The obvious question about this David Gordon Green trilogy-closer is: trick or treat? If 2018's Halloween was seen as a triumph, and Halloween Kills problematic for some fans, Halloween Ends is likely to prove even more divisive, but as the film that has finally got me back into a cinema post-pandemic and as a decades-long fan of the franchise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is easy to see why the Friday-night-popcorn crowd will not give it much love: for the most part the film uses both Laurie and particularly Michael sparingly (but purposefully), legacy characters that had been re-introduced from the original films get little to do, it does not go full slasher until the (relentless) final act, and occasionally the editing/storytelling feels a little choppy (trimmed in final edit?). However, Halloween Ends needs to be seen in the context and themes of this particular trilogy as a whole, fully embracing its themes of survivors, guilt, community impact of a tragedy and the making of monsters by focusing on a different story four years on from Kills which is then gradually and smartly intertwined with the main familiar narrative. Pleasingly there are times when it is difficult to see where the film is heading as opposed to a typically formulaic genre film, and there are nice nods for fans to films in the Halloween franchise that are non-canon to this trilogy (notably 4, 5 and 7) as well as the original two films. The whole affair is bolstered by a terrific performance from the ever-reliable Jamie Lee Curtis, excellent work from Andi Matichak as Laurie's granddaughter (who arguably has the most interesting character arc in the film) and solid support from Rohan Campbell as key newcomer Corey. Halloween Kills certainly does wrap up this trilogy of films, and David Gordon Green's interesting and sometimes bold choices have shown that with smart storytelling and an investment in character and thematic development it is possible to breathe new life into a seemingly limited genre and franchise. As they say, evil never dies, and a personal preference would be for a contemporary adrenalised reboot of the Myers story along the lines of Snyder's Dawn Of The Dead, but for now Halloween Ends brings fitting closure to the original Laurie/Michael story.
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