HALLOWEEN ENDS
The Shape Of Slaughter
★★★
EXTRAS ★★1/2
RELEASED OUT NOW! 2022 | 18 | Blu-ray/dvd/download
Director David Gordon Green
Cast Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Rohan Campbell, James Jude Courtney
All credit to David Gordon Green for not just taking the easy route… Halloween Ends wraps up the story of Laurie Strode and Michael Myers’ big tiff in suitably bloody fashion. Before that, however, it shifts focus to new character Corey (Rohan Campbell), a babysitter implicated in the accidental death of a young boy. Laurie is initially sympathetic to a fellow outcast, but there’s something very wrong with Corey.
Sidelining Myers in favour of a new villain is a bold decision and Campbell impresses as Haddonfield’s latest threat. Unfortunately, his story fizzles out when the Shape is wheeled back out for a final throw-down. It’s good to see Laurie get some closure, but Ends is a muted and ultimately slightly tame finale.
Extras Six deleted scenes are the biggest draw here. While most are inessential, the one of Michael stalking Corey’s mother is brilliantly tense and well-edited.
The rest of the features are boilerplate promo stuff, though Curtis’s enthusiasm shines through. In “Final Girl” (five minutes) she reflects on the end of her time playing Laurie. “No Place Like Haddonfield” (eight minutes) is an unfocused set of short interviews with various members of the cast.
“Ending Halloween” (eight minutes) concentrates on the final battle. “A Different Threat” (six minutes) focusses on Corey. “Visions Of Terror” (six minutes) gets into the design process, while “Twisted Deaths” (five minutes) explores the many well-realised gore effects.
And as ever, the gag reel (three minutes) is probably highly entertaining for the cast and crew, less so for viewers. Will Salmon
An early draft incorporated Silver Shamrock, the evil corporation from Halloween III: Season Of The Witch.
Sidelining Myers in favour of a new villain is a bold decision