That goes especially for sullen twentysomething Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), who accidentally killed the kid he was babysitting one Halloween-an opening set piece of subverted expectation, effectively slow-played by Green.įor a while, "Halloween Ends " seems oddly, even endearingly willing to luxuriate in a Haddonfield without Michael Myers, as Green indulges his taste for Rust Belt picaresque while constructing an awkwardly sincere melodrama around the survivors of this traumatized Midwest town. (We know she’s in a better headspace because she’s tamed her unruly gray survivalist mane into a flattering dye job.) Unfortunately, the rest of Haddonfield remains haunted-and driven to annual violence-by Michael’s crimes.
Most of Ends takes place several years (and several Shape-less Halloweens) after the events of "Kills." Laurie Strode, played for what you’re perfectly welcome to believe is the last time by Jamie Lee Curtis, has finally moved on from The Night He Came Home and also The Night He Came Home Again, even though Michael is still out there somewhere. (from left) Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Corey (Rohan Campbell) in Halloween Ends, co-written, produced and directed by David Gordon Green.
"Ends " moves even further away from the supposed appeal of the series, stopping just short of removing Michael Myers from the equation entirely-though that could, of course, just be a nod to an earlier third "Halloween." Last year’s middle installment, "Halloween Kills," found the director leaning even more heavily into his incongruous affinity for small-town oddballs, while also straining mightily to make some heavy-handed, who’s-the-real-monster statement about mob mentality. The film was just another unnecessary rehash, albeit one sprinkled with homages to John Carpenter’s most iconic imagery and a counterproductive surplus of comic relief from Green and his unlikely co-writer, moonlighting comedian Danny McBride.Īllyson (Andi Matichak) and Corey (Rohan Campbell) in Halloween Ends Ryan Green/Universal Picturesįor better or worse, no such accusations of adhering strictly to formula can be lobbed at the movies that have rounded out Green’s trilogy, greenlit in the wake of his legacy sequel’s success. Of course, whether the Myers faithful will appreciate his valedictory bloodbath is another story it’s been nestled into a thriller that’s wearied and wearying, if not entirely uninteresting.įor all its one-true-sequel hype, David Gordon Green’s 2018 "Halloween " didn’t come much closer to the elegantly voyeuristic spirit of the original than all the lousy franchise entries it retconned. This is a genuine attempt to close the book on the lifelong grudge match between the babysitter who got away and her persistent, surprisingly spry, seasonally active stalker. No final jolt teases more brutal mayhem next October. There’s nothing open-ended about its ending. So say this, if nothing else, for "Halloween Ends:" It truly wants to keep the promise of its title. Once you’ve somehow survived decapitation, every report of your demise must be considered indefinitely premature. Since when, after all, does a slasher franchise ever actually end? Freddy didn’t stay dead after his "Final Nightmare " any more than Jason stayed buried after his "Final Chapter." And we’ve followed Michael Meyers down this leaf-strewn suburban street of false advertising a couple times before.
Horror fans could be forgiven for taking the title of the new "Halloween" with a whole shaker of salt. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers in Halloween Ends.
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