Warning: Major Spoilers For Halloween Ends BelowHalloween Ends' treatment of Michael Myers has been controversial among the franchise's fanbase, with one scene featuring the slasher's most embarrassing moment since Halloween: Resurrection. There are few horror movies as perfectly formed as the original Halloween. Despite being filmed on a tiny budget and a short schedule, director John Carpenter's horror classic is a blueprint for how to make scary movies. It also kicked off the Halloween franchise, which with the release of Halloween Ends, has run for 13 movies thus far.
Halloween Ends took a bold step with the series, by introducing a new protagonist in Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), who becomes a Michael Myers copycat. It also pushes Michael to the sidelines for much of the story, which reveals the killer has been hiding out in Haddonfield's sewers. In one pivotal scene, Corey decides to steal Michael's mask, beating up the slasher and taking his prized visage. While effectively displaying how far Corey has fallen, the fact he so easily defeats the once unstoppable "Shape" is somewhat embarrassing. It also recalls his infamous defeat by Busta Rhymes in 2002's Resurrection, which was a previous nadir for Michael.
Halloween: Resurrection Is STILL The Worst Sequel
While devotees of the Halloween franchise debate which sequel is the best, Halloween: Resurrection is commonly considered the worst. This saw a reality TV series exploring Michael's house - only for the missing killer to give them a not-so-warm welcome. Resurrection - which shot FOUR endings - was fronted by Rhymes as "Dangertainment" founder Freddie Harris, who fights Michael twice and emerges victorious. The sequel is a tonal disaster, failing both as a horror movie and comedy. The poor reception to the 2002 sequel also led to the series being rebooted with Rob Zombie's remake.
Halloween Ends Gives Michael His Dignity Back
The filmmakers behind Halloween Ends almost certainly realized the film's treatment of Michael would receive backlash. The character appears to be waiting to die as he hides in the sewers, and it's only Corey's turn to murder that re-energizes him. His beating by Corey is designed to show how weak he has become, following his massacre in Halloween 2018 and Halloween Kills. Director David Gordon Green at least gave Michael some redemption when he brutally slays Corey after taking back his mask. He also rallies his strength for one final battle with Laurie Strode, in the movie's highlight setpiece.
Halloween Ends took a bold risk with the story it chose to tell. Instead of offering yet another stripped-back, Laurie Vs Michael story, it became a mix of coming-of-age drama and serial killer origin. It's not a blend that always works, but it's certainly - outside of maybe 1982's standalone outing Halloween III: Season Of The Witch - one of the most unique outings. Michael's beating by Corey will remain a divisive moment with longtime viewers, but in the years ahead it will be interesting to see what the legacy of Halloween Ends will be.