MOVIE REVIEW – A deeply disappointing conclusion to the new Halloween trilogy, the third part of which, Halloween Ends, feels more like an epilogue-sequel than a full-fledged third part, so tired, forced and unimaginative are the events it offers to the fan who sits through it.

Michael Myers, the mad killer of the Halloween films, is sometimes referred to as the Shape, which pretty much says it all. In his purest form, he is a menacing, silent, masked figure who comes out of the darkness on Halloween night to slaughter young women if possible, and of course anyone else who is available.

Ever since John Carpenter’s original Halloween was released in 1978, various sequels and reboots have tried to give Michael a definite motivation and backstory, but somehow never succeeded. Despite the failures, Myers keeps coming back: although the latest chapter in the saga may be titled Halloween Ends, the producers have admitted that it is unlikely to be the last film.

It’s time to “retire”.

Michael Myers has been terrorizing the sleepy town of Haddonfield, Illinois for four decades now, and it is time for him and the Halloween series to take a break. With Halloween Comes to an End, we’re promised that his surreal rampage will indeed come to an end. However, it is safe to say that the long-running franchise is coming to a completely unexpected end; whether that is good or bad remains to be seen, or rather heard.

It’s been four years since the blood-soaked events of Murder on Halloween, and eternal survivor Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) finally seems to be able to rest, including the slaughter of her daughter Karen (Judy Greer). She’s writing her memoir, flirting awkwardly (and somewhat adorably) with fellow survivor Frank Hawkins (Will Patton), and mingling with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak), who has also found purpose in her life through a hopeful career as a nurse. Her only “interesting” choice is in men – but we’ll come back to that.

Love is in the air

It is ironic about Allyon’s love life that it is Laurie who introduces her to the town outcast, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) – a reserved young man whose introductory and (by all accounts…) tragic scene in the film sets the stage for Green’s unusual narrative journey. A fundamentally, initially benevolent boy entrusted with the care of a young child, the latter’s innocent prank leads to a brutal accident that brands Corey a child murderer.

Corey escapes a serious prison sentence, but tries to stay in the background in the town so as not to be aggressed by the locals – in a somewhat illogical way, by the way. Laurie, who knows well what it’s like to be demonized, having experienced just that because of her standoff with Myers. She sees the ‘good’ in the young man and plays Cupid rather forcibly, hoping that his lost soul will be found by the open Allyson.

The Shape in a bad shape

Are you still here? Is this seriously a Halloween movie???? So much going on and Myers is nowhere to be found??? Fair questions, dear reader! That’s one of the film’s biggest problems: 45 rather dull and poorly written minutes of Corey, Allyson and Laurie fussing and fussing over their love lives, and we don’t even see The Shadow. I don’t want to spoil anything, but when we do see it, there’s not much to be thankful for… The film relies so heavily on the above three characters that Michael Myers is practically a supporting character in the final chord of the horror trilogy about him. Of course, I suppose it’s no big secret that he does show up sooner or later and occasionally reaper, but his kills are nothing like the previous two films, or any Halloween film for that matter.

One or two positives

There are some very good things in the film, but we only find out about them in the final scene, when Myers finally gets into action – and not because of him. Corey is an interesting character, after all, and Rohan Campbell plays him well, but unfortunately the script treats him a little roughly.

Jaime Lee Curtis also shows that she really is a great actress and squeezes the maximum out of her character Laurie Strode. As mistreated as she was in the previous trilogy, this is a rewarding film for Tony Curtis’ daughter.

Unfortunately, she is not spared by the immense stupidity of the script: there is not the slightest shadow of logic or coherent thought in her actions towards the end of the film, as there is in the case of her grandson or Corey. Myers is in fact only an “assistant” to these three characters – a huge blunder on the part of the screenwriters.

Let’s hope it truly „Ends”

Halloween Ends is the title, and I can only hope it will end indeed after the press screening. Sadly, the third part of the trilogy, which was a disappointment overall and ended strangely, has not given me much appetite to watch any more Halloween films. This franchise has been really sucked dry in every sense of the word. It’s about time it was finally left alone after the 12th film.

-BadSector-