt coordinator and played Michael Myers in Halloween II.
Goof: The factory worker tells Ellie that he loaded her father’s order into a green station wagon, but when we see the car later, it’s blue.
Continuity: This movie implies that “The Big Giveaway at 9” happens at the same time across the United States, but this is impossible since there is 4 time zones.
Goof: When police officer uses the phone, you can hear “if you’d like to make a call please hang up and try again,” as the officer dials the number.
Plot: Challis goes to the liquor store after the curfew. Even if he didn’t know about the curfew, why would the liquor store still be open?
Conal Cochran: “You don’t really know much about Halloween… you thought no further than the strange custom of having your children wear masks and go out begging for candy.”
Commercial Announcert: “It’s almost time, kids. The clock is ticking. Be in front of your TV sets for the Horror-thon, followed by the Big Giveaway. Don’t miss it. And don’t forget to wear your masks. The clock is ticking. It’s almost time.”
Dr. Challis: “He’s hanging onto a Halloween mask, he wouldn’t let it go… And what he said was, “They’re gonna kill us all”. And in a little while he was dead. And I don’t know what the hell is going on!”
Conal Cochran: “Oh I assure you it’s just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Quality inspection, the seal of approval. You know, the usual. And of course, there’s a lot of trade secrets.”
Halloween III – © 1982 Universal Studios