Character Spotlight- Dr. Dan Challis- Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

 **This post contains spoilers**

Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin) needs help to solve the mystery behind her father, Harry’s (Al Berry) death. The police? A private investigator? Maybe a detective? What about a divorced doctor with two kids? After a chance encounter with Harry at the hospital, and the discovery of one of the many infamous Silver Shamrock Halloween masks, Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins) takes an impromptu trip to the quiet town of Santa Mira with Ellie.

Dan’s helping Ellie find closure and answers for her father’s murder. He’s trying to stop Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy), the evil mastermind behind Silver Shamrock, before the big giveaway happens, hopefully saving the lives of unsuspecting children. Surely he’s a good guy, right? 

Dan’s story is a bit unusual. He’s a doctor, so you could say he likes helping people. But Dan has a noticeably icy and strained relationship with his ex-wife, Linda (Nancy Kyes). Another big problem? Dan has a bad habit of breaking promises to spend time with his son, Willie (Joshua Miller) and his daughter, Bella (Michelle Walker). Towards the end, Dan actually had a good excuse. He was being held captive by Cochran and his army of androids, and Dan was trying to stop a nationwide sacrifice. Still, that’s the only legitimate excuse for Dan’s unfortunate streak of carelessness. 

Dan is a ladies’ man! The coroner’s assistant, Teddy (Wendy Wessberg), playful flirting with Nurse Agnes (Maidie Norman), and his fling with Ellie in Santa Mira. Dan, in spite of all his faults, has a laid-back personality and a knack for smooth talking at the right moments. And let’s not forget, he is a doctor. Dan is a seemingly irresistible Casanova, but on the other side of that, it’s easy to take a guess that infidelity might’ve played a role in his divorce from Linda.

Is Dan a screwup? Sure, he’s a bit selfish. He lied about going to Santa Mira with Ellie, but Dan Challis is not a mean-spirited person. You always get the feeling his heart is in the right place, but he just can’t get out of his own way. One self-induced mistake after another, because Dan would’ve been able to take his kids trick-or-treating, if he never went to Santa Mira with Ellie. 

Tom Atkins brings a likable and cool everyman charm to Dan. It’s almost impossible to not laugh at this guy. His ex-wife hates him. He’s not spending time with his kids, so what does Dan decide to do? He runs off to a town that he’s never been to, with a woman, who’s at least half his age and a six pack of beer. 

Dan is not your typical hero, but he’s a scrappy and resourceful fighter, who won’t quit. He outsmarted Cochran, defeated his androids, and Dan is responsible for destroying the factory. And Dan managed to survive an attack from the android version of Ellie, Cochran’s final curveball. 

It’s ironic how Dan’s irresponsible decisions weirdly leads to him possibly saving everyone from Cochran’s evil scheme. His actions angered Linda, he neglected his kids, and you could say he’s responsible for Teddy’s death. But Dan still puts his life on the line to fight Cochran. 

A man who benefited from a series of lucky breaks, Dan Challis also endures a number of setbacks. Android Ellie, and Dan pleading with the networks to remove (“STOP IIIIIIIITTTT!!”) the Silver Shamrock jingle commercial. Did Dan succeed in stopping the final commercial? We’ll never know for sure, but it doesn’t hurt to believe in the possibility that Dan was able to pull off one last Hail Mary. 

Character Spotlight- Conal Cochran- Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Conal Cochran (Dan O’ Herlihy), a savvy Irish gentleman, the proprietor of Silver Shamrock Novelties, and the savior of a small town named Santa Mira. A toymaker, the master of gags, practical jokes, and Halloween masks, Cochran is seemingly a charming businessman with a big heart. Rafferty (Michael Currie), the hotel manager and one of Cochran’s loyal subordinates, adores Cochran, praising him as a benevolent icon. The big secret? Cochran is an evil mastermind, who’s planning to use Silver Shamrock masks to carry out brutal ritual human sacrifices targeting children.

No underboss. Nobody to claim the title of the right hand man or woman. Conal Cochran is the unquestioned decision maker. He’s the final boss, so it’s easy to understand why Cochran uses androids as his enforcers, an efficient hit squad obeying his orders. 

Cochran, a sharp and obsessive control freak, demands unwavering loyalty. The wiretapped phones, the surveillance cameras, the curfews, and the androids. He’s not going to take any chances trusting flawed humans. No debates, no arguments, and no committees. Need an example? Starker (Jonathan Terry), a “local boy,” was bitter about Cochran denying him a job at the factory. Starker loudly vented about his plans to burn down the factory and eliminate Cochran. Big mistake, because Cochran obviously ordered two of his androids to kill Strarker moments after his rant. 

Cochran mastered the art of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Buddy Kupfer (Ralph Strait), his wife, Betty (Jadeen Barbor), and his son, Little Buddy (Brad Schacter) believed they were about to watch a harmless commercial. Buddy was ready to take notes, and Little Buddy was excited to be the first kid to participate in the big giveaway! The bad news here is, it was all a setup, or a “demonstration” for Cochran to test his deadly Halloween masks. Little Buddy was a guinea pig, suffering a brutal death via his new pumpkin Halloween mask.

That’s what makes Cochran so dangerous. He lures you in with his charisma and his endearing personality. You believe he’s a trustworthy and kind old man, but there’s an insidious monster waiting for the right moment to strike underneath his welcoming persona. Just think about that sinister smile, as Cochran watched Buddy and his family suffer. He enjoyed every second of it, and you could say Cochran had a strong sense of pride knowing his masks actually worked.

Dan O’ Herlihy does a wonderful job of quickly switching gears as Cochran. The aftermath of the “misfire” scene and Marge Guttman’s (Garn Stephens) death sticks out. When Cochran arrives, he’s upbeat and reassuring about Marge’s condition. Of course, it’s all lies. Notice how Cochran’s demeanor changes, when he turns his back and wants to know what happened to Marge. You can hear the tone of his voice change. He’s angry, disappointed, and you can tell Conal Cochran is not the kind of man, who tolerates mistakes, loose ends, or any cracks in the foundation. 

The scene, where Cochran explains why he’s doing what he’s doing is another good one. Listen to the rumbly tone in O’ Herlihy’s voice. It’s sick, but he’s serious about completing his mission. Cochran is disgusted by the reality of Halloween being reduced to children begging for candy, because for Cochran, Halloween has a deeper meaning and a bigger purpose. 

Cochran is unstoppable! Or is he? Cochran is a calculating and cerebral villain. His greatest adversary? Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins)! Cochran, a thinking man, was always one step ahead of Dan and Ellie (Stacey Nelkin). Cochran knew they were lying about being a married couple, and he knew Dan wouldn’t leave the factory without trying to save Ellie. That’s why there’s an android version of Ellie, conveniently waiting for Dan to rescue her. No locked doors, no security protocols, no android guards outside her door. It was almost too easy to rescue “Ellie,” and Dan took the bait. 

Cochran is smart, so what happened? His ego got the best of him. Showing Dan the demise of The Kupfer Family was a big mistake. Dan learned how to use the Silver Shamrock emblems against Cochran and his cronies, because he watched how everything unfolded step by step. 

Taking a few steps back, Cochran could’ve easily ordered the androids to kill Dan, when he snuck into the factory. Dan’s immediate execution would’ve saved Cochran a lot of trouble. Instead, Cochran was more concerned with gloating and celebrating. Ellie (the android version), his plan b or the ace up his sleeve, didn’t stop Dan from warning the networks about his plans.

Cochran realizes he’s been defeated, but something strange happens. Cochran looks up at Dan, smiles, and he gives Challis a final round of applause before his demise. Why? I’ve always believed Cochran was able to respect and admire Dan’s gritty and persistent efforts. Cochran never believed Dan could’ve pulled it off. He was bested by someone, who didn’t stand a chance. Dan, the unlikely and lucky hero, with a fighting spirit, and you could say Cochran graciously accepted his defeat, while acknowledging Dan’s victory. 

But let’s not forget about the final channel playing the dangerous Silver Shamrock jingle commercial. Did Dan really win in the end? Maybe it was a case of too little, too late? We don’t know if the network pulled the last commercial. There’s a chance that Cochran, the ultimate devious prankster, succeeded. You always want to believe everything worked out for the best. The big feel good happy ending, but you simply can’t underestimate Conal Cochran, whether he’s alive or dead. 

Character Spotlight- Megan Garris- Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

**This post contains spoilers**

Jason Voorhees is back from the dead! Jason kills Tommy Jarvis’ (Thom Mathews) friend, Allen Hawes (Ron Palillo). Determined to protect the peace in the quiet town of Forest Green, Sheriff Mike Garris (David Kagen) and his trusted Deputy, Rick (Vincent Guastaferro) dismiss Tommy’s pleas for help to stop a resurrected Jason, as ramblings from a delusional nutcase. Sheriff Garris forces Tommy to leave Forest Green, and when that doesn’t work, Sheriff Garris locks him inside a holding cell. Tommy needs an ally to stop Jason, and there’s only one person, who’s willing to help: Sheriff Garris’ daughter, Megan (Jennifer Cooke)!

If you’re going to take the dangerous risk of confronting Jason, you need someone fearless and bold, and Megan might be a little bit crazy. Think about how Tommy sternly warned Megan to stay away from the campsite before the final showdown with Jason. She didn’t flinch at all. Sheriff Garris’ stern warnings and demands to stay away from Tommy? Not enough to stop her. 

The high-speed car chase was the first sign of loyalty from Megan, and let’s not forget Tommy would’ve been stuck in the holding cell, if Megan didn’t grab Deputy Rick’s gun. Megan was dedicated to helping Tommy, and the fact that she noticeably has a crush on him also helps. 

Megan is bratty, but in a playful way, and she has a sharp sense of humor. Megan’s cool, and it’s not just the orange ‘77 Camaro that she drives. Jennifer Cooke brings natural charisma and a magnetic presence to Megan. The scene, where Megan holds Deputy Rick at gunpoint with his new mail order laser scope is one of my favorites. Rick tells her she shouldn’t clown around. Megan’s response? “I’m not the one with the funny red nose.”

A true daredevil, and she can be reckless, but Megan also has a big heart. She showed compassion for Tommy, when no one else wanted to. Megan cares about her friends, Cort (Tom Fridely), Sissy (Renee Jones), Paula (Kerry Noonan), and she protected the kids at the campsite. 

Big contributions from Megan. She saved Tommy’s life, and with some help from the propellers on the boat’s motor and Tommy’s trap, Megan put a stop to another one of Jason’s killing sprees. 

Tommy and Megan are both unhinged in their own ways. Together, they’re the kind of duo you need to fight Jason Voorhees, and there’s no denying Megan Garris is a memorable Friday The 13th character. Megan, the dynamo blonde, with a fierce appetite for danger and adventure, powered by Jennifer Cooke’s enjoyable and electric performance. A camp counselor, the Sheriff’s daughter, Tommy Jarvis’ love interest, and she battled Jason Voorhees? That’s one hell of a résumé for a horror heroine! 

Character Spotlight- Rodger- Night Of The Demons (1988)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Hull House is crawling with demons! Run, hide, or fight? Well, panic is Rodger’s (Alvin Alexis) first reaction to everything that happens inside and outside of Hull House. If he can’t run from danger, Rodger will do his best to find the best or any available hiding spots, hoping to wait it out until sunrise. 

Suzanne (Linnea Quigley), Sal (William Gallo), Stooge (Hal Havins), Jay (Lance Fenton), Frannie (Jill Terashita), and Max (Philip Tanzini) were all more concerned with partying and sex. Judy (Cathy Podewell) and Helen (Allison Barron)? They knew something was wrong. And Helen actually saw the demon in the mirror.

Rodger? He warned everyone about the dangers of Frannie’s suggested past life séance. Rodger, the son of a preacher, knows playing around with supernatural evil forces is a bad idea. Notice how seriously Rodger approaches everything compared to everyone else. When Angela (Amelia Kinkade) starts the past life séance, Rodger is the only one, who turns his back to the mirror. He didn’t want to take ANY chances of getting caught up in the madness. 

Rodger, with a justifiably nervous Helen, tried to leave Hull House before anyone else. Sure, Sal eventually realized something was off after Angela’s dance and a bizarre encounter with Suzanne, but it’s a case of too little, too late. 

Is Rodger a coward? He did break Judy’s fall from the roof, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that he bailed on her more than once, when the duo was cornered by demons. The scene in the crematorium? Judy is pushing to escape, to quickly find a way out. Rodger wants to sit and pray, and he’s too scared to make a move.

It’s easy to wag the finger of shame at Rodger. Judy and Sal constantly try to motivate and reassure Rodger, but nothing clicks. He still panics, leading to one conclusion: Rodger is a chicken, who’s only concerned with saving himself. Or maybe he’s not? Imagine this, you’re basically trapped inside a creepy and abandoned funeral home. Your best friends are possessed by demons, and they’re all trying to kill you. On top of all that, you only have a slim chance of making it out alive, IF you can outrun and possibly outsmart Angela and her entire crew until sunrise.

That’s A LOT to deal with, so staying calm, or trying to be the brave hero isn’t so easy. For years, he was an annoying character for me, but if you really pay attention, there’s some strong realism for Rodger’s mindset throughout the movie. He’s reacting and responding how almost anyone would, if they were being chased and hunted by demons. 

Alvin Alexis delivers a convincing performance. You can believe Rodger is genuinely scared. Alexis plays a guy, who’s ready to jump out of his own skin, but Rodger also does whatever it takes to survive, including jumping through a window. Alexis’ performance is also good for a few laughs. Rodger’s outbursts are hilarious, ripping on Stooge, and some chuckles for Rodger bolting at the first signs of trouble. 

It’s also ironic how Rodger winds up being the hero to save Judy (“Climb, girl climb!”) during the finale. Yes, Rodger hesitated. He almost ran away, but he found just enough courage to come back and rescue Judy. You can say a lot about Rodger. He’s a wuss, a chicken, or you could say he’s selfish. Still, what’s important about the ending to his story? The one thing Helen, Stooge, Max, Jay, Frannie, Sal, and Suzanne couldn’t do? Rodger survived. 

Character Spotlight- Temptress- Def By Temptation

 **This post contains spoilers**

There’s a beautiful woman sitting at the end of the bar. She’s charming, and her magnetic presence draws you in for more. Sounds like a perfect scenario for a night out on the town? No problems, right? Well, there’s a big problem, because she’s actually a succubus.

Temptress (Cynthia Bond) is a powerful demon, a monster with many supernatural powers. Her deadliest weapon? Lust. A married man named Norman (Rony Clanton)? A shameless womanizing bartender (John Canada Terrell)? Temptress knows how to pick her targets. Dangling the possibility of sex is more than enough bait to lure naive and unsuspecting men to their deaths, tempting forbidden fruit that’s rotten to the core.

You can also point to a big conundrum about Temptress’ character. Is she an antihero? Let’s face it, some of the men she targets aren’t exactly model citizens. The bartender clearly has no problem going after women, who are already in relationships. On top of that, he’s pushing for one of the women in his rotation to get an abortion.

Norman? Maybe he’s a guy, who’s played it too safe in life? He wants to step outside of his comfort zone, and have some fun, but he’s still a married men. Temptress leaving Norman with scars that’ll never heal, while also giving him AIDS? Of course, you could say that’s going too far for brutal punishment, but Norman would’ve been safe, if he never made the decision to cheat on his wife.

If you want to go on the more cruel side of Temptress’ rampage, it’s hard to imagine justifying Johnathan’s (Michael Rivera) unfortunate ending. Temptress baited Johnathan, a gay man, with the idea of sex being “much better” with a woman. Sure, maybe Johnathan is a bit full of himself, but that doesn’t mean he deserved to be mauled to death. 

Temptress is seemingly unstoppable, until she runs into a young minister in training named Joel (James Bond III). He’s the last of a dying breed. The last man in his bloodline, who has what it takes to stop Temptress. The elaborate holy water plan involving Joel’s longtime best friend, K (Kadeem Hardison), Dougy (Bill Nunn), and the second bartender spectacularly failed. 

The succubus was destroyed by a soft-spoken ordinary guy, a cross, and his faith. Pure evil was defeated by a genuinely earnest and good man, who was motivated by his loving grandmother (Minnie Gentry) and the memories of his dead father, Minister Garth (Samuel L. Jackson). In the end, Temptress’ obsession with conquering her only true obstacle was her undoing.

Temptress has the long golden nails, the snazzy all black outfits (with the exception of the “lady in red” scene), and there’s no denying Cynthia Bond brings a commanding presence to Temptress with a confident performance. Bond also shows some noticeable enthusiasm for the home stretch of the movie, during Temptress’ more cheesy and zany over the top scenes. 

Temptress could’ve easily killed Joel and his grandmother. What happened? Temptress’ ego got in the way. It’s another classic case of an all powerful villain lowering their guard just enough to give the unlikely hero an opening for a miraculous comeback. Joel was able to put a stop to a lengthy and gruesome reign of terror, because Temptress couldn’t help herself, and she celebrated an incomplete victory too soon.

Character Spotlight- Detective Ray Cameron- Night Of The Creeps

**This post contains spoilers**

Three college kids, and a surly wisecracking detective? Not exactly the kind of group you’d expect to save the world from an alien invasion. Chris (Jason Lively), his best friend, J.C. (Steve Marshall), and Cynthia (Jill Whitlow) are outnumbered and outmatched by the invading horde of alien slugs. There’s only one man, who’s bold and crazy enough to help them: Detective Ray Cameron.

Ray doesn’t fit the mold for a hero, but that’s also what makes him a unique character. He’s a burnt-out detective, who drives an old cherry top police car in the 1980’s, a rebel, with a snappy sense of humor who plays by his own rules. His trusted sidekick? A twelve gauge shotgun.

Ray is a fiery veteran, but he’s haunted by the one that got away. In the 1950’s, Ray found the love of his life, Pam (Alice Cadogan) in pieces, after she was killed by an axe wielding maniac. To make matters worse, Pam had already moved on with another man.

The scene, where Ray tells Chris the story about how he took matters into his own hands to kill The Maniac? That’s the scene, where you truly start to understand Ray Cameron. Sure, Ray has a short temper. He’s crass and he’s a loose cannon, but we’re talking about a hopeless romantic with a broken heart. Remember, Ray was ready to commit suicide before Chris showed up at his doorstep asking for help.

It’s also easy to see why Ray feels sympathy for Chris, and why he decided to help him in the end. Ray understands what it feels like to be in love at a young age. He knows Chris deeply cares about Cynthia. Decades after Pam’s murder, Ray is still fantasizing about sitting on a beach, while Pam slowly rises up from the water. And what did Ray use as motivation for a shot of adrenaline, when he was surrounded by the infected horde, facing certain death? Pam’s picture at the sorority house. 

Thrill me! A simple catchphrase, and they’re two words that perfectly describe Ray. Honestly, you can make a best of list featuring Ray’s quotes and one-liners (“It’s Miller time!”) throughout the movie. Nicknaming Chris and J.T. Spanky (Chris) and Alfalfa (J.T.), threatening Walt (Dick Miller), because Ray doesn’t have a requisition form for the flamethrower, or tearing into the other cops at the cryogenics lab. Ray Cameron finds a way to deliver some great bits of comedy, as a grouchy and irritated old man. 

Ray Cameron is a memorable character, if you’re a fan of 80’s horror movies. Tom Atkins truly brings his best for Night Of The Creeps. Effortlessly chewing the scenery, there’s no denying Atkins is the true star of the cast. 

It’s also ironic how Ray was depressed, how he didn’t want to be bothered about anything, and he simply wanted to give up on life. But in the end, Ray is the hero. 

The final wink and the smile for Chris before Ray starts the countdown to blow up the sorority house really works as a weird full circle moment. Facing that big, nasty hive of alien slugs, Ray was ready to do what he had to do. Through wild and unusual circumstances, Ray Cameron found peace again, and it’s truly a fitting ending for him, when you consider Ray’s fearless approach to life.

Coming Attractions- The Strangers: Chapter 2

 

Director- Renny Harlin

Cast- Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez

Release Date- Currently unknown

The Strangers: Chapter 1 just never clicked for me. Chapter 1 was mostly a weird and plodding retread of the 2008 film. The typical slasher cliches were a bit too on the nose to the point, where everything almost resembled a horror parody film. Hopefully, they really push the story forward for something different in Chapter 2, that’ll manage to build some kind of hype, or excitement before Chapter 3 drops.

Going by the trailer, Chapter 2 is going to pick up where Chapter 1 ended. I guess it’s an okay teaser? Maya (Madelaine Petsch) deciding to get into the car? Why would she blindly trust complete strangers after everything that happened in Chapter 1? On the positive side, there’s a good mysterious vibe here. You’re not entirely sure where the story is going, or who’s available to possibly help Maya fight The Strangers.