This may have been common knowledge that I simply missed, but this trailer opened with a big surprise to me…a 4 year time jump. I was certain all three films would comprise one really long day, or at most series of days. The last film in David Gordon Green’s trilogy Halloween Kills had the most intense final act of any horror film in recent memory. Some of that tension came from horror characters being horror characters (DON’T ASSUME THEY’RE NOT GETTING UP), but most came from that shocking final shot where Laurie Strodes daughter (Judy Greer) was murdered. It almost seemed like it could have been a fake-out, dream sequence type deal. Nope, the full trailer confirms it happened.
The footage also lays out that Myers disappeared that night and hasn’t been seen in 4 years, which is more terrifying if you think about it. The unending suspense of when, not if, he’s going to show back up. At least you only really have to worry about that one night a year. What follows that revelation is a peak in what could potentially be the most terrifying and visceral of all the films in this franchise. There’s something about the violence on display, it’s un-tempered, raw even, and results in a gut feeling that you can’t shake.
The trailer also promises that Gordon Green hasn’t forgotten the films roots, with quick fan service played in one characters unfortunate end tacked to a wall with Michael doing that puppy dog side glace from the first film. Honestly, that’s the major complaint I have about the trailer, just how much it shows. Granted, he may have a body count in the dozens by the end of it but we clearly see the end result for at least two characters. Less is more, certainly they would have learned that from watching the original film.
PS. I get wanting to see under the mask but why not check AFTER you’ve removed the head from its shoulders?
Halloween Ends hits theaters AND streaming via Peacock on October 14th, 2022.
Official Synopsis:
This is Laurie Strode’s last stand.
