Halloween III: Season of the Witch 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Halloween III: Season of the Witch 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see anthology-series Halloween classic.

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch is an anthology sequel (set in the same storytelling universe as the first two Halloween films but without Michael Myers and the other central characters from the original films returning). John Carpenter and Debra Hill returned as producers. Halloween 3 is the one and only entry to not feature the iconic villain Michael Myers. Giving the series a unique science-fiction twist, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch explores the horror genre roots of the blockbuster franchise in a compelling and original way.

A pumpkin mask is becoming the most popular selling item for Halloween. A toy salesman is unexpectedly attacked and clutches hold of the bestselling pumpkin mask while at the hospital. Dr. Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins) helps care for the salesman as a patient and meets the man's daughter, Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin).

As Dr. Challis and Ellie become close to one another, the pair begin to seek out information about the mysterious origins of the pumpkin mask – and discover it is linked to the Silver Shamrock Novelties company being run by the mysterious Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy). The owner of Silver Shamrock Novelties has been plotting something diabolical. Can Dr. Challis and Ellie Grimbridge stop the plan from being executed before its too late?

The anthology spin-off has a nice cast of performers who helped bring out the best of the production. Tom Atkins impresses as Dr. Daniel Challis and provides the film with a compelling central character. Stacey Nelkin is a strong supporting player in the role of Ellie Grimbridge. Dan O'Herlihy is a sly villain and rounds out the central cast of characters nicely.

Trick r' Treat. (Give me something good to eat?)

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch has some remarkable production elements. The production design by Peter Jamison (Continental Divide, Point Break) has some eerie attributes showcasing witchcraft and mysticism. The entire layout of the production is superb – and provides an element of mystery to the Silver Shamrock Novelties company. Likewise, Dean Cundey (Halloween, Back to the Future) once again returns to the franchise as cinematographer. Cundey is a brilliant director of photography and every frame of the film looks visually compelling.

The music score composed by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth (who also collaborated on Halloween II) is superb. One of the best elements of the production of Halloween 3: Season of the Witch is the fun score by Carpenter and Howarth. The music provides some eerie and hypnotic melodies to the entry. The score has a supernatural quality that stands out from the first two Halloween films.

Written and Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace (Fright Night: Part 2, Vampires: Los Muertos), Halloween 3: Season of the Witch is one of the best and most original entries in the long-running franchise. Without Michael Myers, it stands out from the crowd. One can't help but hope to see future Halloween films produced in the same vein: as standalone anthology-series films with no connection to Michael Myers. As Halloween 3: Season of the Witch is now a cult classic, the anthology format for the Halloween series is due for a re-evaluation.

For additional information on Halloween 3: Season of the Witch and an alternate take, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch arrives on 4K UHD in the original aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. The release is presented in HEVC / H.265 2160p. The release is a native 4K scan of the feature-film. The scan has a nice layer of natural film grain. For additional information on the video- quality, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with several audio options: Dolby Atmos is provided alongside DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. The original mono soundtrack is what most listeners will prefer listening to, but the release has a nice Dolby Atmos mix for a more atmospheric watch. For additional information on the audio-quality, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Sacred Bones collectors edition is a must-have for vinyl enthusiasts. The release includes a gorgeous collectors art-box with a silver-foil print on the front. The set includes a special case containing both the standard collectors edition on 4K UHD and an exclusive 7" colored vinyl.

The exclusive vinyl record included in the set is a joy to listen to: the record has a fantastic black-and-orange mix and its a beautiful looking collectible to own. The record sounds exceptionally clean and crisp and there were no issues to report.

The release includes the following tracks:

Side A:

Chariots of Pumpkins

Side B:

Season of the Witch (Newly Recorded)

The release features music composed by John Carpenter in association with Alan Howarth. Performed by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies. Mixed by John Spiker.

The 4K UHD collectors edition release (available from Sacred Bones) includes the same supplemental package as the standard-edition. For additional information on the supplemental package, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch is an underrated genre classic – experimenting with the format of the Halloween franchise by establishing the possibility for anthology-series productions to be produced without Michael Myers. One of the best films in the entire series, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch surprises with supernatural mysticism and science-fiction roots. The 4K UHD presentation is stunning. The Sacred Bones collectors edition includes the two-disc release, an exclusive 7" colored vinyl, and a beautiful collectors box. Highly recommended.