Dir. David Gordon Green | Now Streaming On: Prime | Rating: 4/5

I never saw a need to review the huge franchises on here like NOES, FT13th or Halloween, since they serve as cruxes of the genre. But causing havoc with my controversial opinions is what I do best – so I couldn’t let Halloween Ends slip by.

After seeing the trash fire that was Halloween Kills, I had no desire to watch Ends. In my humble opinion, Kills is the weakest installment of the franchise and presents like a cash grab. Maybe because I disliked Kills so much, it set me up to really enjoy Ends since it stands as a stark contrast to its predecessor in pacing, writing, and style.

Ends elevates our subject matter in a way the franchise hasn’t done in the past. It tackles the way different people respond to life altering trauma through Laurie, Allyson, Corey, and the people of Haddonfield. One group tries to push through the pain and find strength in the aftermath of Michael’s torment and the other wants revenge no matter the cost – and sometimes vice versa. I really had no idea what direction they were going with this film, so this dissection of a heavier topic, rather than just stabbing and screaming, was a win in my book.

I understand why this is so divisive. It’s a long film that focuses on almost everything except Michael for the bulk of it. It also goes against the grain of the slasher genre by stopping to comment on the carnage, rather than putting it on display as the focal point. If you’re a true slasher fan, especially one who is here to watch Michael slaughter people, this isn’t what you’re going to expect. But with that said, I feel like this adds a realistic and passive wind down to the story of Laurie Strode.

In terms of an actual “end” to the franchise, I highly doubt this franchise will ever die – so I don’t consider this the end of Michael Myers, but instead of the era of Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, which is of course something to mourn in its own right.

Know Before You Watch: Features death, gore, blood, flashing lights.