Season Of The Witch

I spent yesterday evening watching one of my favourite Halloween movies, Halloween 3 : Season Of The Witch. I first saw it when I was eight or nine years old and loved it.

Back then horror films were my favourite genre of movie. It started when I was staying in Germany and my cousin and I watched the first two A Nightmare On Elm Street movies and then were allowed to see the third part in the cinema over there when it was first released. I must have only been eight when I went to see the eighteen certified film but as long as I was with an adult we were allowed to view it.

When I got back to Wales I began taping horror film upon horror film on late night television. Much to my parents annoyance as they would ensure there wasn't too much gore or naked flesh in it before I was allowed to watch them.

Halloween 3 became a cult classic in the third year of junior school. I think almost all the boys managed to record it when it was on BBC in the days leading up to Halloween 1988.

And then I grew up.

Horror films and Freddy Krueger were replaced by professional wrestling and Hulk Hogan as the in thing.

A few years ago I was surfing through an online DVD store and stumbled upon Halloween 3. It was in the bargain page priced at £3.99 so I thought I would buy it for old time's sake.

The DVD took a place in my collection. I didn't give myself any time to watch it as other things became important to me. I always said I would watch it one day yet never got around to doing so.

Then a few days ago I looked up at the row of DVDs and thought that it would be a good idea to watch it on Halloween night. The court case was looming and I figured it would be something to look forward to after the events of the day.

I ended up disappointed.

The film didn't have as much magic or excitement as it did a little under twenty years ago. The effects were dated, the acting was unbearable and certain scenes at the end were what you would have expected from a horror movie.

The only redeeming thing about it was the musical score being just as haunting as the real Halloween film and sequels (Michael Myers is not in this film as they went with a completely different story).

If there is anything to be learnt from this trip down memory lane it is sometimes best to keep your childhood memories as they are because when you go back to it you'll end up let down.