Halloween Ends
Responsible for starting the trend of horror “requels”, Michael Myers and Laurie Strode are back for the final installment in the new trilogy with Halloween Ends. Being referred to as “the final showdown” between the two, Halloween Ends follows final girl Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) dealing with the aftermath of the events in Halloween Ends four years later. While Laurie seems to have finally come to grips with “The Shape”, Allyson is still reeling from the brutal events of four years prior, mainly the death of her mother. As fate would have it, she encounters the troubled town exile, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) who has a checkered past within the town of Haddonfield but seems to be headed down an even darker path. Contrary to popular opinion, last year’s Halloween Kills met my every desire as a fan of the franchise. It delivered on all ends horror enthusiasts would expect from such a film: flashy kills, an over-the-top town mob, campy dialogue, and a palpable atmosphere. Naturally, Halloween Ends was one of my more anticipated films of the year; after all, it’s supposed to be the epic conclusion between Laurie and The Boogeyman. Halloween Ends, unfortunately, ends up being devoid of what makes the rest of the franchise special and an insult to the legacy of Michael Myers.
The film starts off strong with an unsettling chill-inducing cold open. However unflinching and dreadful the opening scene is, it is a false indicator for the rest of the film as it never comes close to that high. The climax scene between Michael and Laurie coming close. It’s unfortunate that Curtis’ last film in the franchise cuts the constant thread that is present throughout all the Halloween films, even those outside the current timeline. Gone are the autumn leaves sweeping the pavement, the ever-present score that invokes both nostalgia and fear, and most importantly, gone is the Michael Myers whose ominous and intimidating presence is felt throughout the entirety of the film, regardless if he’s on or off-screen.
Michael Myers sporting a new “sewer-rot” look in Halloween Kills
You would think that for the last entry of a beloved franchise, the writers would have enough respect for the audience to assume that they would have watched the previous films. However, after the cold open, we are introduced to Laurie with a narration that breaks the golden rule of screenwriting: “show, don’t tell”. Through a cringe-inducing recap montage of the previous films and two more misplaced montages later on in the film, the filmmakers are insulting the fans who have supported the franchise over the years. On top of the spoonfeeding and over-narration, the screenplay is bereft of any pacing or direction. For a good hour, the idea of a plot was basically non-existent. I was genuinely confused about how the film was claiming to be a Halloween film as Michael appears for about a total of 15 minutes. What the film does with him, or rather the concept of Michael Myers is baffling and disparaging to the icon that catapulted slasher flicks to mainstream status.
Despite a sloppy screenplay, the lead actors all deliver great performances. Unsurprisingly, Jamie Lee Curtis comfortably steps back into the role that started it all. It’s apparent that playing Laurie is second nature to her at this point. Beaming with strength in the face of all obstacles and equipped with one-liners that will have fans cheering, Curtis plays Laurie with the send-off she deserves. At the very least, the writers are able to provide the final girl with a conclusion that feels earned and deserved for the character. Although her motivations were murky for Allyson, Andi Matichak approaches the role with empathy and steps up to the plate with the more demanding scenes. As for her love interest, Corey, Rohan Campbell took me by surprise, having never seen him in any prior role. The range of emotions required to play Corey was quite expansive and Campbell withstands the highs and lows of his character's arc. Going from awkward yet endearing to seething with rage throughout the film and never wavering in authenticity.
Michael and Laurie in their final (and only) face-off in the film.
A major issue many had with Halloween Kills was how on the nose it handled its themes of evil ravaging a community. Although it teeters towards being heavy-handed at the end, how Halloween Ends incorporates its themes of love, dealing with the consequences of our actions, trauma, and even the public’s relationship with high-profile cases is much more nuanced than its predecessor’s. As for the climax, the film offers some notable kills, particularly one involving a radio show host. But unfortunately, all are stuffed in the third act and occur one after the other, robbing the eventful moments of the time they deserve.
It pains me that the conclusion of horror’s long-standing scream queen boils down to a 10-minute fight scene. These taut, anxiety-inducing 10 minutes are arguably the only part worth watching in this film along with the opening scene. A cathartic finale and a gripping cold open in this whopping two-hour-long film are not enough to save it from its insanely deep trenches and in the end, Halloween Ends left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Leaving me mourning for what could’ve been.
Final Verdict: The final installment in the new trilogy attempts to reinvent the wheel and sacrifices what makes the series special in doing so, making Halloween Ends a Nick Skip.