Warning! SPOILERS for Halloween EndsAs the final film in David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy, Halloween Ends makes the controversial decision to focus more on Allyson Nelson (Andi Matichak) than on Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). Although Halloween Ends' climax depicts the final showdown in the decade-spanning conflict between Laurie Strode and serial killer Michael Myers, much of the film's first two acts details the relationship between Laurie's granddaughter, Allyson, and newcomer to the series, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell). Laurie Strode being sidelined in the main narrative is not a new occurrence for the Halloween franchise: Laurie spent much of Halloween Kills, and the now non-canon Halloween II, hospitalized after the events of the preceding film. Halloween Ends, the last movie in the franchise at the moment, continues the trend of David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy exploring the effect that Michael Myers has on Haddonfield as a community, largely through Allyson and Corey rather than just Laurie Strode.
Halloween Ends makes Allyson's story just as important to the overall narrative as Laurie's. She is the driving force of the film, largely through her burgeoning relationship with Corey Cunningham, who unbeknownst to her, slowly comes under the evil influence of Michael Myers. Her character also demonstrates the effect that Michael Myers has had on Haddonfield, as a community, for generations. Alongside Corey, Allyson represents Halloween Ends' theme of passing on the torch.
Why Allyson's Story Was Just As Important As Laurie's In Halloween Ends
One of the thematic through lines of Green's Halloween reboot trilogy that Halloween Ends especially explores is the generational trauma that Michael Myers inflicts on Haddonfield. This theme is most evidently examined through the character of Allyson, as she not only is the granddaughter of one of the survivors of Michael Myers' initial killing spree, but she also has trauma of her own through the loss of both of her parents to The Shape in the preceding two Halloween films. Allyson's trauma puts her in a different emotional place than her grandmother. After the loss of her daughter and son-in-law, despite doing everything she could think of to protect them from Michael Myers, Laurie wants to move on in Halloween Ends, while Allyson is still deeply affected by the loss of her parents and her boyfriend Cameron.
Laurie wishes for Allyson to move on as well, as she attempts to help her in a number of ways, such as moving into a new house with her, encouraging her to go to a Halloween costume party, and setting her up with Corey. Allyson's relationship with Corey is one of the central pillars of Halloween Ends. Like Allyson, Corey bears a deep trauma, due both to the accidental death of a child he was babysitting and Haddonfield treating him as a pariah for the three years since. It is due to their shared experiences as outcasts that the two bond and the rest of the events of the film unfold as they do.
Green's Halloween Trilogy Was Always More Than Laurie
David Gordon Green's Halloween reboot trilogy has always been about more than just the effect that Michael has had on Laurie. As a whole, the films are more interested in how he has affected the entire Haddonfield community through his violent killing sprees. Halloween (2018) explores how Laurie's trauma has affected her family, and Halloween Kills specifically examines the inadequacy of mob justice and how hatred can infect a community. Halloween Ends continues these thematic through lines to explore how fear affects a community long after the initial violence. Allyson's role here is just as important as Laurie's, as the two characters represent a dichotomy in how they deal with their trauma: Laurie wants to make up for lost time with those she has left, while Allyson wants to help others through her job as a nurse and close relationship to her grandmother. In Halloween Ends, Allyson is still debilitated by fear while Laurie tries to ignore it.
The role that Haddonfield plays as a community can also be seen in the aftermath of Laurie's fight with Michael. The death of Michael Myers does not just occur in private to allow Laurie and Allyson to move on, the entire surviving community comes together to dispose of Michael Myers' body for good. David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy emphasizes over and over again that it is not just about Laurie Strode, it is about Haddonfield as a whole.
Halloween Ends Continued The Passing Of The Torch Theme
Halloween Ends continues the passing of the torch theme present in the whole trilogy. Allyson firstly inherited Laurie's role as final girl in Halloween (2018). In Halloween Ends, Allyson's initial character reflects Laurie's from Halloween (2018) through her noticeably withdrawn and traumatized personality, until she meets Corey. Corey, himself, has the role of the boogeyman passed to him twice. Firstly, through his treatment by Haddonfield following his role in the death of a child and secondly, by Michael Myers himself, when he steals the mask and begins his own killing spree. Laurie and Michael's relationship is reflected in Allyson and Corey's. Laurie, in this continuity, only knows Michael as a serial killer and the embodiment of evil, whereas Allyson knows everything about Corey except for the homicidal effect that Michael Myers has had on him. Halloween Ends continues the trend of David Gordon Green's trilogy examining the effect that Michael Myers has on Haddonfield by focusing more on Allyson than Laurie Strode for much of its runtime.