Apparently, this will be the last time I get to review a “Halloween” franchise film. That’s right, according to everyone involved with the property from creator John Carpenter to leading lady Jamie Lee-Curtis herself, the saga of Michael Myers is finally being laid to rest. Yeah, much like any horror franchise when they say that, my belief is microscopic. But still, for now it seems that this iteration of the films is done. As I’ve mentioned in a review several years back, I myself, and a majority of other people put quite a lot of importance in how a story wraps up. The longer the story, the more the last chapter of it needs to “wow” us. I can name a dozen beloved series off the top of my head that many viewers think were “ruined” by their last season, (one of which I have a very opposite opinion about which shall not be named.) Why are we so much less forgiving with endings? Is it because we feel like the momentum of any story must reach its climax at this point? Or are we just disappointed if a story doesn’t end exactly the way we always envisioned it. Whatever the reasons may be, it seems that Halloween Ends is no exception to the curse of the ending hatred. I’ve already seen many early audience reviews ripping it apart like so many of Michael’s victims. And to be honest, I’m not entirely sure why.
On Halloween 2019, one year after the events of Halloween and Halloween Kills, a family asks a favor of an engineering student, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), to look after their young son, Jeremy. Jeremy stays up all night with the sole intention of breaking his parents’ rules and to torment Corey, culminating in Jeremy pulling a prank on his babysitter by locking him in the attic. Just as the parents come back from the party, Corey kicks open the door, which accidentally hits Jeremy off the railing and causes him to fall to his death. Three years later, after being cleared of manslaughter, Corey is bullied by the town to which Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) helps him as she knows what it’s like to be disliked by the whole town. She inadvertently introduces him to her granddaughter Allyson Nelson (Andi Matichak), who is also still dealing with the death of her mother from the previous film. Allyson and Corey begin a relationship, while Laurie Strode writes her memoir of her post-Michael Myers life. Little does she know that the evil that’s in Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle) is brewing in Corey, while Michael is planning his triumphant return.
Halloween Ends is the last film in the trilogy of films directed by David Gordon Green, written by Danny McBride and the director, and produced by Jason Blum; which serves as direct sequels to the first film in 1978, ignoring the sequels made in the 80’s and 90s. This film utilizes nearly the exact crew from the first two films of this series which aids in its similar look and tone.
Maybe this is proof that I’m no “true” horror fan, but I actually prefer this type of approach to a slasher film over a mindless bloodbath, ie Halloween Kills. The addition of Corey to the story as a good kid slowly giving into his deepest impulses felt like a breath of fresh air to me, as I approached this movie expecting more of the usual Michael Myers shows up and murders half the town. And while murder he certainly does, it feels almost restrained when compared to the last few entries.
And I think this is precisely the type of thing that would give long time fans a nasty reaction to a supposedly “last” film. The previous film, Halloween Kills, gave us the highest kill count to date, but now we’re ending things by having Michael hide throughout the majority of the movie? And some entirely new character swoops in, and takes attention not only away from Michael, but also from Laurie and her granddaughter? Aren’t these pretty negative elements to have? On paper, yes, I totally agree that it would be disappointing.
Yet, I found myself far more interested in this story than expected. I’ll level with you guys, my main problem with most horror movies out there is their predictability, doubly so if they are part of a large franchise. My favorite horror films are the ones that throw me not cheap jump scares, but stories that really make me think (and also terrify me long afterwards.) Of course I won’t say this one was by any means the most scary horror, or even Halloween out there, but it still had its moments. If anything, this movie felt like a subtle nod to 80’s horror, including much of the color palate. If I had any major complaints about this movie, it could have committed even more to its unique spin on the story.
Somehow, (and I may be the odd person out on this one) but this movie mostly works for me, a little less as a Halloween movie, but more as an interesting horror in its own right. Laurie still has her time to show us ultimately how she’s come to grips with herself and her tumultuous journey with Michael. And even more interesting, we are reminded that Michael Myers may not be a completely unique entity, but rather the horrific end result of a person who loses their humanity entirely. Yes, it lessons his importance in the long run, but it lends to a much scarier notion that true evil can be found anywhere.
