Halloween Ends (2022)

Review: written Feb 2023

Killer franchise ends with franchise killer

This final (?) episode in the Halloween trilogy marks a low point in the franchise, and easily the most disappointing in the recent trilogy.

Time has passed and Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has decided to embrace ‘normal’ life and end her obsession with Michael Myers. Myers himself has been quiet since his miraculous escape in Halloween Kills. With her daughter and son-in-law passed away, it’s her granddaughter that now takes her focus, and encouraging her to be normal – including her relationship with town outcast Corey. Corey has his own past he is escaping, as seen in the opening scene with a tragic death – in what might be the only interesting scene in the movie.

Alas things start to turn sinister, and as Laurie writes her autobiography musing on how evil doesn’t disappear but rather changes shape – she becomes increasingly concerned that evil has returned to Haddonfield in a different guise.

The movie just seems to misunderstand the whole appeal of what makes Halloween movies work – it’s not explanation – it’s mystery. It’s not even gore – it’s suspense. Too much time is spent on a subplot of the transfer of evil which ultimately becomes irrelevant by the inevitable final showdown, which is more boring that exciting or suspenseful.

It’s a shame to see this veteran franchise mistreated this way, especially after such a solid state to the reboot trilogy. But ultimately it feels padded with irrelevant characters, and doesn’t have enough of what we expect to see.

I suppose it’s a catch 22 making a film in a long running franchise – should you give more of the same and risk disappointing people looking for something original, or deliver a fresh twist and risk alienating the die-hard fans with inbuilt expectation. Ultimately it feels as if this movie has tried to do both – and failed miserably on both fronts.