The finale of this new trilogy is certainly something different
BY: JACOB POLITTE
Managing Editor
2021’s “Halloween Kills” was not what many people expected. Laurie Strode was basically a non-factor in a movie whose franchise centered mostly around her and a film where she receives top billing; Jamie Lee Curtis’ Strode essentially does absolutely nothing but spend time in a hospital room for the entire film. She didn’t even interact with Michael Myers (played by actors James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle) once, except for a phone call in the Extended Cut of the movie released on DVD. It certainly was a choice, and that gamble didn’t pay off. “Halloween Kills” was a very action-packed gorefest, but it was not a good film.
“Halloween Ends” has a lot of work to do to make up for its predecessors shortcomings. Does it?
No.
At the very least, “Halloween Ends” should be commended for taking a few very big risks. It’s certainly a different kind of “Halloween” film. It’s not a bad film, but it’s not what most viewers probably expected or wanted. It’s not really a slasher film at all. It’s more of a psychological horror film, although it absolutely returns to its slasher roots toward the end.
But “Halloween Ends” parallels “Halloween Kills” in one distinct way: instead of a sidelined Laurie Strode, this time there’s very, very little Michael Myers.
There have been tons of “Halloween” movies without Laurie Strode. There’s been exactly one without Michael Myers. Halloween movies don’t typically work well or are as well received without Michael Myers in the center of it all. This movie has Michael Myers in it, but he’s not really the main villain. Four years after the Haddonfield, Illinois massacre in 2018, Michael is living in the sewers of the town, while everyone above him has mostly moved on. Even Laurie Strode herself.
The specter of “The Shape” hangs over Laurie throughout the film, even if she’s doing considerably well moving past the trauma he caused her. Michael is mostly absent, appearing mostly in brief segments and only significantly appearing in the film’s closing act. For a film promoted heavily around the supposed final confrontation between the two leads, the Laurie-Michael showdown is almost a side dish. It’s certainly a very satisfying side dish, and it finally delivers a definitive, stellar end to this latest saga and the franchise as a whole. But it’s basically an epilogue to the movie’s actual plot.
The main story of the film centers around a new character, Corey Cunningham (played by franchise newcomer Rohan Campbell). About a year after the events of the latest two films in this particular “Halloween” continuity, Corey was babysitting a young child when things went terribly wrong. He’s blamed for the child’s death, and Haddonfield shuns him intensely. Laurie, in the process of writing her memoirs and living with her granddaughter Allyson (played by actress Andi Matichak), sees Corey and takes him under her wing. Laurie, much like Corey, has become somewhat of an outcast in the town, as many citizens (including some that Michael violently attacked, but actually somehow didn’t kill) blame her for inciting the 2018 incident.
When romance begins to blossom between Corey and Allyson, Laurie begins to regret her choice, as she senses something off about Corey. She turns out to be right, as following an assault, Corey ventures into the sewers and encounters Michael himself. Michael lets him go, but the encounter leaves an impression on Corey, and Corey progressively becomes more and more like Michael before he completely goes off the deep end.
This Corey Cunningham arc doesn’t make for a bad viewing. It’s actually very entertaining, and Campbell excels in his role. But it’s not “Halloween.” If this movie were called anything other than “Halloween” many more critics may have loved it. It’s not terrible, and again, it has a stellar ending. It also has a soundtrack that elevates the film, because John Carpenter always delivers.
But that ending doesn’t nullify the strange and controversial direction that the story took before arriving at that point. While “Halloween Ends” is a film worthy of a watch, it’s certainly going to be an underwhelming ending for some.
“Halloween Ends” can be seen in theaters, or it can be streamed exclusively on Peacock now for a limited time.
