Most people think they know what they've signed up for when they sit down to watch the Halloween franchise. They expect to see Michael Myers in his blue jumpsuit and white mask, stalking the residents of Haddonfield on Halloween night and killing them. While that is for the most part what the franchise turned into, casual fans might not realize what the original intent behind the franchise was.
Halloween wasn't originally meant to focus on Michael Myers only. Actually, it was meant to be an anthology franchise, meaning every movie would be a separate story. Each film was to tell a different scary story surrounding Halloween night, and multiple ideas surrounding this concept were fleshed out. Of course, there are 11 Michael Myers Halloween movies out now, with one on the way, so this idea didn't ever pan out. However, that wasn't for lack of trying.
There is one film in the Halloween film series that tries out this idea. It's a totally different concept and style from what the original Halloween film is. Michael Myers is not in it, except as a fictional character some people watch on TV in a bar because the first two Halloween movies exist as films in this universe. This non-Michael Myers Halloween film was a bit of a flop when it was released, and because of that they scrapped the anthology idea and brought Michael back to the big screen six years later. Looking back, that's a bit of a shame because this movie has a lot of charm. It's often written off entirely because it's not in line with the story of the main series, but it brings something else to the table and has even developed a bit of a cult following.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch was released in 1982, and it is the franchise's first and only attempt at their original anthology concept. Instead of focusing on the slasher elements of the first two films, this one takes a completely different route. It's still horror, it's still of course centered around Halloween, but it leans a lot more into a science fiction kind of approach. This is a pretty different move for the franchise, which is probably why it didn't perform. Audiences who discover it now though, see a lot more of its strengths. It's a really fun movie with a unique plot and a lot of interesting messaging, making it worth the time of those who skipped it in favor of more Michael Myers.
One of the strongest points of this film is its messaging. It seems very ahead of its time, as much of the film really seems to be about capitalism/consumerism and big corporations taking over everything. The big bad guy, in the end, is the head of a corporation called Silver Shamrock Novelties. They've been creating sets of Halloween masks that are absolutely blowing up the market, and in their success, they've forgotten about smaller businesses and local workers. Several people throughout the movie make remarks on how they don't fill orders for local shops anymore, and how with this huge factory in a tiny town they have neglected to hire anyone local. What's revealed is that this isn't a real company, but a sinister plot. The workers aren't people at all, but robots. It's really interesting, especially given that these issues are so relevant in the sociopolitical atmosphere of today. Though this plot is bonkers, it's ultimately kind of relatable at its core.
The overall tone of the film is also really interesting, and a key part as to why people do love it. It's incredibly bleak and gruesome, from beginning to end, and that's juxtaposed with a lot of more typical fun, Halloween, kind of cheesy elements. It makes for a bizarre feeling for the viewer because some things seem so silly but others seem so gruesome and sad. The feeling of bleakness and hopelessness is more disturbing than any outright gore moment, though they do kill a child in this film in a really disgusting way.
Knowing how the rest of the Halloween franchise turned out and how bad some of those movies are, it is a little disappointing that this anthology franchise didn't work out. Especially because Halloween III: Season of the Witch is actually pretty good, especially compared to those later films. It's nice to see it having a bit of a resurgence in popularity as new horror fans discover it and realize it's not that bad, but it also does feel kind of too little, too late. Season of the Witch is absolutely not perfect, but it's a completely worthy horror film that holds its own with the rest of its franchise.