Halloween: Ultimate 11 Movie Collection.

The Halloween franchise is (probably not) ending with the release of Halloween Ends, a sequel to last year’s Halloween Kills, Halloween (2018), and Halloween (1979), but not Halloween (2007), Halloween II (either of them), or any other sequels and remakes. The franchise has a long history of omitting films from the continuity of new sequels, and after thirteen movies, the timelines are a tangled mess that need explanation. Spooky spoilers ahead!

Halloween Ends is in the third timeline of Halloween films, but that’s only if you ignore the Rob Zombie versions and Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Zombie’s Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009) are modernized remakes, and Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a completely different entry without Michael Myers or the Strode family. None of those figure into the chronologies below, all of which spring from the original 1978 film.

Original Timeline:

• Halloween (1978)

• Halloween II (1981)

• Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers

• Halloween V: The Revenge of Michael Myers

• Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

The first continuity spans from the original film until the sixth, skipping Halloween III. It follows Laurie Strode (Jaime Lee Curtis) for the first two installments, before her off-screen death between Halloween II & Halloween IV. The story then pivots to her daughter, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris [yes, they named Laurie’s daughter Jamie, as if this wasn’t confusing enough]) and Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance) who co-stars in all five and is a highlight of the timeline. Both he and the franchise go haywire at the end, but along the way, plenty of sassy teenagers do ill-advised things that get them stabbed. If you love classic cheesy slashers, this is the timeline for you.

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

H20 Timeline:

• Halloween (1978)

• Halloween II (1981)

• Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later

• Halloween: Resurrection

The next timeline branches off with Halloween: H20. Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode so it ignores the three films with Jamie Lloyd. In 1998, this was a logical split because if Laurie is in it, it’s part of the chronology. Although in H20 Laurie faked her death to escape Michael, so you could argue that it takes place in the original timeline— if you can believe that Laurie would keep Josh Hartnett and leave Danielle Harris. But I guess that’s too heartless, even for a slasher. Next was Halloween: Resurrection and despite Busta Rhymes, it might be the lowest point of the franchise.

This timeline is defined by peaks and valleys, Resurrection is so bad that it feels like it’s made for TV, but H20 is my favorite sequel. Directed by horror legend Steve Miner, H20 explores Laurie’s trauma alongside slasher schlock for an entertaining flick. It’s not perfect, the momentary CGI Michael mask is jarring and Hartnett’s perfectly tussled 90s hair is laughable. But, there are some great chase sequences and Michelle Williams’ scream-acting is masterful.

Halloween Ends – The Final Trailer

H40 Timeline:

• Halloween (1978)

• Halloween (2018)

• Halloween Kills

• Halloween Ends

The latest films are only sequels to the original 1978 film. Annoying sequels-that-use-the-original-title-to-pretend-its-a-remake trend aside, it’s adequate. This chronology revels in violence and gore, so if intimate brutality is your horror vibe, it pays off. But Halloween (2018) is such a re-tread of H20 that it’s basically H40 with a dash of survivalism and a stale “Who is the real monster?” theme that’s recycled in both sequels. When I told my friend Johnny, a fellow horror aficionado, that I prefer H20, he quoted Scream 2 “Well, there’s no accounting for taste,” and I can’t argue. These films have the contemporary serious and “gritty” treatment which many fans love. But to me, it’s like putting lipstick on a pig when I just love ham. I’m not saying slasher movies can’t be excellent films, they absolutely can be, but these are pretty standard modern slashers.

Aside from recasting Laurie’s offspring again, the biggest departure is retconning the familial relationship between Michael & Laurie, established in Halloween II (1981), which feels unnecessary. Maybe they did it to stand apart from the others, except it’s not all that different. However, it’s cool seeing Jamie Lee go all Sarah Connor on Michael. Plus, some original cast members return to get killed a second time, just like Laurie!

In reviewing the Halloween multiverse, it becomes clear what dictates the continuity: Jamie Lee Curtis’ desire to return after already being killed off in an unsatisfying way. Twice. Will it be thrice after Halloween Ends?! Only time will tell. Halloween Ends will be in theaters and streaming on Peacock on October 14.

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