The reviews for the Halloween finale, Halloween Ends, are now in. So, has the legacy sequel brought the decade-spanning battle between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode to a satisfying end? Or does Halloween Ends conclude the franchise with a whimper rather than a blood-curdling scream?

We shall begin with the positives. Because, don’t panic, there are some positives. Rolling Stone’s K. Austin Collins calls Halloween Ends the “best” of David Gordon Green’s slasher efforts.

Jamie Graham of Total Film awarded Halloween Ends a decent 3/5, and declared the trilogy finale as an “improvement” despite the horror outing falling short in all manner of ways.

“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.”

IndieWire’s Kate Erbland meanwhile gives Halloween Ends a B grade, applauding the sequel for tying together the themes and ideas that have permeated both the Halloween reboot and Halloween Kills.

“Thankfully, this third/13th effort is an improvement, despite outbreaks of dire-logue and the kind of dumb behaviour that gives horror movies a bad name.”

Finally, CinemaBlend’s Mike Reyes found a lot to love, awarding Halloween Ends a 4/5 and praising the finale for offering something completely unexpected.

“If Green’s “Halloween” was about the corrosive effects of sustained terror on a single family, and his “Halloween Kills” was about how mob justice can’t solve anything, his “Halloween Ends” thrillingly connects those ideas.”

Sadly, it’s Not All Positive When It Comes to Halloween Ends

     Universal Pictures

While there are clearly many who enjoyed certain elements of Halloween Ends, it ain’t all positive. ComicBook.com’s Patrick Cavanaugh criticized Halloween Ends, calling it “messy” and “nonsensical,” and was simply left wondering when the next reboot will be.

“If I had gotten the movie I’d expected walking into this screening, I don’t think I would have liked it as much as I did.”

While Collider’s Alyse Wax gives the movie a grade of B-, and commends Halloween Ends for trying to give slasher fans something refreshing and new, they conclude that it simply doesn’t work.

“Despite having all the potential to do something new and organic with an intentional conclusion to the narrative, the film instead ends up honoring the franchise unexpectedly — as it’s messy, nonsensical, and leaves us wondering how much longer until we can get a new Halloween reboot.”

Empire Magazine’s Ben Travis meanwhile gives Halloween Ends a lesser score of 2/5, saying, “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.” While David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter adds, “What starts out with a clever refresher steadily descends into self-serious trash, with laughable dialogue and plotting.”

“Halloween Ends seems to be an attempt to give Halloween fans something new, something unique, and something a little different from what they had seen before, and unfortunately, it doesn’t work.”

Lastly, Variety’s Owen Gleiberman declares that Halloween Ends is nothing more than a joyless, convoluted conclusion to the long-running franchise.

Halloween Ends picks up four years after the events of last year’s Halloween Kills. With Michael Myers missing, a cascade of violence and terror is suddenly unleashed that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.

““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.”

Directed by David Gordon Green and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, James Jude Courtney, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, and Kyle Richards, Halloween Ends is scheduled to be released on October 14, 2022, by Universal Pictures and will also stream simultaneously on paid tiers of Peacock for 60 days.