- [Zac] "Halloween III" is known as the black sheep,
the "Tokyo Drift", the "Zelda II"
of the Halloween franchise.
For that reason, the series connections,
we've now come to expect are more tenuous,
but if we inspect the movie closely,
some of its hidden secrets start to come into view.
The story follows Dr. Daniel Challis,
who was called into the hospital
to take care of an injured patient
and prescribes a medication called Thorazine.
- 100 milligrams, Thorazine.
- [Zac] This calls back to the first "Halloween"
where Dr. Loomis plans to use the same drug
to sedate Michael Myers.
- What do I give him when we take him in front of the judge?
- Thorazine.
- Barely be able to sit up.
- That's the idea.
- [Zac] After realizing the suspicious circumstances
of the patient's death, Challis decides to go investigate
with the man's daughter, Ellie Grimbridge.
Before leaving town, he rings his ex-wife at a payphone.
This is the same location featured in "Halloween II",
where the nurse, Karen, announces
that she never wants to go to another Halloween party.
- Especially not at Stevie Mathis's house.
- [Zac] The biggest connection
to the original two Halloween movies, though,
which many viewers are not aware of,
has to do with the reason that the villain, Conal Cochran,
has put this elaborate plan into motion.
To learn the little known-connection
between him and Michael Myers,
stick around to the end of this video.
(heavy metal music begins)
- [TV commercial] Three more weeks till Halloween,
Halloween, Halloween.
Three more weeks till Halloween, Silver Shamrock.
- Welcome to Things You Missed.
Just one year after killing off the popular slasher,
Michael Myers, series producers John Carpenter
and Debra Hill were interested in continuing
with their original idea of an anthology series.
Where each movie would tell an unrelated story
taking place on Halloween night.
As always I'll be joined in this video
by the literal prime minister of Haddonfield,
Jimmy Champane.
- It's commonly thought that
"Halloween III: Season of the Witch"
is the only movie in the Halloween franchise
that doesn't feature Michael Myers
But that's not exactly true.
We see Michael in a commercial for a television airing
of the original "Halloween", which tells us
that "Halloween" is only a movie in this universe.
- [Zac] Tommy Lee Wallace was excited by
the prospect of getting to tell a new story.
So after declining to take over "Halloween II"
he signed down as the director of the third installment.
That's actually his voice in the
Silver Shamrock commercials.
- [TV announcer] All you lucky kids
with Silver Shamrock masks
gather around your TV set, put on your masks and watch.
- I learned this while trying to determine
if this was the same voice as Dr. Dementia,
the horror movie marathon host in the first two films.
- [TV Host] Lock your doors, bolt your windows
and turn off the lights.
- They're similar, but I never did find out
if Dr. Dementia was voiced by Tommy.
- I mean, I haven't heard otherwise.
So let's just go with it.
- [Zac] "Halloween III" is a weird movie,
but the same oddities that turned off critics
and fans in the early eighties
are part of what makes it a cult classic decades later.
With that all being said,
let's get into the things you missed.
(knives sharpening)
(dramatic music beginning)
- [Zac] The opening credits are displayed
over a series of lines, appearing close up
on a TV screen.
We don't know it yet, but what we're seeing
is a very zoomed in version of the video
that triggers the brainwash sequence.
I love how right from the first shot,
you already know this movie is going to be funny
and just the way that this guy runs makes me laugh.
An hour later, he arrives at a gas station
where we see the news report
about the missing Stonehenge monument.
- [TV announcer] It weighs more than five tons
making its disappearance a mystery indeed.
- I'm not exactly sure why Cochran felt
like he needed to steal the entire giant stone,
because he only ended up using like a small chunk
of that monument to enact his plan.
Wouldn't it be smarter just to take the chunk you need
instead of removing an entire ancient monument?
I get that we find out that all you need
is an extremely small speck to do major damage
and that's what ends up in every single
Silver Shamrock mask.
But still the amount they're using in these masks
is absolutely tiny compared to that massive monument,
which everyone realized was stolen.
- [Zac] So the Stonehenge news report sets up the big reveal
about what the company's true intentions are.
But the next program after this is also significant.
- [Radio announcer] When we come back Trina will be here
to tell you what you can do about junk mail.
Stay with us.
- [Zac] Junk mail is a form of overbearing advertising,
which ties into the main message of this movie.
The entire crux of Cochran's plan relies on children
to be brainwashed by the Silver Shamrock
commercials that dominate the airwaves
in the days leading up to Halloween.
Michael Myers may not show up
to chase any teenagers this time,
but Daniel Challis is constantly chased
by this catchy yet annoying Silver Shamrock jingle.
Almost every location in the movie has screens
or radios manipulating children to buy their masks
and wear them on the big Halloween night giveaway.
There are so many screens, I started to wonder
if I wasn't at Universal Studios.
That's a stupid joke.
- We are totally joking.
Universal please let us come to Halloween Horror Nights
this year.
- [Zac] Just as the first Halloween makes a comment
about the sexual revolution still ongoing from the 1960's,
"Season of the Witch" taps into concerns
of the effects of television on children.
A discussion that was still picking up steam
from the late 1970s.
Even though television is no longer a relevant medium
for young people, the themes of this movie remain pertinent.
It was not that long ago that YouTube
implemented strict rules regarding content
made for children to make sure that they aren't subjected
to targeted advertising.
And also a bunch of other lame restrictions for some reason.
Let's just say it was the only time, ever, where operating
a horror themed channel actually paid off.
- Yo Zac, let's make a Cocomelon horror movie.
- Yeah, I'm sure that won't get us struck down
off YouTube immediately.
(dramatic musical note plays)
We see the effects of over advertising
towards kids on Challis's own offspring.
They each get Silver Shamrock masks
and huddle around the TV when the commercial comes on.
(Silver Shamrock Jingle playing)
- [TV Announcer] Yes, kids you too,
can own one of the big Halloween three.
That's right, three horrific masks to choose from.
- The masks are marketed as the big Halloween three.
Yes, let's go ahead and get our jokes in
about the title of the movie being in the movie.
And there are many threes or triples
in this movie and I'm not sure how many
of them are intentional.
So I'm just going to show them and let you decide.
Also of note, the deadly Silver Shamrock program
at the end is airing on three different channels.
There are, perhaps, other number games at play here.
Mr. Grimbridge's room at the hospital is room 13.
If you've seen my final destination videos
you know all about how that's the unlucky number,
but, in this case, it's also the reverse of 31.
As in October 31, Halloween night.
There are also a lot of instances of the number six.
The motel room that Challis and Ellie stay in
is room six, the town's curfew goes into effect at 6:00 PM,
and the activation code for the commercial is 6, 6, 6.
The number of the devil.
It's not just the numbers that we should be paying attention
to though.
There are also several names that have a deeper meaning
than what meets the eye.
- (scary, intense music begins)
- (creepy music begins)
- [Zac] When chalice gets to the hospital,
his new patient is Harry Grimbridge, a shop owner
who apparently discovered the Silver Shamrock secret
and was hunted down by the androids who worked
for Mr. Cochran.
The assassin promptly leaves the hospital
and gets into his Plymouth Fury and self-destructs.
(car exploding)
- Seeing as John Carpenter produced this movie
and was absolutely instrumental in getting it made
this might've been yet another hint
as to what one of his future projects would be.
That's because his adaptation of the Stephen King novel,
"Christine", would come out a few years later.
For those of you who don't know what that's about,
it's about a kid who buys a cursed 1958 Plymouth,
and then ends up destroying it because it has a mind
of its own and starts killing people.
Now the car in "Halloween III", isn't an exact match,
but it's the same make and model
so I feel like it's worth bringing up nonetheless.
Before you light us up down in the comments,
I know that John Carpenter has said multiple times
over the years, that this is his least favorite movie
that he's ever made.
But I've also seen recently that he started
to come around on it.
So yeah, I absolutely love it.
And I watch it all the time.
I'm glad he's starting in like it too.
- Is there also a second Stephen King connection
in "Season of the witch"?
Probably not, but I'm going to mention it anyways.
Inside Mr. Grimbridge's store
there are these Jack in the Box clowns in a box
that says boats.
Director Tommy Lee Wallace would go on to direct
a production where a creepy clown steals a young boys boat.
"It" would not come out for another eight years,
however.
So I'm just going to chalk this one up
to just being a fun coincidence.
Perhaps a more intentional detail can be seen
when Ellie is brought in to ID her father
after his death.
The county Sheriff's name badge reads Dunsmuir.
Dunsmuir is a small town in northern California,
much like Santa Mira, where the movie takes place.
I wouldn't be surprised if Dunsmuir
was one of the inspirations for this location
though it seems a little bit less creepy
than it's film counterpart.
Santa Mira is named after a fictional town
from an earlier Sci-Fi horror movie and novel
called "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."
This was the start of a trend.
A lot of other properties would borrow
this fictional location for their setting,
including "AirWolf", "The Dark Tower",
and even the "Sharknado" franchise.
Challis hangs out in a bar where he is once again, bombarded
by the overplayed Halloween mask commercial.
He asks the bartender to change the channel
and he puts on a football game, which we can hear
in the background as Ellie Grimbridge introduces herself.
Listen to the names called out by the announcer,
- [TV announcer] ...Bernardi finally brought him down,
not much time to do anything, but coach Tommy Marshall has been...
- These are both references to crew members
of the movie.
Barry Bernardi was an associate producer
and Tommy Marshall was best boy electrician.
There are a few more crew reference Easter eggs
that I spotted in the guest book when Challis and Ellie
get to the hotel, including costumer, Frances Vega Aubrey,
who signs as both Francis Aubrey and Mr. F Vega
and property master James Rathbun.
- [Jimmy] Last episode when we covered "Halloween II",
I mentioned how Nancy Loomis, also known as
Nancy Kyes or Keys, I'm not exactly
sure how to say it, appears in each movie
in the original Halloween trilogy.
This time she plays none other
than Dr. Dan Challis's ex-wife, Linda.
I've seen this movie like 20 times,
and I never connected that Linda is played
by the same actress as Annie.
Mainly, because she comes off like such a huge *****.
Another actress who appears in each of the first three
Halloween movies is Laurie Strode herself,
Jamie Lee Curtis.
Because we of course, see her during the television airing
of "Halloween" in this movie.
(creepy music begins)
(glass breaking)
- [Zac] I guess Dr. Challis is not a fan.
The other Jamie Lee Curtis cameo is a bit more covert.
It is her voice that announces the early curfew
in Santa Mira.
(haunting music begins)
- [public address announcer] It's 6 o'clock. It's 6 o'clock.
Curfew. Curfew.
- There's one other notable cameo appearance
and it comes from Dick Warlock.
This is the guy who played Michael Myers in "Halloween II".
So we see him unmasked for the first time
when he appears as one of Conal Cochran's Androids.
I know I don't normally talk about actor cameos
and things you missed, but it felt relevant
to bring up since this is a spiritual successor
to the first two movies.
It's kind of like how "Shock Treatment" is a followup
to "Rocky Horror".
Similar crew, similar cast,
similar artwork, and feel, but totally
different story.
On the drive to Santa Mira, Challis and Ellie
read up on the town.
- [Challis] Proud community, predominantly Irish.
- [Ellie] Irish Halloween masks?
- [Challis] In California, you never know.
- Outside of the company producing the mask
being called Silver Shamrock,
there are a lot of references to Ireland and Irish culture.
So let's just go over all of them
to make sure we've got our bases covered.
Dr. Challis and that weirdo he meets
both appear to be alcoholics.
Heavy drinking is a common trait
of the stereotypical Irishman.
- Drinking and doctoring, great combination.
- Another thing Irish people are known for
can be seen in this clip.
(car exploding)
*laughter*
- [Zac] The bar he hangs out at is decorated
with Irish murals.
For example, this one on the back wall
is a depiction of Anne Bonny,
an Irish pirate from the 1700s.
The other businesses in Santa Mira
are also themed to Irish culture.
Rafferty is a classic Irish name.
Dublin is the capital of Ireland.
The word shamrock is kind of overused.
In addition to the factory, there's also a Shamrock Store
and a Shamrock Savings.
Though personally, I would have gone with Leprechaun Loans.
They ended up staying at the Rose of Shannon Motel.
A reference to the town of Shannon in Western Ireland.
The booking office has a huge map of Ireland
hanging on the wall.
The Kupfer family arrives at the motel in a big RV
covered in stickers.
It's hard to make them out, but one of them
definitely has the colors of the Irish flag.
While touring the factory, we learn that Silver Shamrock
used to be known for making toys,
like these windup machines.
This one depicts a group of musically inclined insects
called the Lovebug Band, which is a reference
to an Irish pop band from the eighties known as Luv Bug.
The depiction of them as insects may also be a connection
to the method by which the Halloween masks
kill the children.
They're zapped by this laser from the Stonehenge piece,
which causes their brains to turn into a swarm of insects
that come pouring out of their heads.
I don't care what you think about this movie,
you gotta love that kill.
- [Jimmy] It's a great practical gag
because you see it happen in real time,
but it's not actually that hard to throw together.
- Finally, there's the big reveal about why Cochran
is targeting children.
I'm going to turn on the subtitles and
- Alright, roll it.
- It was the start of the year in our old Celtic lands
and we'd be waiting in our houses of wattles and clay.
The barriers would be down, you see,
between the real and the unreal,
and the dead might be looking in
to sit by our fires of turf.
(dramatic music rising)
Halloween...
the festival of Samhain!
- Did you catch that?
Although Cochran says it differently than Dr. Sam Loomis
did in "Halloween II", he tells us that children
are sacrificed during the festival of Samhain.
Remember how Michael defaced the chalkboard
leading Loomis to believe that his crimes
were part of a tribute?
It turns out that Cochran's plan to eviscerate the minds
of American trick-or-treaters
comes from a similar motivation.
Which makes this the only through line
between "Halloween II" and "Halloween III".
- There is another hint about the true purpose
of the Silver Shamrock masks hidden in one small detail
at the motel.
(intense scary music begins)
(creepy music begins)
- No "Halloween III" video would be complete
without making fun of the mature relationship
between Dr. Challis and Ellie Grimbridge.
I mean, her father just died earlier that week
and she's already trying to get it on with a mustached man,
literally more than twice her age.
Seriously, you're going to investigate your father's murder,
why did you even pack that outfit?
It's so ridiculous.
- [Jimmy] Playing an older guy who gets with younger girls
is exactly what Tom Atkins was born to do.
I mean, have you seen The Fog.
- And I'm not even making this up,
but I was looking into this movie
and learned that the scenes in Santa Mira
were filmed at a place called Loleta, California.
- I do love a good joke and this is the best ever.
- Despite how unintentionally funny
this movie can be at times,
and believe me, it can be unintentionally funny.
(Silver Shamrock commercial jingle playing)
- But despite all of that, the way the mystery's set up
is actually really well done.
Or at least kind of well done.
There are a lot of details that set up the fact
that the factory workers are robots,
like the explanation of the hiring process.
- He brought in every damn one of them factory people
from the outside.
Think he'd hire me, a local boy?
No way, turned me down flat.
- And the realization that the initial
assassin's autopsy only contains machine parts.
- We've been doing an autopsy on part of the car.
- It's still hilarious when you first hear it.
There's also a little foreshadowing
about the magic element of Cochran's plan.
At the motel a woman named Marge Guttman can be seen
reading Carlos Castaneda's "The Eagles Gift."
From what I understand this book is about sorcery.
Although the magic used to sacrifice
the mask wearing children is referred to as witchcraft,
and although one of the big Halloween three masks
is a witch, there isn't an actual witch in the movie.
I read somewhere that Tommy Lee Wallace
named it after the Donovan song "Season of the Witch".
Great song, but it is also not in the movie.
The finale shows us kids going out to trick-or-treat
all over the country, which by the way,
includes some beautiful shots of the Halloween sunset.
Challis rescues what he thinks is Ellie,
but actually turns out to be robo Ellie.
Not sure how or why Cochran had the time
to make a perfect replica of her just to screw
with old Challis or why the robo Ellie never tries
to stop him until after he's destroyed the factory.
But whatever, I'm into this.
(threatening music begins)
- [Jimmy] I got to say, I love this movie's generous take
on how many cities actually celebrate Halloween anymore.
I mean, I've lived in L.A. five years
and I've never once had a kid come to
my door to trick-or-treat on Halloween.
- Yeah, I was disappointed to see the lack of decorations
on most houses when I moved out here.
After fighting her off, he inexplicably leaves the car
behind and goes to the gas station where the movie started
to try to get the hypnotic advert taken off the air.
Who goes trick or treating at a gas station?
Apparently these kids do, and they gather around the TV
as Dr. Challis begs the programmer to take the commercial
off of the three channels that it's airing on.
- Wait, you never went trick or treating at a gas station?
- Do they get out gas or candy?
- I don't remember.
- This brings us back to the main theme
that I discussed about "Halloween III".
The Silver Shamrock advert is representative of every TV
commercial attempting to corrupt and brainwash the youth
into becoming their ideal consumer, regardless of any harm
that this might be doing to them physically
or psychologically.
The bugs and snakes that pour out
of the young Kupfer boys head are symbolic
of what is going on inside the heads of children
who were exposed to overbearing advertising
from a young age.
The parents of these kids do show some concern,
saying things like "don't sit too close"
or "turn down the volume", but ultimately
the kids are drawn to the flashy colors and catchy tunes
of the broadcast.
During the factory tour, we learned that Silver Shamrock
used to be a toy manufacturer and eventually switched
to hypnotic masks and television programs.
In the 1980's, when this movie takes place,
television was reaching the peak of its popularity
and Cochran was just following what the kids
were paying attention to.
TV shows were the new toys and Silver Shamrock
is a stand in for any number of malicious private companies
ready to take advantage of that.
- Like most good movie satire, "Halloween III"
was ahead of its time.
I think it's because it's hard to notice that stuff
when it's still happening all around you,
but then when you revisit a movie a few years later,
all of the satirical jokes hit you right on the head.
It's kind of funny that 40 years later,
"Stranger Things 3" covered the exact same stuff
as Halloween 3.
- Yes and I'll definitely have to think about covering that
on my channel sometime soon as well.
Hint.
But if the years since 1978 have taught us anything,
it's that you can't kill Michael Myers.
And even if you could, he just won't stay dead for long.
The Halloween anthology concept was abandoned
after the poor reception of "Halloween III",
and in 1988, the prolific slasher would wake up
and set his sights on a new target.
Which means we've got more things you missed to discuss
in "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers".
Meanwhile, there is a new Halloween movie,
"Halloween Kills", just one week away.
Jimmy has been covering everything related to Kills
lately on his channel so head over there and drop him a sub.
Otherwise he'll be forced to
[TV Commercial] ♪ Subscribe to Jimmy Champane! Mee Champane!
Mee Champane! Subscribe to Jimmy Champane, on his YouTube! ♪
- [Zac] And click that video on the left
and if you love Halloween, make sure to subscribe
to CZsWorld for new horrors every week.
Ring the death bell for all notifications,
and I'll see you in the next one,
assuming we both survive.
(slow creepy version of Silver Shamrock jangle fading)