The newest Halloween movie has finally been released and fans are pleased that it actually lives up to the promise to bring an end to the franchise, or so it seems. While there was no tease for future movies in the franchise, and while the story of Laurie and Michael Myers was finally brought to a satisfying conclusion, fans will always wonder if the franchise will be revisited someday.
Being the 13th movie in the franchise means that there were a lot of memories of this series and the people who have worked on it that this final entry could look back at. There were a number of exciting Easter Eggs for eagle-eyed fans to notice. Needless to say, there are massive spoilers ahead for Halloween Ends and previous entries in the franchise.
6 Crazy Credits
The beginning of Halloween Ends features the classic pumpkin and written credits with the theme music of the series. The other entries in this modern trilogy have also featured similar openings, but what makes this one special is the style of writing used for the credits is the same as the one used for Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
This was the one movie in the franchise which didn’t feature Michael Myers. The producers thought they could try an anthology-style featuring different stories besides the Shape. It was also a movie about evil masks, which was a prominent theme in Halloween Ends. This subtle reference and the recurring theme from that movie provided a link to the most remote part of the franchise's history.
5 The Thing
The movie opens with a scene from 2019, telling the story of how Corey accidentally (or not) killed Jeremy, the child he was babysitting. The scene feels eerily reminiscent of Laurie’s time babysitting in the 1978 Halloween movie where it all began. The most interesting Easter egg in the scene though isn’t how it feels reminiscent of the other Halloween movies, it is the choice of movie that Corey and Jeremy watch.
They’re watching The Thing, a classic John Carpenter horror movie. Not only is this playing a nod to Carpenter, who directed the original Halloween, but it is also a call back to The Thing From Another World playing while Laurie babysits Tommy in the 1978 Halloween. Carpenter’s The Thing was a remake of The Thing From Another World.
4 The Original Michael
Another major call-back to the original 1978 Halloween movie occurs during the costume party that is attended by Allyson and Corey. A man can be seen in a large trench coat who reveals to Corey that he has dozens of sex toys inside the coat. This creepy character is no new player to the franchise.
This is actually the original Michael Myers actor from 1978, Nick Castle. Castle recorded a cameo for Halloween Kills, but it ended up being in a deleted scene, so fans will be delighted to see him turning up, without the mask, at last for a final send-off to the franchise.
3 The Knitting Needle
It is mentioned early on in the movie by some teenagers that Laurie once stabbed Michael with a knitting needle. This occurred in the 1978 movie and was a significant moment, as it was the first time that Laurie fought back against Michael. She was the first person to show real resistance against him and his killings.
She tried to replicate the feat later in Halloween Ends as Michael attempted to kill her once again. Unfortunately, Michael learned from the past and managed to turn the tables, grabbing the needle and stopping her before stabbing Laurie back with the needle. Though she eventually triumphed, Michael got this small modicum of revenge.
2 Laurie’s Memoir
The memoir that Laurie writes during the movie and finishes at the end is a big part of the story. It shows her sense of overcoming grief and moving on from the pains of the past. Despite the people of Haddonfield trying to blame her for Michael’s rampages, Laurie has begun to really move on by the time Michael returns to trouble her one last time.
The name of the memoir, seen only briefly, is “Stalkers, Saviors & Saw-Wen” which is an interesting reference. Saw-Wen is the Celtic festival that eventually became the holiday now called Halloween. This is not only a reference to the origin of the holiday itself but again to Halloween III: Season of the Witch, where the villain was a Celtic trying to mass murder children on the Halloween holiday in honor of the ancient traditions.
1 A Serene Ending
The ending of Halloween Ends is surprisingly serene. There is no tease for the future, no last scary jump from any killer, no final surprising victim of a gruesome kill. Instead, the camera cuts between the rooms of Laurie’s house, reminiscent of the ending of the original Halloween movie.
The song “Don’t Fear The Reaper” by the Blue Oyster Cult then starts playing. This song was on the radio in the original Halloween movie while Laurie and her friend are driving in the car to school. A final moment of remembrance for the history of a long-running franchise that may finally have found peace, much like Laurie herself in the wake of her finally killing Michael Myers.