It’s finally here. The end of an era. It’s the final confrontation between Laurie Strode and “The Shape” Michael Myers and bring a shocking twist.

Laurie Strode has finally found peace with herself. It has been four years since Michael Myers last invaded the town of Haddonfield, Illinois. His last invasion resulted in the death of her daughter, Karen. This left Laurie to find a home and live with her granddaughter Allyson, who is working as a nurse. Laurie has begun to write a memoir about her experiences. As for Allyson, she finally thinks she has found love with local Corey Cunningham, a man who in 2019 was accused and acquitted of killing a nine-year-old boy who died under his care.

Corey has since become the victim of bullying. When he is beaten and thrown over a railing, Corey is dragged into a sewer and the one who did it is none other than Michael Myers, who had been in hiding since his last invasion. Through Corey, Michael is ready to return again to town to begin another killing spree. However, Corey, tired of how he is being treated, is ready to go full killer mode along with Michael. When Laurie realizes Corey’s intentions and even more knowing Michael Myers is back, she must prepare for the final showdown. Who will come out on top?

As they say, all good things come to an end and finally, it is here. We have the final installment of the horror franchise, which after so many sequels was reinvigorated with the 2018 “requel” of the same name with Jamie Lee Curtis returning as Laurie Strode and Nick Castle returning as “The Shape”. While 2021’s Halloween Kills is a mid-way point where Laurie spends most of the film in the hospital after being attacked, this finale goes a route that is more of a mixed bag that has its moments, but also has its flaws.

It is refreshing to see Laurie Strode in a state of calm as she seemingly had decided to find her calling by writing a memoir about her experiences. It seems therapeutic and it’s clear she is trying to overcome all of her experiences as she tries to be a good grandmother to Allyson, played by a returning Andi Matichak. Of course, it’s destined to be short-lived with the return of The Shape and this leads to an internal conflict between the duo due to the new connection of a new character, Corey, played by Rohan Campbell.

This is where I think the problem is. Why go the route of a “follower” where we see Corey, an innocent young man who accidentally caused a kid to die. But he was in the wrong place at the wrong time being mistaken for purposely killing someone in the film’s opening. It was a tease that caused the assumption Michael Myers was back. Soon enough, the film goes the archetype of “bullied teen seeking revenge” route with Corey doing his own take of The Shape going after the bullies who tormented him. In the case of three certain characters, they deserved it, but not one, a sympathetic member of the group. However, altogether, going this route might not have been a totally good idea because in some ways, it took away the Laurie-Michael tension and it even could have teased something that could have hindered rather than put a final stamp to the franchise.

In the end, Halloween Ends is a mixed bag. Jamie Lee Curtis and Andi Matichak continue to show how great they are with their natural chemistry and are the saving grace of the film. The idea of a second killer wasn’t exactly the right move in this case and for a good portion it took away the reason why we wanted to see the franchise in the first place. However, the third act makes up for it and proves a fitting end in a turn of redemption.

WFG RATING: C

A Universal Pictures/Miramax/Blumhouse production in association with Rough House Pictures and Trancas International Films. Director: David Gordon Green. Producers: Malek Akkad, Bill Block, and Jason Blum. Writers: Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, Danny McBride, and David Gordon Green; based on the characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Cinematography: Michael Simmonds. Editing: Timothy Alverson.

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, James Jude Courtney, Rohan Campbell, Kyle Richards, Michael Barbieri, Destony Mone, Joey Harris, Marteen, Rick Moose, Candice Rose, Jack William Marshall.

The film is now available in theaters and streaming on Peacock.