DIRECTOR: David Gordon-Green
PRODUCERS: Malek Akkad & Bill Block & Jason Blum WRITERS: David Gordon-Green & Danny McBride & Chris Bernier & Paul Brad Logan
PERFORMERS: Jamie Lee Curtis Will Patton Andi Matichak Rohan Campbell Kyle Richards Jessie C. Boyd and James Jude-Courtney
Halloween has been a huge part of pop culture for the last several decades. The franchise has thrilled us and entertained us in more than one way. Now, after the successful 40th anniversary reboot and the follow-up from last year, things almost seemed like Michael Myers would go out with a bang (or does he). Here, in what seems to be the final chapter of the updated saga, is rather a question of is this where it all ends or not?
Halloween Ends is the long-awaited last entry to the long running franchise. Set five years after the events of the last entry, The Shape takes form once again and reemerges from the shadows. But something almost feels missing here. In a subplot involving a past incident and a character seen as the bad guy, this entry almost deviates from the original plot as set up in the 2018 entry. The concept of the subplot seemed nearly interesting but was completely unnecessary to include. Who had ever heard of Michael Myers trying to seduce someone into his evil nature?
Unlike the last two, this one nearly feels as wrong than as right. Whatever direction David Gordon-Green tried to take this one into was rather different than the others. This was called Halloween Ends for a reason, wasn't it? The only plot element enjoyable was the light and darkness aspect as Matichak's character falls for the main man and even tries to change him while he endures ridicule and bullying for his past crime. In a way, this was like a throwback to Star Wars, where the main character in the prequels is seduced to the devil's ways while struggling to remain in the light. All it takes is one person to keep you on track, but when you fall off the deep end, there's no turning back.
This was more dramatic than horror, more tragic than gratifying and less epic than expected for many reasons. Probably because someone felt it shouldn't end here. For some, the Michael Myers saga ended with the 1998 entry Halloween H20, given it's premise and 20th anniversary significance. But of course, things didn't turn out that way. Not sure if this is the final round we had all hoped for or just another excuse for us to turn up for. While the climax was certainly breathtaking, the rest of the film was rather disappointing. The performances, however, were flawless... Jamie Lee Curtis being the main exception. Without her, this whole thing would never have worked. Seems just like yesterday when she was a young actress making her debut in what would become her biggest role to date! And here she still is... over 40 years later.
To sum things up, Halloween Ends may seem like a good time, but isn't the final curtain call as anticipated. One can only hope how the future of this franchise will turn out given the way this turned out to be. Is this really the end or something else? With Jason Vorhees and Freddy Kruger already in retirement, the time for Michael Myers to retire has also come and this is not what was originally envisioned. If we're lucky, there may be a Director's Cut of the film where we get a different storyline with a different ending showing the real final curtain call that we deserved. All in all, satisfying but disappointing on every level. If this was how it was intended, then this should have had a different title like Halloween 2022 or something of that nature. Because it definitely didn't feel like the end!
MY RATING: 2 1/2 out of 5