The Real Reason “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” Gets Hate – And Why It’s Wrong!
TL;DR
Many horror fans criticize Halloween III: Season of the Witch for not featuring the iconic slasher Michael Myers and for carrying the “Halloween” name despite this. However, this complaint is technically mistaken: the film itself briefly shows Michael on a TV screen, signaling the filmmakers knew what they were doing. The real issue isn’t his absence—it’s expectations.
Why the Complaint Exists
When Halloween III: Season of the Witch hit theatres in 1982, it boldly deviated from the first two entries in the franchise. Instead of Michael Myers rampaging through Haddonfield, the story centers on a sinister mask-maker, a television jingle and an ancient ritual. Wikipedia
As a result, many fans felt cheated by the title—why call it “Halloween III” if Michael wasn’t the villain? The common gripe boiled down to: “Where’s Michael Myers?”
The “Technically Wrong” Twist
Here’s the unexpected twist: the complaint isn’t entirely accurate. According to film coverage, Michael Myers does appear—albeit briefly and on a TV commercial inside the movie. Around 20 minutes into the film, the protagonist sees the final seconds of a promo for the original Halloween featuring Michael descending a staircase.
That means the claim that Michael is completely absent is technically false—the film makes a nod to him. The filmmakers were aware of audience expectations and wove it in subtly.
What Really Went Wrong (But Isn’t “Michael Myers Absent”)
The root of the backlash lies less in Michael’s absence and more in cultural expectation and marketing mismatch:
- Title vs tone mismatch: By branding it “Halloween III”, audiences assumed it would continue the Michael Myers saga. Instead, it pursued anthology-style horror.
- Franchise identity confusion: Viewers wanted a slasher sequel; the film delivered a surreal conspiracy thriller. The surprise didn’t land for many. Wikipedia
- Critical & box-office reception: It opened weakly and holds mixed reviews (e.g., about 49% on Rotten Tomatoes).
- Fan reaction per Reddit etc: “I see quite a lot of hate for this movie, but I really did enjoy it!”
Which shows there are fans who appreciate the oddball nature of the entry.
So the mistake is not that Michael’s missing—it’s that people expected him, didn’t adjust for the shift, and judged the film by the wrong criteria.
Why This Matters for SEO & Content Nerds
- Keyword focus: Words like Halloween III, Michael Myers, complaint, wrong, technically are all relevant.
- Clear problem-solution structure: Identify the myth (complaint) → explain why it’s flawed → show what really happened.
- High-intent audience: Horror fans, franchise followers, film critics—people searching this phrase expect nuance.
- Evergreen angle + trending news tie-in: While the film is old, the article cited is very recent (October 2025) so you tie into freshness.
Final Thoughts
Yes, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a weird outlier in the franchise. But the headline complaint that “Michael Myers isn’t in it” is technically inaccurate. He shows up—if just for a split-second. The real story is one of expectation, marketing and audience mindset. For content creators, this is a goldmine: you can ride the trending topic, clarify a long-standing myth, and offer fresh insight that others might ignore.