Synopsis: The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode comes to a spine-chilling climax in this final installment of this trilogy.
Director: David Gordon Green
Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Kyle Richards, Andi Matichak
In 2018 at the Toronto International Film Festival the Halloween film franchise was rebooted…again. It was well received. I was in Vancouver last October when Halloween Kills was released. I went to see it opening night thinking, this is going to be good. It wasn’t. Not at all. But I knew it was a trilogy. Now the second film in a trilogy is always a challenge. Unless the films name is The Empire Strikes Back, the second installment is always a bit of a tricky one.
Coming into this third and final chapter I approached this film with a heightened level of skepticism mainly because of my disappointment from the sophomore film. This is called Halloween Ends but this is a franchise that has over 10 entries in the series. There have been multiple reboots and since this is Hollywood if this film is successful or at least moderately so expect another series in a few years. But let’s cross that bridge when we get to it.
Regarding this film Jamie Lee Curtis is back as Laurie Strode. I love this character. When we think of series like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street we usually think of the villains, Jason and Freddy Krueger respectively. When it comes to Halloween how can you not think of Laurie? She is a bad ass of the highest of levels. She should have her own costume for Halloween. Of course, Michael Myers is the villain that strikes terror into the souls of the residents of Haddonfield but it’s her fearless protagonist that makes these last few films stand out. The character is so well developed not just in these three films but from the previous ones. She knows the threat Myers possesses and has taken every precaution to prepare herself.
Regarding whether you must have seen the previous two films to make it through this one, the answer is no, but it doesn’t hurt. The film does a fine job of catching up newcomers to the third film
This film introduces a new character, Corey, played by Rohan Campbell. Corey is dealing with something that happened in his past in Haddonfield and is something of an outcast. He is having trouble fitting in but catches the eye of Allyson, Laurie’s granddaughter. Laurie is instantly attracted to Corey and has no problem letting him know that. Clearly confidence runs in the family. The two embark on a cute courtship. They both have their insecurities but seem to forget that when they are in each others company.
One of the aspects of this film that I appreciated is that Gordon Green takes his time developing the supporting cast. We get to know them, and the film isn’t simply Myers walking around killing people. I found with the second film there was no real investment in the cast outside of the leads. Not the case here.
Now it’s sometime before Michael Myers is appears in the film, it is after all the end of October. (Seriously, what does he do in the summer?) His delayed appearance is a testament to the character development. In The Dark Knight Rises it was sometime before Batman appeared and I can make a strong argument for why that was the best film in the series.
When Myers does show up, I didn’t have an ‘t’s about time feeling as opposed to a you’re in trouble now mentality as he went after his first victim. He is still after all a menacing killer, but the entire weight of the film isn’t on the shoulders of Myers or Laurie. We have teenage bullies, annoying co-workers, persistent police officers, rambling homeless people, just to name a few.
One characteristic in this film that needs to be recognized is the score. John Carpenter’s eerie theme haunts the screen in this film and not only is it a throw back to the different films in the series, but it reminds us that stuff is about to go down.
One of the final scenes in the film may have mixed reactions. And while it would be easy for me to criticize it, in this universe I will give it a pass. I don’t think I can be more vague but I also wont be accused of spoiling anything. I think the film completes the series, or at least this iteration of it very well.
This film is obviously perfectly suited for this time of year, but it also has a great mix of jump scares and horror. We know what we are getting with Michael Myers and that doesn’t disappoint but it’s the addition of other characters that puts this ahead of the previous film. There will be many films that will be looking to scare you during this time of year, and while it’s a personal preference on whether that will happen, this film will entertain.
Grade: B
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