Critics reviews for “Halloween Ends,” the final installment of the most recent trilogy and the thirteenth film in the series overall, are in.
With 73 reviews counted, the film sits at just 47% (5.5/10) on Rotten Tomatoes which marks an improvement on the poorly received “Halloween Kills” at 39% (5.0/10), but still considerably down on 2018’s “Halloween” 79% (6.8/10).
Even so, the whole trilogy is performing far better than Rob Zombie’s two films (27% & 4.4/10, 23% & 4.2/10) and better than most of the main series. Whilst the original Carpenter classic remains a masterpiece (96% & 8.6/10), “Halloween H20” holds up alright (52% & 5.6/10), the weird aberration that is “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (47% & 5.2/10) does ok, all the other sequels drop to scores in the 9%-30% range.
Here’s a sampling of quotes from reviews for the film, which is proving surprisingly divisive – even more so than ‘Kills’ last year:
“You all know where this story is headed, but it contains considerably more emotion and character development than the last film, to be sure, and Curtis commands it so effectively that we don’t mind too much that we have been there/done that.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline
“This is Green’s best go of it so far, maybe because it’s the movie that most convincingly falls back on Laurie and the instincts that made her timeless.” – K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone
“For the most part, Halloween Ends is an unsatisfying closing chapter for this continuity. In trying to grapple with the horror beneath Michael Myers’ mask, it gets lost up its own abyss.” – Ben Travis, Empire Magazine
“Maybe the movie is a parody of self-serious horror films, all those clumsy allegories and sweeping clichés. Whether Gordon Green is being arch or not, though, I don’t much care. I’m just glad I no longer have to think about it.” – Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair
“Halloween Ends” doesn’t finish off the franchise by being the most scary or fun entry in the series. (It should have been both, but it’s neither.) Instead, it’s the most joylessly metaphorical and convoluted entry.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“There are one or two lively moments, and the famous jabbing piano music is always triggering in a good way, but this is a film with a great big kitchen knife deeply inserted into each vital organ.” – Pete Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Halloween Ends” is now out in cinemas and is already available for streaming on Peacock Premium.
