We started off with 2018’s HALLOWEEN, which surprised a lot of fans and critics by being an actually good reboot for a change (an incredibly rare feat, especially in horror). Then, after much delay (due to Covid), we got HALLOWEEN KILLS, which seemed to be split among fans. I personally liked it to some extent, despite there being a lack of story. Now, this new trilogy finally comes to a much-anticipated end, specifically between Michael and Laurie, leaving the question—was the wait and final showdown between the two worth it? Sadly, the short answer is a resounding NO! At least, in my personal opinion, but first let's get down to the story...

The movie takes place after the events of HALLOWEEN KILLS, where after having killed Laurie’s daughter Michael retreats to the cozy confines of the local sewers (as one does after a mass murder). New neighbor to a crazy homeless man, we’re to assume Michael spends the next four years practicing his stabbing techniques while living off rats. Meanwhile, despite everything that has occurred in the past two films, Laurie has decided to FINALLY move on from Michael and his zany ways and now bakes pumpkin pies in her new home (and still in Haddonfield for some reason) with her granddaughter Allyson (keep in mind Michael is still out there going about his business).

Though Michael may be missing, his evil has somehow resonated among the townspeople, turning a lot of'em into physically and verbally abusive assholes, especially the kids from the high school marching band (no joke), who bullies a grown man named Corey until he finds himself in the hospital. While there he meets Allyson, who tends to his wounds and immediately falls for him, resulting in us viewers spending the next hour with this rushed and bizarre relationship.

It’s also during this time that we get a lot of character development on our new lead Corey, and why he is the way he is, which all started with one fatal accident years prior. This incident results in the derailment of his once hopeful life, which he now spends as a dirty mechanic that still lives with his obsessive mother. Naturally we get the occasional kill here and there to break up the monotony, but they’re really far and few between, as the filmmakers rather have the movie focus more on Corey and Allyson. On the topic of the kills: sadly, not only are they lacking, but so is the gore (with the exception of a few deaths).

The filmmakers decided to pointlessly bring back Kyle Richards as Lindsey, only to have her barely say any lines in the few short scenes that she’s in. Will Patton also returns as Frank, who is now a bumbling romantic that attempts to flirt with Laurie while grocery shopping and that’s about the extent of his role. During all this, you may be wondering where the hell is Michael? Well good question, because I often asked that exact thing while watching the movie.

It’s not until the third act that things really pick up and we brush through quite a few quick deaths till we reach the final battle between Laurie and Michael, which didn’t quite go down as expected, nor last as long. Honestly, until towards the end of the film it really didn’t feel like a HALLOWEEN movie. Considering how certain key elements played out, it could’ve easily been a completely different movie all together.

Now I’m not entirely opposed to change, especially if the filmmakers try to surprise their audience by attempting something different, but “something different” is not what we needed to end this new trilogy. In my opinion, the trilogy started a certain way and should’ve ended a certain way and not venture into this new territory out of nowhere.