Director: David Gordon Green

Story By: Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, Danny McBride, and David Gordon Green

Cast: Rohan Campbell, Andi Matichak, Jamie Lee Curtis, and James Jude Courtney

* * *

Yeah, it’s definitely the end…at least for the sequel trilogy it’s connected to. 

* * *

Theme & Story: B

Pacing: A-

Character: C

Overall “Paper” Score: B

* * *

Entertainment Factors

General Public: Interesting Enough

Halloween Franchise Fans: Don’t Rush

Experience Seekers (Gore/Kills & Jump Scares) Don’t Rush

Overall “Viewing Experience” Score: Don’t Rush

* * *

TAKEAWAYS:

1. In what has been stated to be the actual “sequel-end” to the franchise’s 1978 film,  Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield in “rare form,” but so is Laurie, who is in a space of healing and ready to finally put an end to the spirit and man called Michael Myers. This is Halloween Ends.

This is the second Halloween installment that I’ve watched with solid, thematic execution. For me, I watched a film focused on the ways evil spirits can not only cause trauma, but influence the consequences of / ways people respond to that trauma. 👍🏾

The strength of the story for me were the second half of Act Two and all of Act Three which did a good job merging the usual vibe of the Halloween franchise with the core aspect the theme. 👍🏾

Where the story could’ve used a little more push for me was the first half of the film which seemed to force the theme a bit through the community towards Laurie and the main character, as well as Michael Myers’ literal relationship with the theme that came off a little out of the Halloween norm/experimental/taking creative advantage of this last installment. 🤷🏾‍♂️

2. Baby, Rohan Campbell’s lips! My goodness! YES YES YES! 😩😍

3. I always love when Laurie and Micheal come face to face. She is always so ready! 😂

4. Chile… where the hell did that basis for that argument come from at the party? 🤦🏾‍♂️

5. Halloween Ends has a runtime of 101 minutes, and it’s a well paced film. For those looking for that horror/scary movie experience, the pacing might come off a little too slow; but for the sake of story and theme, I found the film to move quite well. My only issue with the pacing is the way the “evil spirit” seemed to take over, which the sequels in this particular trilogy alluded to, but it still was unleashed a little too fast, too obviously, and oddly. 🥴🤷🏾‍♂️

6. Soooo… what’s this? That So Raven? 👀🤦🏾‍♂️

7. The best “kills” took place at the junkyard. 👍🏾

8. The first thought I had in my head about what to do with Michael, they actually did. I was like, YES! That’s the only way to be sure. 👍🏾

9. Whew… that first death… 🫢

10. Rohan Campbell actually did an amazing job in this role. He solidly delivered a character who was awkward, creepy, troubled, and in need of a hug. Thematically, he was a strong embodiment of the ways “evil spirits” can have an influence on traumas. 👍🏾

After so many years in this role, Jamie Lee Curtis’ delivery felt very comfortable and familiar. Similar to her arc in other installments, her paranoid preparation for Michael Myers continued to serve as solid thematic followthrough. 👍🏾

When it came to Andi Matichak’s character, her purpose with the theme also felt forced a bit (to m point #4 that occurs that feels so left field). It was as if writers didn’t quite know how to utilize her, and defaulted to a stereotype in slasher movie packaging. 🤷🏾‍♂️

In terms of Michael Myers, he was Michael Myers. He has one job, and he does his one job…just not as frequently, nor as effectively as he’s done in the past. 👍🏾🤷🏾‍♂️

* * *

Overall #HalloweenEnds gives Netflix’s You – meets Carrie – meets Scream 5 – meets Candyman 2021 – meets Halloween Resurrection.

Sooooo… let me first say that the film is not as bad as social media is making it to be. It’s actually a clearly directed slasher story, with an end in mind and a means to get there. It’s definitely watchable, and being available for streaming was a great call. 

Now…with all that being said…for those die hard and true Michael Myers / Halloween / slasher fans, I don’t think this is the film you’re expecting, and it just might leave you underwhelmed because everything I assume you love about the Halloween franchise doesn’t really take place until the last 3rd of the film. 

There’s almost a “first film” vibe about it, as if introducing Michael Myers for what’s to come even though the ending says otherwise, and this can possibly come off slow and annoying to some viewers. Very much a  #WeveBeenThereAndDoneThat attitude.