(Photo courtesy of Slash Film) “”Halloween Ends” hits theaters and the paid tier of Peacock on October 14.”
Steven O’Hara
Connector Editor
Michael Myers returns in the upcoming installment of the “Halloween” franchise, “Halloween Ends.” Set to premiere in theaters and stream simultaneously on paid tiers of Peacock on October 14, 2022, this highly anticipated sequel is expected to be the final face-off between the immortal slasher and his deadly foe, Laurie Strode. The “Halloween” series has seen many transformations since the release of the first movie in 1978, “Halloween”. This franchise has undergone multiple timelines over the past three decades, with different directors giving their own divisive spin on the story of Michael Myers. There are currently 12 movies out in the entire series, which together creates a skewed family tree that branches off from the original installment.
The following two movies are the direct lineage of John Carpenter’s famously produced film: “Halloween II” follows Laurie Strode right after the events of the first movie, while “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” doesn’t involve Michael Myers but is still involved canonically in the series. “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” and “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” follow the events of the second movie and were made without Carpenter. In these, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield, but with the intention of destroying the last of his connection to Laurie Strode by targeting her daughter, Jamie Lloyd. “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” revolves around Myers’ new target, Jamie’s new-born child. This movie brings the slasher’s origin to light with an occult twist, focusing on a family history of witchcraft and sacrifice. This movie ends the first timeline of the Halloween franchise in 1995. Three years later in 1998, a new version of the story is reborn.
“Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later” branches directly from “Halloween II” and ignores the events from the other movies past it. We follow Laurie Strode, under a new identity, with her 18-year-old son as they are hunted down by Michael Myers at a Northern Californian private school. “Halloween: Resurrection” comes next, expanding on the series with a newer plot that follows a cast and crew in a reality show being filmed at the Myers residence, which the main slasher certainly does not appreciate.
In 2007, the next movie was released with the same name as the original, but with an entirely new timeline. “Halloween”, directed by Rob Zombie, alters the story of Michael Myers and his family and brings a new gory twist to the series. “Halloween II,” once again directed by Rob Zombie and released in 2009, is a direct sequel to Zombie’s first film, picking up directly after it. This movie, however, is quintessential Rob Zombie with its flashy scenes, gore and existential nihilism that truly makes these two movies a standout from the rest.
The latest reboot yet again continues directly from the original “Halloween.” Released as “Halloween” in 2018, it follows Laurie Strode, a recluse in the town of Haddonfield as she prepares to wage war against her life-long enemy, Michael Myers, who has once again escaped his sanitarium. This addition to the lineage is the highest grossing film to date and a favorite for many, introducing new characters and a Myers more reminiscent of the first time he was introduced in 1978. “Halloween Kills” is the sequel to this movie, released in 2021, directly following the ambiguous conclusion of the previous film, making the audience wonder if the infamous serial killer had truly bit the dust. Surprise, he did not. This rendition follows the so-called ‘survivors of Michael Myers’ who decide to rally against the dark forces that have casted a heavy cloud over their town and take back their sense of peace once and for all. This movie was very disappointing, as Laurie Strode was incapacitated for the entire duration, and characters were made unintelligent for the sake of plot progression, to greater lengths than what audiences are used to seeing in a slasher. One of the more redeeming qualities of the film was its gore and interesting premise, even if the execution left much to be desired.
Now approaching is the release of “Halloween Ends,” which is assumed to be the conclusion of this branch in the “Halloween” timeline and should solidify the value of this latest trilogy in the franchise. It follows Laurie Strode and her granddaughter, Allyson, as they face off against the man that has changed their lives forever in a final night of reckoning- set, of course, on the night of Halloween. Slated to be released this month in movie theaters across the nation, one can only hope that this movie will trump the last and give everyone an awesome send off to Laurie Strode and Michael Myers once and for all.
