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Nine Reasons to Watch Halloween III Right Now
It was the first and only Halloween film that didn’t involve Michael Myers, and for years Season of the Witch has been the whipping boy of the series as a result, but recently that general sentiment has begun to change. And it’s warranted. If we can offer even the slightest push in the right direction, we are happy to do so.
iHorror’s own Eric Endres posted Why It Actually Doesn’t Suck last October and I’m just expanding on those thoughts right here. If you were one of those who railed on Halloween III because it’s not a Myers / Loomis story, haven’t seen it in forever or maybe not at all, I have a special giveaway of nine reasons why you should pop the third Halloween into your DVD or Blu-Ray player right now and appreciate a damn good horror flick who’s only sin was perhaps, in titling itself Halloween.
Opening sequence
I feel like Wolf Blitzer breaking news out of the Situation Room when I say that John Carpenter and Alan Howarth developed a soundtrack that was both evocative and set the tone for the entire film, but it has to be said. Between the foreboding sounds and close-up graphics that slowly reveal the menace behind it all, you’re all-in before we see a single character appear on screen.
You know it’s a good sign when someone can ask one of your nurses where you can be found and it’s down at Charlie’s, where you’re exhibiting callousness for cartoons and Halloween spirit…but not for the ladies. Dr. Challis taps one of said nurses on the ass declaring that he should have married her instead with a point and “I’m serious,” and he’s always ready for a dinner with his little investigative redhead in the bowels of the hospital. And that’s before he demonstrates his “bedside manner.”
As Dr. Dan Challis (@Cochran_Hater) said on Twitter: “A sixer of Miller a day keeps the doctor away…because he’s riding around with hot, grieving daughters half his age.”
The man puts the Pimp in PhD.
Whether’s he’s brown-baggin’ it down an alley, downing drinks at the local lounge with Essex Smith on the football call or a snaggin’ that sixer of High Life after the latest edition of reliable disappointment (aka talking to the ex), the philandering physician is like Art Weingartner and food in The ‘Burbs, beverages will be involved.
Did we mention Atkins is a crack shot with a Halloween mask whilst tied to a chair? Yeah. Pimp.
O’Herlihy delivers
In the unsettling style of Max von Sydow’s Leland Gaunt in Needful Things, Dan O’Herlihy’s Conal Cochran is all smiles and charm as he hatches his plan against not only Santa Mira, but the country as a whole with a cool, emotionless “Happy Halloween” to the good doctor.
It’s not just jokes on children or the venom with which he describes those very same little ones “begging for candy,” but watching his mindless minions cutting off pathways to information with a “trade secrets” and shrug before unleashing the most devilish of dagger stares.
Even after said drones are decimated and the Samhain sacrifice is all but certain, O’Herlihy offers a smirk and mock applause before, and I love that I finally get to use a commercial that used to some fuck me up as a lad, Stonehenge exacts revenge.
By the way. Cochran. Cunt. Words that start with “C.”
Tom Atkins’ lines
Once Atkins sifts through the bikes and RVs and cars and oddballs between him and some afternoon delight, Tommy Boy reaches the hotel room, shoots Ellie a look and proclaims “This place is a zoo!”
Later, he wants a look at a “misfire” victim who is being carted out by simply saying “Excuse, I’m a doctor. Please. Hey, I said I’m a doctor!” I mean, it doesn’t get more officious than that, folks.
But the line that will leave you in stiches will be when Atkins emerges from the restroom trying to shake off what he has seen and heard, predictably downs a drink and declares “I think it’s time for the Marines.” No further explanation necessary.
The jingle
You will get the Silver Shamrock theme stuck in your head. There’s just no avoiding it. The good news, though. You won’t be wearing a mask, so the insects crawling in your head with be of a safe-to-say less invasive variety.
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The results
“What you need to see is a demonstration, and there’s one…coming right up.”
Alright, so much like any horror film, you have to suspend your level of disbelief for a moment, because any realistic scenario where a mask with a chip could result in the infestation that results is simply not feasible, but at the end of the day, it’s brutal and happening to children. That’s pretty intense. Dare I say fucked up? And for that reason alone, Halloween III deserves some credit for its willingness to not only imply nefarious intent toward the Trick or Treaters of America, but execution.
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Nods to the Halloweens WITH Michael Myers
Challis’ wife is played by Nancy Kyes, aka as Annie from the 1978 classic, which gets some love through quick flips of the channels revealing parts of a promo for “The Night HE Came Home” or clips before shit got real in the original as Atkins is fettered to an office chair all the way to the little mention of a certain Dr. Castle from one of the first shots in the hospital, Halloween III is replete with tips of the cap to Haddonfield.
Scream Queen as operator
And it doesn’t end there. When Challis tries to phone the operator and information for help, he gets the same voice telling him “no dice.” That voice, of course, is Laurie Strode herself, Jamie Lee Curtis. Should have called the Marines. And not for nothin’, but it’s probably a good thing for The Last Star Fighter that Challis wasn’t on staff that night at Haddonfield Memorial, or he would have had some stiff competition from the good doctor.
The final scene is straight money
If you haven’t seen it, I won’t give it away, but know this: It is intense and desperate and exits stage left at precisely the right moment. It does not disappoint.
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Movies
‘The Strangers’ Invaded Coachella in Instagramable PR Stunt
Renny Harlin’s reboot of The Strangers isn’t coming out until May 17, but those murderous home invaders are making a pit stop at Coachella first.
In the latest Instagramable PR stunt, the studio behind the film decided to have the trio of masked intruders crash Coachella, a music festival that takes place for two weekends in Southern California.
This type of publicity began when Paramount did the same thing with their horror movie Smile in 2022. Their version had seemingly ordinary people in populated places look directly into a camera with an evil grin.
Harlin’s reboot is actually a trilogy with a more expansive world than that of the original.
“When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world,” said producer Courtney Solomon. “Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.”
The movie follows a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who “after their car breaks down in an eerie small town, are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers: Chapter 1 the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.”
The Strangers: Chapter 1 opens in theaters on May 17.
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Movies
‘Alien’ Returning to Theaters For a Limited Time
It’s been 45 years since Ridley Scott’s Alien hit theaters and in celebration of that milestone, it is headed back to the big screen for a limited time. And what better day to do that than Alien Day on April 26?
It also works as a primer for the upcoming Fede Alvarez sequel Alien: Romulus opening on August 16. A special feature in which both Alvarez and Scott discuss the original sci-fi classic will be shown as a part of your theater admission. Take a look at the preview of that conversation below.
Back in 1979, the original trailer for Alien was kind of terrifying. Imagine sitting in front of a CRT TV (Cathode Ray Tube) at night and suddenly Jerry Goldsmith’s haunting score begins to play as a giant chicken egg starts to crack with beams of light bursting through the shell and the word “Alien” slowly forms in slanted all caps across the screen. To a twelve-year-old, it was a scary pre-bedtime experience, especially Goldsmith’s screaming electronic musical flourishes playing over scenes of the actual movie. Let the “Is it horror or sci-fi?” debate begin.
Alien became a pop culture phenomenon, complete with kid’s toys, a graphic novel, and an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also inspired dioramas in wax museums and even a frightening setpiece at Walt Disney World in the now-defunct Great Movie Ride attraction.
The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and John Hurt. It tells the tale of a futuristic crew of blue-collar workers suddenly awakened out of stasis to investigate an undecipherable distress signal coming from a nearby moon. They investigate the source of the signal and discover it’s a warning and not a cry for help. Unbeknownst to the crew, they have brought a giant space creature back on board which they find out in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history.
It is said that Alvarez’s sequel will pay homage to the original film’s storytelling and set design.
The Alien theatrical re-release will take place on April 26. Pre-order your tickets and find out where Alien will screen at a theater near you.
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News
Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Returns with a New Friend, Plus New Life-Size Prop from Spirit Halloween
Halloween is the greatest holiday of them all. However, every great holiday needs amazing props to go with it. Luckily for you, there are two new amazing props that have been released, which are sure to impress your neighbors and frighten any neighborhood children who are unfortunate enough to wander past your yard.
The first entry is the return of the Home Depot 12-foot skeleton prop. Home Depot has outdone themselves in the past. But this year the company is bringing bigger and better things to their Halloween prop lineup.
This year, the company unveiled its new and improved Skelly. But what is a giant skeleton without a loyal friend? Home Depot has also announced that they will release a five-foot tall skeleton dog prop to eternally keep Skelly company as he haunts your yard this spooky season.
This bony pooch will be five feet tall and seven feet long. The prop will also feature a posable mouth and LCD eyes with eight variable settings. Lance Allen, Home Depot’s merchant of decorative Holliday gear, had the following to say about this year’s lineup.
“This year we increased our realism within the animatronics category, created some impressive, licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites. Overall, we are most proud of the quality and value we are able to bring to our customers with these pieces so they can continue to grow their collections.”
But what if giant skeletons just aren’t your thing? Well, Spirit Halloween has you covered with their giant life size Terror Dog replica. This massive prop has been ripped out of your nightmares to appear frighteningly on your lawn.
This prop weighs in at almost fifty pounds and features glowing red eyes that are sure to keep your yard safe from any toilet paper throwing hooligans. This iconic Ghostbusters nightmare is a must have for any fan of 80s horror. Or, anyone who loves all things spooky.
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