Halloween Ends is a 2022 American slasher film directed by David Gordon Green and co-written by Green, Danny McBride, Paul Brad Logan, and Chris Bernier. It serves as a direct sequel to Halloween Kills (2021) and is the thirteenth film in the Halloween franchise. This movie concludes the trilogy that began with the 2018 film, which itself directly follows the original 1978 film. The cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Rohan Campbell, Will Patton, Kyle Richards, and James Jude Courtney. The storyline centers around Corey Cunningham, an outcast who falls in love with Laurie Strode's granddaughter, and how a series of events, including encounters with Michael Myers, leads him to become a serial killer.
1971: Inspiration from Willard
Green cited the 1971 film Willard as an influence on Halloween Ends. This movie is one of many that inspired various scenes and themes in the film.
1978: Original Halloween Film
In 1978, the original Halloween film was released, laying the foundation for the numerous sequels and reboots that followed, including Halloween Ends.
1980: My Bodyguard's Influence
Green mentioned that the 1980 film My Bodyguard influenced Halloween Ends. Specific scenes, such as the motorcycle bonding scene, were inspired by this film.
1981: John Carpenter's Approval
John Carpenter, who struggled with rehashing plotlines for Halloween II (1981), approved the unique direction of Corey Cunningham's character in Halloween Ends, praising the avoidance of repetitive storylines.
1981: Influence from Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker
The 1981 film Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker was cited by Green as an influence for Halloween Ends. The film is one of several that shaped the narrative and aesthetic of the movie.
1983: Inspiration from Christine
The character of Corey Cunningham in Halloween Ends was inspired by Arnie Cunningham from John Carpenter's 1983 film Christine. Corey's arc was designed to show how neglected individuals can turn to evil.
1987: Inspiration from Blood Rage and Bad Taste
The 1987 films Blood Rage and Bad Taste inspired specific scenes in Halloween Ends, particularly the motorcycle bonding scene, which drew from the 'coolness' of Wong Kar-wai's style.
1994: Natural Born Killers Influence
The 1994 film Natural Born Killers influenced one of the darker endings considered for Halloween Ends, where Corey Cunningham and Allyson would run off together after committing murders.
1995: Influence from Fallen Angels
The 1995 film Fallen Angels was cited as an inspiration for the motorcycle bonding scene in Halloween Ends, contributing to the film's overall aesthetic and narrative.
June 2018: Intended Pitch for Two Films
In June 2018, Danny McBride confirmed that he and David Gordon Green had originally intended to pitch two films to be shot back-to-back but decided to wait for the reaction to their first Halloween film.
2018: Michael Myers' Killing Spree Aftermath
In 2018, the town of Haddonfield was still reeling from Michael Myers' latest killing spree. During this time, Laurie Strode was living with her granddaughter Allyson, and Corey Cunningham began his descent into becoming a serial killer.
2018: Start of the Trilogy
In 2018, the first film in the trilogy that includes Halloween Ends was released. This rebooted the Halloween franchise and directly followed the events of the 1978 film.
2018: Rohan Campbell Cast
In 2018, Rohan Campbell was cast in Halloween Ends. Initially unaware of his character's significance, Campbell prepared by watching horror films about outcasts to shape his performance.
2018: Initial Pitch for Two Films
Before the release of Halloween in 2018, Danny McBride and David Gordon Green had intended to pitch two films to be shot back-to-back, but decided to wait for the reaction to the first film.
2018: Announcement of Halloween Sequels
In 2018, the announcement of two sequels to the Halloween 2018 film was made, setting the stage for Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends.
July 2019: Development of a Third Film
In July 2019, Bloody Disgusting reported that a third film in the Halloween series was in development, with David Gordon Green returning as director.
July 2019: Universal Pictures Reveals Titles and Release Dates
In July 2019, Universal Pictures revealed the titles and release dates for Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, with the films initially set for release in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
July 2019: Curtis, Greer, and Matichak Reprise Roles
In July 2019, it was announced that Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Andi Matichak would reprise their roles in Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. Greer did not appear in Ends as her character was killed in Kills.
July 2019: Title Announcement
In July 2019, the title Halloween Ends was announced along with the title of its predecessor, Halloween Kills. This marked the official naming of the final two films in the trilogy.
2019: Green Changes Character's Ending
In 2019, after meeting Rohan Campbell, Green decided to change the original ending he envisioned for Campbell's character, Corey Cunningham, to not leave his fate open-ended.
2019: Corey Cunningham's Incident
On Halloween night in 2019, Corey Cunningham accidentally caused the death of a young boy he was babysitting, leading to his arrest for aggravated manslaughter. He was later cleared by the judge but remained an outcast in Haddonfield.
March 2020: Filming Plans Confirmed
In March 2020, Blum confirmed that filming for Halloween Ends would take place during the summer, though it was later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2020: Consideration for October 2020 Release
In 2019, it was reported that the studio was considering releasing both Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends in October 2020.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Delays
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal delayed the release dates of Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends by a year, pushing their initial 2020 release dates.
August 2021: Filming Date Confirmed
In August 2021, James Jude Courtney confirmed that filming for Halloween Ends would begin on January 10, 2022.
October 2021: Revelations about Halloween Ends
In October 2021, Green revealed that Halloween Ends will take place four years after the events of Halloween Kills and would incorporate elements of the pandemic into the story. Curtis claimed the film will be 'shocking' and will 'make people very angry'. Akkad stated Ends will be more 'contained' than Kills, while Green called it an intimate coming-of-age story.
October 15, 2021: Initial release date set
Halloween Ends was initially set to be theatrically released on October 15, 2021, but the release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 2021: Kyle Richards Reprises Role
In December 2021, it was revealed that Kyle Richards would reprise her role for Halloween Ends due to the positive reception of her performance in the previous film.
2021: Final Script Completion
In 2021, the final script for Halloween Ends was completed pending John Carpenter's approval, despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: Sequel to Halloween Kills
In 2021, Halloween Ends was confirmed as the sequel to Halloween Kills, continuing the storyline of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode.
January 10, 2022: Planned Filming Start
Filming for Halloween Ends was planned to start on January 10, 2022, as confirmed by James Jude Courtney.
January 19, 2022: Filming Officially Begins
On January 19, 2022, filming for Halloween Ends officially began in Savannah, Georgia under the working title Cave Dweller.
February 2022: Casting Call in Southeast Georgia
In February 2022, a casting call took place in various Southeast Georgia towns. Green hinted that co-writer Danny McBride might have a cameo in the film.
March 9, 2022: Filming Concludes
Filming for Halloween Ends concluded on March 9, 2022, with additional scenes shot in Sylvania, Georgia.
March 2022: Principal Photography Completed
In March 2022, principal photography for Halloween Ends was completed. This followed delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with initial filming taking place in Georgia.
June 2022: Blum confirms internal test screening
In June 2022, Blum confirmed that the film Halloween Ends had undergone an internal test screening in May 2022. He also stated that it would be the last Halloween film produced by Blumhouse. This marked a significant point in the production timeline.
June 2022: Nick Castle's Cameo Announcement
In June 2022, Nick Castle announced he would make a cameo appearance in Halloween Ends, unrelated to his role as Michael Myers.
June 2022: Re-shoots in Savannah
In June 2022, re-shoots for Halloween Ends took place in Savannah. Although planned for two weeks, they were completed in four days. Test screenings led to changes in the final confrontation between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.
July 2022: Teaser Trailer Release
In July 2022, the teaser trailer for Halloween Ends was released, revealing that Omar Dorsey, Will Patton, and James Jude Courtney would reprise their roles from the previous films.
August 2022: Late Addition of Climactic Scene
In August 2022, the climatic procession sequence, where Michael Myers' corpse is paraded and disposed of in an industrial shredder, was added to Halloween Ends. This was done to create a more grand finale for the film.
September 2022: Tracks released in anticipation of premiere
In anticipation of Halloween Ends' premiere, two tracks from the film's score, "The Junk Yard" and "The Procession," were released in September 2022. This built excitement for the upcoming release.
October 11, 2022: Premiere at Beyond Fest
On October 11, 2022, Halloween Ends premiered at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles, marking its first public screening.
October 14, 2022: Theatrical Release and Streaming
On October 14, 2022, Halloween Ends was released theatrically in the United States by Universal Pictures and started streaming on Peacock. The film received mixed reviews and grossed $105 million.
November 15, 2022: Digital release of Halloween Ends
Halloween Ends was released digitally on November 15, 2022, allowing audiences to stream the film from home.
December 27, 2022: Blu-ray and DVD release
Following its digital release, Halloween Ends was released on Blu-ray and DVD on December 27, 2022, providing physical copies for fans and collectors.
2022: Release of Halloween Ends
In 2022, Halloween Ends was released as the final film in the trilogy of sequels following the 2018 reboot of the Halloween franchise. Directed by David Gordon Green, the movie continues the story of Laurie Strode and introduces new character Corey Cunningham.
January 20, 2023: Official soundtrack vinyl release
The official soundtrack for Halloween Ends, composed by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies, was released digitally on October 14, 2022. A limited vinyl release was set to follow on January 20, 2023.