The finale of the new ‘Halloween’ trilogy is here – bringing with it a satisfying amount of loose-end-tying. While it trumps its messy predecessor ‘Halloween Kills’, there are still a few things it doesn’t quite get right.
The new ‘Halloween’ trilogy began with a slick slasher in 2018 – a crisp new look at an iconic franchise which, for the most part, fans received well. Its tense finale made way for the writers to continue the story just as well, but they had no such luck. ‘Halloween Kills’ was a messy effort which felt like a rushed attempt to keep ‘Halloween’ fans well fed.
Luckily, ‘Halloween Ends’ cleans up some of the mess of the second film, presenting a much clearer and more linear storyline that never strays too far from itself. New characters and a chilling opening scene lay the groundwork for the film.
Sure, it’s better than what came before it, however, that wouldn’t have taken much. This finale is by no means a cinematic horror triumph, but it has all the hallmarks of one on the surface. The story takes a few genuinely interesting turns, and there's a fair amount of tension and suspense. When it comes to gore, expect a lot – perhaps the most in this new trilogy.
There is also commentary on trauma and the effect a traumatic near-death event can have on a person. Laurie is also positioned as an outcast by her own community, and by some even burdened with the blame for Michael Myers’ actions over the years. This is an interesting conversation, but it’s never really fully explored or fleshed out.
Of course there’s a final showdown between Laurie and Michael, and while there are no spoilers here about the payoff and the end result (you’ll have to watch for yourself), it didn’t necessarily feel like the culmination of an entire franchise coming to a head. But it has to be said – Jamie Lee Curtis is fantastic and this scene in particular is an impressive display of her skillset as an actress.
Michael Myers also remains a terrifyingly stoic killer, but things are a little different for him this time around and that’s noticeable almost straight away. . . For better or worse.
Will Patton as Officer Hawkins and Curtis have some genuinely spellbinding chemistry that is fleshed out a little more here. Rohan Campbell brings new energy and an interesting story arc as Corey Cunningham, though his development as a character feels a little tedious at times.
‘Halloween Ends’ is final enough as a finale, and is a decent end to an iconic franchise especially after the horrors – no pun intended – of ‘Halloween Kills’. But in this era of remakes, revisits and revitalised franchises, it’s genuinely hard to know when a door has fully closed. Will ‘Halloween’ be back? No one knows for sure, but until then, ‘Halloween Ends’ seems to do what it says on the tin.
★★★☆☆
‘Halloween Ends’ is in cinemas now.
