Part of Shocktober
When a terrified toy salesman is mysteriously attacked and brought to the hospital babbling and clutching the year’s most popular Halloween costume, an eerie pumpkin mask, Dr. Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins) is thrust into a terrifying Halloween nightmare. Working with the salesman’s daughter, Ellie (Stacey Nelkin), he traces the mask to the Silver Shamrock Novelties company and its founder, Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy). Ellie and Daniel attempt to uncover Cochran’s shocking Halloween plan before the trick-or-treaters across the country are kept from ever coming home, in this terrifying thriller from writer/director Tommy Lee Wallace. Featuring a score by John Carpenter.
Carpenter’s horror saga took a chilling new turn in its third installment, veering away from the Michael Myers story arc in favor of the series’ intended anthology format which alienated a number of fans. Recently, however, this previously maligned sequel has garnered a whole new fanbase and become a staple of the Halloween season.
“It has taken 40 years for HALLOWEEN III to gain the cult status it rightfully deserves. Next time, that Silver Shamrock commercial plays, always remember kids, take those masks off.” —David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
“Mr. Wallace clearly has a fondness for the cliches he is parodying and he does it with style.” —Vincent Canby, New York Times