This sequel goes for the kill, but misses the target.
How is Michael Myers able to survive the fire at the end of the previous “Halloween” entry? Three things: 1: We didn’t see his carcass. 2. Horror movie icons are supposed to survive so they can make a franchise. 3. Firemen picked the wrong house to put the fire out. Or could there be a 4th option? That maybe he’s transcended from a human child to an inhuman monster. That’s the set-up for “Halloween Kills,” or that was supposed to be the set-up, which turns out to be some kind of a plot twist. We’re getting a “Halloween Ends” next year, so of course Michael Myers is going to survive this movie.
Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as Laurie Strode, along with Judy Greer as her cynical daughter Karen, and Andi Matichak as her strong-willed granddaughter Allyson. Laurie is in the hospital, and she tries to leave to confront Michael (Nick Castle and James Jude Courtney), but to no avail. She’s given less to do in this sequel.
On the side, Will Patton and Thomas Mann both play Officer Hawkins in two time periods, who accidentally shoots his partner, who was being strangled by Michael. He regrets letting the killer live, but Laurie tries to comfort him with her theories of how Michael is deathless.
Anthony Michael Hall plays Tommy, the little boy Laurie babysat in the original movie. Now he’s grown up to dedicate a speech about Michael’s victims and survivors at a local bar. When word gets out about the Boogeyman’s rampage, he organizes groups of people to fight back. Against her mother’s wishes, Allyson joins the fight. I did a video chat with Hall, who mentioned his involvement with this sequel, and I think he does a good job playing a kid who grows up to be a fighter.
But Michael is so resilient that when he hijacks a car, and finds a shooter, he opens the car door so she can accidentally shoot herself. Matter of fact, nobody can survive this monster.
“Halloween Kills” was once again co-written and directed by David Gordon Green, co-written by Danny McBride, and produced by Jason Blum and John Carpenter (the genius behind the franchise). They’re all able to provide the killer in various lights, and they have the supporting characters provide some likable moments.
The best looking scene is when Michael escapes from the burning house. The way he holds a fireman’s ax and walks out with the water dripping makes that scene look intense.
And there are a few comic relief characters, who apparently have to die. One set in particular are two Gay Johns-Big John (Scott MacArthur) and Little John (Michael McDonald)-both of whom have to deal with bratty trick-or-treaters who pull a “Candyman” prank on them. Which one? The razor blade in the candy trick.
But the problem with “Halloween Ends” is how misleading the concept gets. It cuts back on the Laurie character, and has all the fighters going crazy in the local hospital, where they chase the wrong lunatic, while the real Michael Myers is back at his childhood home.
And as always in a horror movie, characters have to make one stupid mistake after another. All the firemen had to learn the hard way, Allyson’s friend Cameron (Dylan Arnold) had to learn the hard way, and many others learn the hard way. I know this is the part where you criticize me for giving away the story, but come on, you know Michael Myers is going to be the survivor if they’re releasing a “Halloween Ends” next year.
After a screening of this movie, I was talking with my friend about how the Boogeyman should die. We both agreed they should chop his head off. Years ago, I used to think they should throw his body in a volcano, but that’s not ideal since he would kill his transporters. If they were in the “Star Wars” universe, they would probably put him in carbonite. But what the Hell am I talking about? I’m supposed to live in the real world.
In Theaters and Streaming on Peacock
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