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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
Halloween Ends will go down forever as one of the most divisive horror films of all time, and of the entire franchise. It’s on par with Rob Zombie’s 2009 sequel Halloween II, 1982’s Halloween III: Season of the Witch and even 1995’s Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.
Minor spoilers to follow.
Background on Halloween Ends
Like Halloween Kills, Ends was delayed several times due to COVID, but it seems many of those delayed films are finally finished, beginning a new slate of theatre releases. While not much of the passing four years after Michael’s 2018 rampage was revealed, the filmmakers addressed COVID in the characters’ lines, which was a cool catch. One, by Lindsey Wallace (Kyle Richards) also foreshadowed Laurie’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Allyson’s (Andi Matichak) respective places after this film’s events.
Director David Gordon Green has given us the best possible outcome we could have asked for in Halloween Ends. His writing team of Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, Danny McBride, and himself, present some very interesting ideas on screen. Unfortunately, as per usual, the studio did what it does, and you can tell when the interference eats the plot whole and spits it back out again. Although, somehow it all works out for better or for worse.
John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter & Daniel Davies have also given us the best score of this trilogy, which is actually surprising. In addition to that, the title sequence font is taken from Halloween III: Season of the Witch, which was yet another shoutout by the filmmakers of this trilogy to that film.
Continuation of David Gordon Green’s Story
In Halloween (2018), there was a shot of three children wearing costumes with masks present throughout Season of the Witch. Then, in last year’s Kills, we got the masks again on the bodies of some of Michael’s victims that had been rearranged.
Halloween Ends also continues the minor character continuation, which is fairly neat. Sondra (Diva Tyler) from 2018 and Kills actually survived Michael’s rampage, however at the cost of basically her life. She’s cared for by her sister (Leila Wilson). Laurie walks out of a grocery store and the sister goes off on Laurie about 2018’s events.
Ends also does a good job of reminding us of the terror felt throughout the town even four years later. The opening of this film takes place during Halloween Day 2019 and then jumps to 2022, and one thing is for sure: people have been dying even without The Shape’s knife. The fear remains and Haddonfield will not let go. Laurie’s narration also seems to serve as a reminder, along with the fact that she’s been writing a memoir.
These minute details should keep the most eager engaged, and should at least fulfill something for someone. However, these are among the best details of the film and help everything come full circle by the end. There are also several times when a twist in the plot is revealed and it goes in a completely opposite direction. There are bold takes here. The kills are not necessarily as wild and on the fly as Halloween Kills‘s kills were. Although there’s a blowtorch used in this one, which is gnarly as hell. Michael isn’t really out but for one person, everyone else is just in his way this time. He doesn’t necessarily straight-up kill, but he does need to in this film. One scene shows how it heals him, which is great, as he is also still feeling the effects from 2018.
Halloween Ends: What is “The Shape” Really?
The overarching theme of how evil takes shape is ever present throughout the whole runtime, and by the end, it actually hits the nail on the head. The ways in which we move on after tragedy are also heavy in Halloween Ends, and sometimes, that means the closure is necessary. The closure aspect is definitely given here and the Final Girl proves her point once again too. It seems that evil can also affect those willing to let it in the most, but the real monster might be more than what’s at the surface level. There’s always more behind the mask.
The Cast of Halloween Ends
The cast does a fantastic job with the material they’re provided with. Jamie Lee Curtis, James Jude Courtney, and Nick Castle lead the cast once again. Their final outings as Laurie Strode and The Shape/Michael Myers are, perhaps, all at their best. The fight choreography seems more intense and demanding, which works out well for their final confrontation, but the sequence could have played out for maybe five more minutes.
Andi Matichak’s role is more expanded this time around and her mini love story with Rohan Campbell has nice hints of Romeo & Juliet or Bonnie & Clyde. Allyson Nelson is just more enjoyable than in the last two films. Campbell’s Corey Cunningham is quite the compelling character, and will probably become one of the series’ most discussed characters in time. Co-stars Will Patton, Kyle Richards, Michael O’Leary, Michele Dawson, and Omar Dorsey are welcoming, especially the returners. However, characters Corey, Allyson, Laurie, and Michael are given front-page treatment, which is probably why the plot moves quicker than it seems in parts.
Final Touches
David Gordon Green does some of his best work here as well. The camera remains eerie nearly the whole time and when required goes around many of the actors slowly, but surprisingly in the best ways. Until the final moments between The Shape and Laurie, everything feels grim and shallow.
The editing is probably the best of the entire series this time around. Tim Alverson does a superb job at mashing everything together and bringing the scene back to its center when the story seeks to remind us that this is the “end” between Michael and Laurie’s story.
There are several times Ends calls back to the 1978 original film, and if nothing else, the story wants you to take away that this is the final time you’ll see Laurie and Michael on screen together. Well, at least played by Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle anyway. Keen fans could also catch a line or two that could only be written by someone like Danny McBride, which helps me to appreciate the writing a bit more.
Final Thoughts on Halloween Ends
Despite what many will inevitably say, I believe this is a satisfying conclusion to DGG’s trilogy. I’m looking forward to what he will tackle with the reboot/sequel of The Exorcist, as the outcome will probably be similar to what we got with this trilogy of Halloween films. The filmmakers presented bold ideas that need a little more, but what we got works well enough. Laurie and Michael’s finale is a crazed one, with a slightly convoluted story giving several twists. Although, hopefully, even those who disagree, yet are diehard Halloween fans, should appreciate the final product. Even so, this one will probably be much more divisive than anything we have gotten prior, but I really enjoyed it, more than I even expected. Kudos to DGG & Co.
5/5 stars.
Halloween Ends is now playing in theatres everywhere and will stream simultaneously for sixty days on the Peacock streaming service.
What did you think of the finale between The Shape and Laurie? For more horror reviews all October (and year-round) keep it here with The Cinema Spot!
Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.