Halloween was a genre-defining classic of horror cinema, and was commercially successful enough for Universal Pictures to commission a sequel. What that second film was also profitable, Universal went searching for a third. Rather than bring back the same characters, however, a decision was made to use Halloween III to extend the franchise as a themed anthology: each successive film would tell an original horror story, with them all united simply by being set during the Halloween holiday.

The experiment failed: Halloween III: Season of the Witch made nowhere near the money of the first and second films, leading Universal to abandon the series. A few years later the series was independently relaunched with the original characters back again. Decades later, Halloween is synonymous with masked killer Michael Myers while Season of the Witch languishes in comparative obscurity.

In Halloween III emergency doctor Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins) takes it upon himself to investigate a murder at his hospital. His search unites him with the victim’s daughter, Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin), and leads them both to the small town of Santa Mira – the home of a successful Halloween mask manufacturer.

Halloween III is simply not a good movie. Its storyline is pedestrian and its pace is limp. Its acting is, for the most part, substandard. Its horror elements are not particularly scary. Were it not attached to a previously successful movie brand, it seems unlikely that anybody would have watched it or remembered it at all. Despite these shortfalls it has developed a minor cult following; quite why is anyone’s guess.

The film was originally to be directed by Joe Dante as a follow-up to his 1981 hit The Howling, and featured a screenplay by folk horror expert Nigel Kneale – whose 1972 TV play The Stone Tape remains one of most accomplished works of screen horror ever made. Dante, however, jumped ship for The Twilight Zone: The Movie, while Kneale bailed when it became clear his work was to be rewritten. The final version, written and directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, does feature some elements that feel reminiscent of Kneale’s writing – specifically its blend of technology and folklore – but it all feels diluted and ordinary. It lacks emotional clout, depth of character, and urgency.

Tom Atkins is unconvincing in the lead, and not particularly charismatic. While Stacey Nelkin shows off a little more charisma, she is cursed with a weak character that lacks agency. Really the only actor putting genuine effort into his role is Hollywood stalwart Dan O’Herlihy, who puts a lot of charm and humour into his role as company boss Conal Cochran. He is pretty good. The film is not.

Alan Howarth and John Carpenter contribute a nicely moody electronic score, but that simply is not enough to generate a proper sense of atmosphere. The film even mishandles its own climax, stretching things out insensibly and removing any feeling of urgency or suspense. When Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers hit cinemas six years later, it honestly was not much better – but it at least had Donald Pleasance back as the dogged Dr Loomis. No such luck here: just stifling mediocrity.