For a while after watching Halloween Ends, I wasn’t really sure how I felt. But on reflection, I can truly say I admired what it was going for, even if the rest of the fan base is split down the middle. David Gordon Green has written and directed a satisfying, interesting and emotional movie, one which I think is a decent ending for the current saga in this franchise.
Halloween Ends picks up four years after the events of H(2018) and Kills. Laurie is trying to move on with life after the death of her daughter (and half of Haddonfield) during Michael’s last rampage. Jamie Lee Curtis is absolutely phenomenal as Laurie. She portrays her as willing to move on, yet simultaneously holding onto the past because she knows Michael is still out there. Returning cast members such as Andi Matchak (Allyson), Will Patton (Officer Hawkins) and James Jude Courtney (Michael) once again give solid performances. They give this movie the heart it needs to succeed.
However, the biggest commendation must go to newcomer Rohan Campbell who plays the mysterious and complex Corey Cunningham. Without giving away too much, he is our anchor of this story. He provides us with the insight that Michael’s evil has left the residents of Haddonfield scarred. Campbell is great in the role and I only wish he’d been introduced in Kills so that his arc didn’t feel rushed.
The plot for this movie is definitely a divisive one, with David Gordon Green and Danny McBride writing the script they felt the story needed, not necessarily one fans were clamouring for. This movie is not a 2 hour knife fight between Laurie and ‘The Shape’ . Instead it is a look into Laurie’s trauma and how she is trying to move on with her life. The forty years of preparation didn’t save her or her family from Michael. We see her attempts at trying to reconcile a life she refused to have, whilst remaining the cautious, stoic survivor we know she is.
This film is not about Laurie and is instead about the aforementioned Corey, who after being accused of a terrible crime, must try and make sense of what is happening. I’ve purposely left this description vague, and whether you like this direction or not is completely up to you, but I do admire the writers for not opting for the easy crowd pleaser plot and instead writing the story they wanted to tell. If this is the ending of the series, I think it’s done really well. It is definitive in a way that ends this saga yet leaves the door ajar for the potential of more films.
On the other hand, I am critical of the marketing and expectation set by the filmmakers leading up to this film. Every piece of promotional material showed a heavy showdown between Strode and Michael. Yet, watching the movie, this is relegated to a small portion of the last 25 minutes. Although I understand the creatives trying to leave some element of surprise, it feels disingenuous and misleading. I think if they had been more honest about the content of the film, the reaction from the public may have been more positive.
Overall, I am a big fan of Halloween Ends. It is interesting, dynamic and does have a satisfying conclusion. I admire this film for doing something different and potentially unpopular. Ultimately though, I appreciated the movie more than I loved it. So when taking into consideration the misleading marketing and the relegation of Laurie and Michael’s stories, this isn’t a universal recommendation to those looking for a Laurie led slasher.
3.5/5