Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Halloween III: Season of the Witch is something special. Whether or not you can call this a "good" movie is most certainly up for debate. The story centers on Dr. Daniel Challis (played by Tom Atkins) and Ellie Grimbridge (played by Stacey Nelkin) as they try to uncover a coverup involving Stonehenge and killing people using Halloween masks.

The movie opens on a man running, raving about how "we're all doomed." It doesn't say that exactly, but the idea is there. The man we'll soon find out is Harry Grimbridge. He runs into a gas station attendant who drives him to the hospital. Right around now, we meet the main hero of the movie, Challis. He leaves the hospital to go home to his family. His wife and family kind of matter, but not really. To be fair, this is the scene where we meet the real star of the movie

Back at the hospital, Harry is killed by a mysterious stranger in black. What I love about this is, when you watch the movie, nobody really pays attention to the guy. Challis is called back to the hospital by a distraught nurse. Naturally, he automatically agrees. He tries to chase the man in black, but the car he's in blows up. Well, I think that's what happens anyways. Harry's daughter Ellie soon comes into play in the movie.

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Because she is suspicious, Ellie and Challis take a road trip to the town where the Silver Shamrock factory is located. We meet an unassuming family, the patriarch being a salesman. We also meet a
woman staying in the next room over from the motel, who dies suspiciously one night.

 The creepy owner of Silver Shamrock, Conal Cochran, chalks it up to a tragic accident. Truth be told, it makes more sense than what the dean from Urban Legend says.

When Challis and Ellie start getting too close, some of Cochran's employees kidnap Ellie.

One of the nurses Challis has been in contact with is murdered by one of those mysterious men in black. Challis, meanwhile goes to the factory intent on finding Ellie and helping her. Unfortunately, things don't go the way he expects. The men in black kidnap him and bring him to Cochran, who explains his plans (sort of). He does explain that a little bit about the old ways. But the explanation doesn't really go beyond that, Oh, and Stonehenge is involved for some reason.

Cochran shows Challis that he is holding Ellie, and he's holding the family hostage (even though they don't know they're being held hostage). It's here we learn the importance of the commercial and the masks.

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Challis escapes and blows up the factory. He even manages to rescue Ellie. Cochran and his robot henchmen (something I forgot to mention earlier and I apologize) are destroyed in the explosion. But then, we learn the terrible truth. Ellie is a killer robot now, and Challis must destroy her.

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Challis makes it back to his hometown, and runs into that gas station attendant from the beginning of the movie. Challis desperately tries to prevent the oncoming apocalypse that was never explained. The movie ends with Challis pretty much failing.

Yay?

I won't lie, I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. It was bizarre, but a ton of fun. Definitely worth watching as a guilty pleasure every Halloween. 

6 / 10  

  

Top 50 Favorite Songs (30-21)

#30: What I Got by Sublime: What I Got works because it tells the story of a loser who's just going through his day, and adds a chill beat, alongside laid back instruments.

#29: New Divide by Linkin Park: New Divide has a catchy chorus and an excellent sound. I don't really have much else to say about this song.

#28: Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones: Sympathy for the Devil is just about what you'd expect. The song is told from the point of view of the devil himself. Lead singer Mick Jagger is what really sells the song for me. He has this delivery that excellently mixes being suave and cool as well as just evil.

#27: Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers: Snow (Hey Oh) is an ode to Anthony Kiedis' favorite drugs (heroin and cocaine). The song takes something that should be ugly and gnarly and makes it beautiful.

#26: Renegade by Styx: This song sounds a lot happier than it actually is. This song tells the story of a criminal who is caught and is on his way to his death. The lyrics and instruments shouldn't necessarily mesh, but it actually seems to work here.

#25: Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz: The band takes on the chorus, sound happy (even oblivious) about the oncoming end of the world. Meanwhile, rapper Del the Funkee Homo sapien takes on the verses, taking the persona of a god-like being.

#24: Jesus Walks by Kanye West: I know what you're thinking. Really? Kanye West? But, if nothing else, I will give the man props for his ability to produce a track. Between that, and the fact that he was willing to go for it on this song, the lead single from his debut album.

#23: Hurt by Johnny Cash: This cover is nothing short of beautiful. Johnny Cash near the end of his life tackles the subject matter in the form of a man whose time is drawing near, and is looking back on his life with contemplation.

#22: Get Lucky by Daft Punk & Pharrell: I don't have a lot to say other than I love just how well Daft Punk's electronic beat and Pharrell's smooth voice go together.

#21: Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana: Are the lyrics nonsensical gibberish? Yeah, sort of. Do I care? Hell no. The song is nothing short of a burst of energy, and I love it.  

Top 50 Favorite Songs (40-31)

#40: Stressed Out by twenty one pilots: I love that this song deals with the idea of just wanting to go back to a point in someone's life where they could be carefree, and didn't have to worry about anything. But, as we grow up, we're told different things than we were told when we were children.

#39: Swimming Pools (Drank) by Kendrick Lamar: In a time period where most rap songs that deal with drinking and alcohol present no consequences whatsoever, Swimming Pools (Drank) is somewhat refreshing because it presents the negative side.

#38: American Pie by Don McLean: American Pie effectively deals with two stories, and blurs them together. First and foremost, Don McLean uses the song to address "the day the music died" when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper were all killed in a plane crash. He also brings up a story where a jester steals Jesus Christ's crown of thorns.

#37: Yeah! by Usher, Lil Jon, & Ludacris: Somehow, Lil Jon's beat and background hype yells, Usher's voice, and Luda's chilled back rhymes bring this song together to make a fun, catchy listen.

#36: Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down: For someone in my early 20s, Kryptonite is a nostalgic song. I like the singer's darker take in this song about someone's personal Superman going crazy. I also like the comparison in a potential romantic relationship of two people, comparing themselves in their own minds as Superman and Lois Lane.

#35: X Gon' Give It to Ya by DMX: Compared to more complex songs like American Pie, X Gon' Give it to Ya is decidedly simple. But, I love it as an angry haze of a hype song that's pretty easy to work out to.

#34: Hail Mary by 2Pac: Hail Mary has a sort of ominous sound and feel to it. It deals with Pac's death and resurrection (the music video actually was released after the rapper was shot and killed). He then begins to take vengeance out on his enemies. The guest verses on the song aren't bad per se, but they compare to the work that 2Pac himself puts into the track.

#33: The Outsider by A Perfect Circle: A Perfect Circle's The Outsider deals with the narrator talking with someone, clearly wanting to get them help. Whether it's for drugs or suicide is never explained, but I feel like the song works equally with either one.

#32: Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine: Given Rage Against the Machine's typically politically charged messages that they pour into every song can just as well be applied to this bombastic track. I could be wrong, but I feel like this song deals with the idea of soldiers in a war that kill, but with no real idea of why.

#31: Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes: I love this song's strumming beats and anthemic feel. Jack White's voice and lyrics compliment the instrumentation that he and Meg White put into the song.

   

Top 50 Favorite Songs (50 - 41)

Honorable Mentions:

This was a very hard list for me to whittle down, so here's a couple songs I felt bad about leaving off the list.

Sabotage by The Beastie Boys
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Don't Stop Believing by Journey
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith
Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
School's Out by Alice Cooper
Ain't No Rest For the Wicked by Cage the Elephant
It's My Life by Bon Jovi 

#50: White Wedding by Billy Idol: With what may be one of the catchiest choruses ever, and a somewhat upbeat sound, you may never realize that this song actually is fairly sad. Either way, it's a great song from a great artist that I recommend listening to.

#49: Walkin' on the Sun by Smash Mouth: Smash Mouth's song seems to glorify the idea of getting off drugs. There's a real positivity to the song, and its instruments feel very laid back and smooth, something that works to the song's favor

#48: Hound Dog by Elvis Presley: I'll admit that I'm not necessarily the biggest Elvis Presley fan. That said, there's something about the energy that Elvis brings to this song, It's low on the list because there just isn't a lot I have to say about it.

#47: Renegade by Jay-Z & Eminem: Renegade is one of those songs where Jay and Em talk about where they are in pop culture at the time the song came out. Each one works off the other well in the song, sort of saying they are who they are and that they do what they do.

#46: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Marilyn Manson: Before you ask, yes, I do like the original version of the song as well. However, there's a sort of haunting, creepy atmosphere that lurks throughout Marilyn Manson's cover that works for me more than the original.

#45: What's My Age Again by Blink-182: Somehow, this song perfectly captures what it's like to be in that position where you don't really feel quite like an adult yet, but you're definitely not a teenager anymore. There's a mix of realism and humor that just makes the song work.

#44: Down with the Sickness by Disturbed: Alright, this is one of those songs that's really going to divide people. It's certainly not for everyone, and I respect that. However, the chaotic energy, lead singer Dave Draiman's inhuman screech, and some pounding instrumentation make for one of my favorite hard rock songs.

#43: Cleanin' Out My Closet by Eminem: To me, Cleanin' Out My Closet feels like Em is just getting some family issues off his chest that he's been dealing with for a while. It's angry, and the production feels like it's barely on point, which I mean as a compliment to the song on the whole.

#42: Come Together by The Beatles: What can I say about this song that hasn't already been said? The lyrics, singing, delivery, and instruments all work perfectly together, sort of like a well-oiled machine. It's one of the most famous songs by the Beatles, and for good reason.

#41: Undead by Hollywood Undead: Much like Down with the Sickness, this song is not for everyone. The verses are angry. The instruments are loud and energetic. Overall, this is a song that I listen to when I just want to get myself pumped up.     

Favorite Songs: Space Oddity by David Bowie

Favorite Songs: New Divide by Linkin Park

Favorite Songs: Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

Favorite Songs: In The End by Linkin Park

So, this isn't something I'm gonna do all the time, but I figured every now and then I'd share some of my all-time favorite songs.