History YMMV / HalloweenIIISeasonOfTheWitch

* BrokenBase: Many people were outraged at the lack of any continuity with the first two films, and in general this film is written off as a bizarre non sequitur. Others, though, think that Carpenter's anthology idea was promising, but unfairly killed by close-minded fans who wouldn't accept a ''Halloween'' film without Michael Myers.

* VindicatedByHistory: Arguably the biggest example in the whole franchise. While the film performed adequately at the box office, it was absolutely savaged by both fans and critics primarily due to not having anything to do with the Michael Myers story, and its gross paled in comparison to the first two films and even some that followed (such as ''The Return of Michael Myers'' and ''[=H20=]''). It has since picked up a fairly significant [[CultClassic cult following]] for its unique plot, fantastic score and atmosphere, and SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Many have admitted that after thirty years of [[{{Sequelitis}} increasingly disappointing sequels]] and no less than ''three'' {{Continuity Reboot}}s, the franchise may well have been better off as an anthology series like Carpenter intended, and that, had it not been called ''Halloween III'' (or had the producers of the series not forced the second film to be another Myers story rather than beginning the anthology idea with ''Halloween II''), it would've gotten its due much earlier. Consider the ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' franchise's attempts to pump out a movie every year for Halloween, and the {{Sequelitis}} that rapidly set in. Now picture a ''Halloween'' anthology film series coming out every year, perhaps able to maintain a higher level of quality in each film due to the anthology approach instead of having build upon the continuity of the previous film. ''Now'' imagine if ''[=H20=]'' had come out after twenty years of these anthology films, the excitement to see Laurie Strode and Michael Meyers after both had been absent for twenty years.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Many feel that despite the burden of having to replace Michael Myers, Conal Cochran was a good villain in his own right, and the late Dan O'Herlihy delivered a performance that even those who dislike the film cannot help but admire.

* VindicatedByHistory: Arguably the biggest example in the whole franchise. While the film performed adequately at the box office, it was absolutely savaged by both fans and critics primarily due to not having anything to do with the Michael Myers story, and its gross paled in comparison to the first two films and even some that followed (such as ''The Return of Michael Myers'' and ''[=H20=]''). It has since picked up a fairly significant [[CultClassic cult following]] for its unique plot, fantastic score and atmosphere, and SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Many have admitted that after thirty years of [[{{Sequelitis}} increasingly disappointing sequels]] and no less than ''three'' {{Continuity Reboot}}s, the franchise may well have been better off as an anthology series like Carpenter intended, and that, had it not been called ''Halloween III'' (or had the producers of the series not forced the second film to be another Myers story rather than beginning the anthology idea with ''Halloween II''), it would've gotten its due much earlier.

* BrokenBase: Many people were outraged at the lack of any continuity with the first two films, and in general this film is written off as a bizarre non sequitur. Others, though, think that Carpenter's anthology idea was promising, but unfairly killed by fans who wouldn't accept a ''Halloween'' film without Michael Myers.
* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Conal Cochran]] is the [[CorruptCorporateExecutive CEO]] of Silver Shamrock Novelties, a company known for its Halloween masks, which it shipped all over the United States. Cochran had built these masks with a computer chip made from a fragment of Stonehenge. When Silver Shamrock's commercial would air on Halloween night, the chip was to unleash a lethal swarm of insects and snakes, killing the wearer and anyone in the immediate vicinity. Cochran is shown demonstrating how these masks work on an innocent family, causing them to be poisoned and eaten. His plan is to [[WouldHurtAChild kill thousands of children]] all over the country, partially to bring back the darker aspects of the [[UsefulNotes/AllHallowsEve Celtic festival Samhain]], which he connects to witchcraft, but also just because he considers this [[ForTheEvulz mass murder to be a fun joke]], the best ever in fact, because it's a joke on the children.
* ContestedSequel: While this film has gained a cult following, it still tends to be polarizing to fans of other ''Halloween'' films. Rankings of the series tend to have this film either in second position (behind [[Film/Halloween1978 the original]]) or near the bottom.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Many feel that despite the burden of having to replace Michael Myers, Conal Cochran was a good villain in his own right, and the late Dan O'Herlihy delivered a performance that even those who dislike the film, cannot help but admire.
* HesJustHiding: [[spoiler:It's implied Cochran may have survived, however, with the magic of Stonehenge transporting him to another location rather than killing him at the end of the film.]]

* InferredHolocaust: [[spoiler:The ending of the film sees that despite Dan’s pleas, the ad is still broadcasted on at least one channel, meaning thousands of children were likely killed.]]
%%* {{Narm}}:
%%** "Stop it, stop it, STOP IT! '''STOP IIIIIIT!!!!!'''"
%%** The fist clench of impotent rage from Challis as he watches the "demonstration" of the Magic Pumpkin advert's effect.
%%** Buddy, bar none. Even ''if'' he had just watched his kid's head rot away before his eyes, and was now locked in a room full of venomous snakes...
%%* NauseaFuel

* VindicatedByHistory: Arguably the biggest example in the whole franchise. While the film performed adequately at the box office, it was absolutely savaged by both fans and critics, and its gross paled in comparison to the first two films and even some that followed (such as ''The Return of Michael Myers'' and ''[=H20=]''). It has since picked up a fairly significant [[CultClassic cult following]] for its unique plot, fantastic score and atmosphere, and SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Many have admitted that after thirty years of [[{{Sequelitis}} increasingly disappointing sequels]] and no less than ''three'' {{Continuity Reboot}}s, the franchise may well have been better off as an anthology series like Carpenter intended, and that, had it not been called ''Halloween III'', it would've gotten its due much earlier.

* BizarroEpisode: For the franchise, being much more fantastical and Myers being nowhere to be seen and having nothing to do with the movie's events. That, and none of the events in the movies before it are ever mentioned in it, nor are any of its own events ever mentioned in the movies after it. Although, if the original plans for an anthology movie series had continued, this could've been averted, depending on what the other films would've been like.

* CultClassic: Has arguably the biggest cult following out of all the entries in the franchise, given the amount of love its gotten in recent years.

* ContestedSequel: While this film has gained a cult following, it still tends to be polarizing to fans of other ''Halloween'' films.

* {{Narm}}:
** "Stop it, stop it, STOP IT! '''STOP IIIIIIT!!!!!'''"
** The fist clench of impotent rage from Challis as he watches the "demonstration" of the Magic Pumpkin advert's effect.
** Buddy, bar none. Even ''if'' he had just watched his kid's head rot away before his eyes, and was now locked in a room full of venomous snakes...
** The fact that Cochran somehow not only stole a piece of Stonehenge, but managed to transport it to the U.S., and when the hero asks him how, Cochran simply {{Hand Wave}}s it with 'Now that's quite a story..."
** Cochran's plan is so ludicrous and full of holes that it falls apart even under the slightest bit of logic or scrutiny, which the film itself even alludes to, by showing at one point that the tags in the masks (which contain the magic that makes them deadly to the wearer) are easily knocked out. There's also numerous other things, like expecting that a good bulk of the children in America have bought the masks without tearing or knocking the tags out and are at home to watch the broadcast instead of out trick or treating or in bed or watching monster movies on some other channel. That's assuming, though, that Cochran is dead set on wiping out ALL children, rather than simply a lot of children.

* BizarroEpisode: For the franchise, as Myers is nowhere to be seen and has nothing to do with the movie's events. That, and none of the previous movies' events are ever mentioned in it, nor are any of the events in it ever mentioned in the movies after it. Although, if the original plans for an anthology movie series had continued, this could've been averted, depending on what the other films would've been like.

* BizarroEpisode: For the franchise. Although, if the original plans for an anthology movie series had continued, this could've been averted, depending on what the other films would've been like.

** The fact that the Cochran somehow got a piece of Stonehenge, and when the hero asks him how Cochran simply Handwaves it with 'Now that's quite a story..."

* VindicatedByHistory: Arguably the biggest example in the whole franchise. While the film performed adequately at the box office, it was absolutely savaged by both fans and critics, and its gross paled in comparison to the first two films and even some that followed (such as ''The Return of Michael Myers'' and ''[=H20=]''). It has since picked up a fairly significant [[CultClassic cult following]] for its unique plot, fantastic score and atmosphere, and SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Many have admitted that after thirty years of [[{{Sequelitis}} increasingly disappointing sequels]], the franchise may well have been better off as an anthology series like Carpenter intended, and that, had it not been called ''Halloween III'', it would've gotten its due much earlier.

** Daniel O'Herlihy plays a CorruptCorporateExecutive, something that Daniel would be well known portraying in the ''Franchise/RoboCop'' films as "The Old Man." Both of Daniel's roles even had companies that are populated with cyborgs (well, Cochran's are robots designed to resemble humans, while "The Old Man" has several that were built from those who used to be human).

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: [[InUniverse In-Universe]] example. Despite Cochran intending for his horror marathon to be watched by children, the original ''Film/{{Halloween|1978}}'' is stated to be in their lineup. Even if it is [[{{Bowdlerization}} edited for television]], how many parents would allow their kids to watch an R-rated movie?

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Not just the famous Silver Shamrock jingle (see below) but the general musical themes. You could tell this was a Creator/JohnCarpenter movie from the first seconds.

* EarWorm: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIHUv2ooG38 Sing along now:]] HAPPY HAPPY HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN! HAPPY HAPPY HALLOWEEN, [+SILVER SHAMROCK!+]

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: In-Universe example. Despite Cochran intending for his horror marathon to be watched by children, the original ''Film/{{Halloween|1978}}'' is stated to be in their lineup. Even if it is [[{{Bowdlerization}} edited for television]], how many parents would allow their kids to watch an R-rated movie?

** Buddy, bar none. Even ''if'' he had just watched his kid's head rot away before his eyes, and was now locked in a room full of poisonous snakes...

* InferredHolocaust: [[spoiler:The ending of the films sees that despite Dan’s pleas, the ad is still broadcasted on at least one channel, meaning thousands of children were likely killed.]]

* InferredHolocaust: [[spoiler:The ending of the films sees that despite Dan’s pleas, the ad is still broadcasted on at least one channel, meaning thousands of children were likely killed.]]

* VindicatedByHistory: The biggest example in the whole franchise. While the film performed adequately at the box office, it was absolutely savaged by both fans and critics, and its gross paled in comparison to the first two films and even some that followed (such as ''The Return of Michael Myers'' and ''[=H20=]''). It has since picked up a fairly significant [[CultClassic cult following]] for its unique plot, fantastic score and atmosphere, and SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Many have admitted that after thirty years of [[{{Sequelitis}} increasingly disappointing sequels]], the franchise may well have been better off as an anthology series like Carpenter intended, and that, had it not been called ''Halloween III'', it would've gotten its due much earlier.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the film performed adequately at the box office, it was absolutely savaged by both fans and critics, and its gross paled in comparison to the first two films and even some that followed (such as ''The Return of Michael Myers'' and ''[=H20=]''). It has since picked up a fairly significant [[CultClassic cult following]] for its unique plot, fantastic score and atmosphere, and SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Many have admitted that after thirty years of [[{{Sequelitis}} increasingly disappointing sequels]], the franchise may well have been better off as an anthology series like Carpenter intended, and that, had it not been called ''Halloween III'', it would've gotten its due much earlier.

* CultClassic: Arguably the biggest one in the entire franchise, given the amount of love its gotten in recent years.

* VindicatedByHistory: While the film was absolutely savaged by both fans and critics, but preformed adequately at the box office, though its gross paled in comparison to the first two films and even some that followed (such as Return of Michael Myers and 20 Years Later). It has since picked up a fairly significant [[CultClassic cult following]] for its unique plot, fantastic score and atmosphere, and SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome. Many have admitted that after thirty years of [[{{Sequelitis}} increasingly disappointing sequels]], the franchise may well have been better off as an anthology series like Carpenter intended.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: In-Universe example. Despite Cochran intending for his horror marathon to be watched by children, [[Film/Halloween1978 the original Halloween]] is stated to be in their lineup. Even if it is [[{{Bowdlerization}} edited for television]], how many parents would allow their kids to watch an R rated movie?