Spoiler Alert: This story contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Halloween Ends

The boogeyman and Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) had their final showdown in the new film Halloween Ends, but for the fans watching, it took a while to get there. In the new film, directed by David Gordon Green, Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney) has since gone missing after the events of last year’s Halloween Kills. With the killer not appearing until much later in the story, the movie primarily explores the budding romance between Laurie’s granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and local outcast Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), who’s dealing with his own demons after inadvertently killing a child in the film’s opening scene.

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A twist is taken partway through Halloween Ends when Campbell’s Corey is battered by bullies before he’s found by a sewer-dwelling Michael Myers. While Michael was deadlier than ever the last time he was seen in Haddonfield, he chooses to spare Corey’s life. Some fans have interpreted this scene as a “transference of evil” happening between the characters, as Corey goes on to carry out his own killing spree wearing Michael’s mask. In a new interview with Variety, however, Campbell suggests his character had actually snapped because of Michael sparing him, mentally putting him past the point of no return.

Corey’s trauma and the perception that Michael had transferred his evil into the troubled young man might have some fans feeling sympathetic for the character. Campbell has even heard some fans suggesting they could have “saved” him. To that, Campbell suggests he understands Corey’s motivations but still rejects the idea that he’s “innocent” in all of this.

“Corey can’t handle the idea that Shape let him live. That’s the thing that throws a spanner in his brain and short-circuits something.”

“’I could have saved Corey’ is such a funny thing to say. I’m so protective of Corey and his choices. When I talk about Corey, I’m like, ‘Yeah, of course he did those things! What do you mean? What else was he supposed to do?’ When I left the theater in Toronto, a group of people recognized me and the only thing they yelled was ‘Corey is innocent.’ Guys, no… He’s not. That’s not the point of the story, man! The story’s about choices, choices, choices.”

Rohan Campbell Knew to Expect Online Criticism

     Universal Pictures

Director and co-writer David Gordon Green knew before filming even began that Halloween Ends would ruffle some feathers in the horror community. That must be why he informed Campbell immediately upon his casting that he was being placed into a difficult spot with his role in the film. Campbell says Green and Jamie Lee Curtis both told him outright that there would be controversy.

Green and Curtis were right, as there have been enough fans complaining that a petition has even been launched for the filmmakers to reshoot the film. Even so, Campbell notes he’s happy he “took a swing” with the character. And even with Corey Cunningham rubbing some viewers the wrong way, there have been other fans praising the film along with its filmmakers for daring to do something unexpected with the final installment of the trilogy. For years to come, there will also be people talking about the events of the film, divisive as it may be, and that’s not such a bad thing.

“You want to do it so bad as an actor, but it’s really scary to step into this. You can’t doubt yourself for a second. When David offered me the role he was like, ‘I need you to know that a lot of people are going to really, really, really not be happy with what we’re choosing to do here. You’ll probably hear a lot of that.’ Jamie [Lee Curtis] reached out and said the same thing.”

Halloween Ends is playing in theaters and on Peacock.