Halloween Ends Is A Departure From Previous Movies Says John Carpenter

Halloween Ends is different from the previous two films in the trilogy, according to John Carpenter, who is returning to score the newest slasher.

Halloween Ends Is A Departure From Previous Movies Says John Carpenter

Horror director John Carpenter says that Halloween Ends will feel different from the two previous films in the rebooted trilogy, Halloween and Halloween Kills. Carpenter is known for directing the original 1978 Halloween, as well as other horror classics like The Thing and They Live. The director and musician returned to the Halloween franchise to executive produce and write the scores of the rebooted Halloween trilogy alongside his son Cody Carpenter, and godson, Daniel Davies.

Halloween Ends will take place four years after the events of Halloween and Halloween Kills, where Laurie Strode (Jaime Lee Curtis) and her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) will try to take down Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney) once and for all. David Gordon Green is set to return as director, with a screenplay he co-wrote with Danny McBride, Paul Brad Logan, and Chris Bernier. Jason Blum has confirmed Halloween Ends will be the last film in the franchise by Blumhouse productions, with the rights to the iconic saga expiring after the release of Ends.

When speaking to Syfy Wire, Carpenter said that the new film will feel different compared to the first two films. While not going into any specific details, the director promised that Halloween Ends would be a “departure” from its predecessors. He also took the opportunity to praise Green’s work on the rebooted franchise, saying:

“Well, it’s Halloween, and it ends … You’ll see it’s a departure from the others. It’s interesting. Dave is a really good director. I love working with him.”

It is interesting to hear Carpenter confirm Halloween Ends will have a different feel, as many audiences felt that Halloween Kills failed to maintain the momentum of Halloween. Given this, it is perhaps a wise decision on the writer’s part to space out the timeline, setting the threequel’s story in the current day (and pandemic) and skipping ahead from Halloween Kills‘ 2018. This is likely where the “departure” Carpenter teases largely comes from, but he also may be referring to the film’s tone and narrative. With Halloween Ends rumored to feature Michael Myers’ death, there will have to be a tangible rise in stakes to make the climax feel earned. However, Carpenter’s expertise in horror indicates that the difference between the films is substantial, and goes beyond just its slasher roots.

With the mixed reception of Halloween Kills, Green and his team will have to include some course corrections to win back the enthusiastic reception the first film garnered. Slashers have not often been in the upper tier of film criticism, but when executed well, they can deliver cathartic jolts that make the horror genre so endearing to countless audiences. This is something that 2018’s Halloween was able to capture with bloody gusto, and with Carpenter’s continued enthusiasm for the project and an ongoing passion for the subject material, there’s a good chance Halloween Ends will be the climax the series deserves — with enough new elements to make it feel fresh.