HALLOWEEN ENDS (2022) REVIEW


ENDING ON A “BOOGEYMAN” WHIMPER

In 2018, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions released the horror slasher film Halloween, the eleventh installment in the Halloween series and the direct sequel to the original 1978 feature. Directed by David Gordon Green, the film, which starred Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Andi Matichak, is sets 40 years after the events of the first film and follows Laurie Strode, who post-traumatic encounter with Michael Meyers has left her paranoid of the masked man return, while her estranged daughter and granddaughter prepare for Halloween festivities as Michael escapes from captivity and runs amok on a murdering killing spree; prompting Laurie to take up arms / action against the Haddonfield “boogeyman” once again. 2018’s Halloween was received well by both fans and critics with mostly positive reviews, with many praising Curtis’s performance, Green’s direction, the score, and the kills, with a “return to basics” mantra that had alluded most of the Halloween sequels over the years. The film itself went onto to make roughly $255 million at the box office worldwide, becoming the highest grossing Halloween movie in the franchise as well as the highest horror slasher movie in the genre. With the idea for a planned new trilogy and with the success that this particular gained, Universal Studios / Blumhouse greenlit the next entry in Green’s new Halloween endeavor, with Halloween Kills being released in 2021. The movie continues immediately after the events of 2018’s Halloween, further exploring Meyer’s ruthlessness and violent killing spree on the citizens of Haddonfield as well as further testing the Strode family clan. While released both in theaters and on Peacock streaming service platform, Halloween Kills received mixed reviews from critics and moviegoers alike with the project receiving lower profits ($131 million) at the box office. Now, a year after the release of Halloween Kills, evil returns to Haddonfield and prepares to do battle with Laurie Strode for one final showdown in the film Halloween Ends. Does this last entry in Green’s trilogy gets a satisfying send off for Michael and Laure or does it end on a befuddling and weak final chapter in this new Halloween saga.

THE STORY

In 2019, Corey (Rohan Campbell), a young adult man with great prospect for the future, is on a babysitting assignment for one Jeremy Allen (Jaxon Goldenberg), an obnoxious kid from a wealthy family, on Halloween night. The experience proves to be deadly, with the boy locking Corey in a room, forcing the guardian to break the door down, yet not realizing the child is right behind it, watching him fall to his death. In 2022, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is trying to find solace within the darkness of her past; processing her experiences with Michael Myers by writing a book, hoping to bring some type of emotional closure as she rebuilds her life with her granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak), who’s struggling with feelings of loneliness. Witnessing the cruel treatment of Corey by local bullies, Laurie hopes to play matchmaker, bring the wayward man to meet Allyson, with the pair instantly hitting it off. Their relationship is challenged by the pressures of infamy, and when Corey is once again ridiculed by Haddonfield troublemakers, he makes an unexpected contact with Michael Myers, who’s been in hiding for several years in the sewers beneath the town. The initial contact with Haddonfield’s “boogeyman” shakes Corey, yet something begins to happen to the young man, which Laurie immediately recognizes and fears for what may come for Allyson and for the people in town.

Returning to the director’s chair is David Gordon Green, whose previous directorial works include the past two Halloween movies (2018’s Halloween and 2021’s Halloween Kills) as well as several TV episodes such as Vice Principals and Eastbound & Down. Given his familiarity by directing the previous two films, Gordon’s returning to helm this particular Halloween sequel seems like suitable / logical choice, with the director approaching the material with knowledge of how to stage / execute such a horror endeavor for the modern age. Despite the film’s missteps in a few areas (more on that below), Green’s approach to this third and final outing of his Halloween trilogy does add a few more wrinkles into the narrative development. For starters, Green continues the narrative thread of the surviving members of Strode family and how they must move forward in their lives, despite the tragedy that has befallen them. Given the amount of attention that is received by having more of a stronger narrative story in Green’s Halloween movies than the previous iterations of this iconic slasher flick, it goes without saying Halloween Ends continues that trend by having a bit more grounded story to tell and focuses on characters rather just the common place “hack and slash”. This is further personified in the new character of Corey Cunningham, with the film’s opening sequences being dedicated to introducing him as well as the dark stigma that follows him throughout the feature. This is sort of a “give and take” in Halloween Ends as it’s probably an interesting aspect to fully examine yet becomes a bit trouble in its execution as the story unfolds.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Something old, something new arises once again in the town of Haddonfield as evil returns as Laurie Strode’s old nemesis resurfaces for one final confrontation in the movie Halloween Ends. Director David Gordon Green’s latest film returns to the narrative that began back in 2018; establishing what was presented in the previous two films and coming to its ending with this picture of masked serial killer and the struggles of several individuals who are entangled in “The Shape’s” terror. Unfortunately, despite the movie having a good presentation, several good character-built moments, a continuative thread of examining the nature of evil, the film struggles to find a proper balance, especially in throwing a curve ball in its narrative structure, a lame twist, clunky dialogue, a lack of the main villain, and underwhelming screen time (and development) for several characters to the franchise. Personally, I was bit disappointed in this movie. Yes, the movies thematical elements about evil is still quite intriguing and that the final confrontation between Michael and Laurie is thrilling (as well as few other nuances), but the movie still feels unbalanced and could’ve been so much more than what was presented. I still do like this particular trilogy much better than the other Halloween sequels, with a more “back to basics” essential of what made Carpenter’s classic a classic, but what started out great and exciting in 2018 has faded, becoming more of a slog. Thus, my recommendation for this movie is a sad “skip it” as the movie doesn’t really offer much beyond the film’s final twenty minutes. Of course, the future of the Halloween franchise still remains elusive with any type of possibilities, including a spin-off continuation or remakes of sorts. It’s hard to say, but I personally don’t think one would be great. In the end, Halloween Ends does what it sets out to do by given the long-awaited Michael Meyers / Laurie Strode saga of blood, violence, and death an ending, but fails to deliver a satisfying final outing for this narrative, making this new trilogy starting off with a “horror-filled” bang and ending on a “boogeyman” whimper.

Halloween Ends  is 111 minutes long and is rated R for language, sexual situations, and violence, and gore