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Sunday, October 23, 2022

31 DAYS OF HORROR 2022 - Day 23: HALLOWEEN ENDS (2022)

 

To be 100% blunt, this one is impossible to discuss without spoiling everything, but as it's the latest and allegedly last of the long-in-the-tooth HALLOWEEN franchise, there was no way I could not at least mention it while it's fresh in theaters.

Taking place five years after the events of 2021's regrettable HALLOWEEN KILLS, Michael Meyers is presumed dead but his baleful influence over the town of Haddonfield remains in place as the inhabitants cope with the aftermath of his rampage. But with Michael out of the way, where does one take the franchise? Instead, the focus shifts to Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), an aspiring engineering student whose Halloween night of babysitting results in a tragic accident that derails the course of his life. Meanwhile, series perennial Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis)  has made a stable life for herself after existing under the emotionally and psychologically crippling state generated by being Michael's perpetual target, sharing a house with her grand-daughter Allyson (Andi Matichak). The paths of Corey, Laurie, and Allyson collide as Corey, now a pariah in the town, finally snaps under the abuse by an assortment of bullies (and his own smothering mother), and things turn homicidal...

I don't mean to gyp my readers by not elaborating further, but what follows is best experienced cold. I will, however, note that I enjoyed the film for having the balls to take things in a new direction, resulting in what I consider to be the best in the series since the landmark 1978 original. Your mileage may vary, but I urge you to give it a chance. It would be nice if the studio sticks with the very final ending that the film gives us, but the series has already been completely rebooted a few times, so who knows what may come in its wake...

Poster for the theatrical and streaming release.

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