Halloween Kills is filled with brutal kills, but the writing, fan service, and comedy misses make this a struggle to watch.
Halloween Kills is finally here and unfortunately, it just was not worth the wait. While there are some intense moments and some gore-filled deaths, there isn’t much more to this film than fan service. Part of the problem is that it seems to take itself too seriously and being the twelfth film in horror series that fans know have at least one more coming shouldn’t be doing that.
At least it was better than 2018’s Halloween but honestly, is that saying much?
This film starts off right where the last one left off and, as the trailers have shown, it doesn’t take Michael long to start killing. Meanwhile the entire town is terrified knowing he is out there. They go completely crazy, and a bit blood thirsty themselves. The entire hour and 45 minutes is spent between Laurie and Karen trying to find Michael, Michael’s killing spree, and flashbacks.
What Works With Halloween Kills
Hands down the best thing about this movie is the kills. The kill count is high — the highest in a Halloween film yet — and it makes that clear it is the route they are going from the start. They are shocking, they are brutal, and they are a lot of fun.
As someone who appreciates gore when used well, there were moments that even made my skin crawl — which was awesome. Sometimes Halloween Kills takes it just a bit too far, and I am totally here for that because it works.
There are some wild jump scares too, which is always fun in a horror flick. Moments are made intense and even though you know something is about to pop out, it still startles you. Sadly, that is where the good things about this movie list stops.
Related: Peacocktober: Peacock’s Full Halloween Content Schedule
What Doesn’t Work With Halloween Kills
The rest of Halloween Kills is a let down. I love a good slasher flick, and especially the Halloween movies but the problem with this one, as was an issue with the previous film, is that it tries to take itself way too seriously. These movies are meant to be campy and I just didn’t get that here.
When Halloween Kills does try to give us some comic relief it almost always misses. This is further proof that the writing just doesn’t work. The dialogue is nearly eye-rolling level bad at some parts.
The worst part is that it feels like nothing happens in the entire film. By that I mean by the time it ends, barring one thing, it seems like we are pretty much right where we started and what was the point of it all.
When the movie isn’t spent in this town overrun by murder and fear, it gives us some flash backs. None of which are fantastic and are sure to pull viewers out of the story. They are trying to give fan service, which is fine in small doses, but this is just too much. Easter Eggs are always fun, but there needs to be more to the film than just that.
Overall Thoughts
Halloween Kills has a ridiculous amount of intense moments and brutal, bloody, gore-filled kills. They are fun, they are gross to look at, and you might even find yourself giggling during a few of them if that is your thing. They are over the top, just the way they should be in an slasher horror movie. But that is where the good stuff stops.
Overall Halloween Kills feels a lot longer than it is, which is never a good thing. A movie like this deserves to be silly, know what it is at the center, and filled with camp. Instead this movie tries its best to be serious and that just doesn’t work.
The next film, Halloween Ends, has long since been announced. Because of that viewers go into this movie knowing that the fight against Michael will not be resolved. That in itself takes away from this movie, and coupled with everything else wrong with it, just makes it a struggle to get through.
Let’s hope the next title sticks to its word and ends this series — which could have closed out on top years ago but instead failed to do so.
About Halloween Kills
The nightmare isn’t over as unstoppable killer Michael Myers escapes from Laurie Strode’s trap to continue his ritual bloodbath. Injured and taken to the hospital, Laurie fights through the pain as she inspires residents of Haddonfield, Ill., to rise up against Myers. Taking matters into their own hands, the Strode women and other survivors form a vigilante mob to hunt down Michael and end his reign of terror once and for all.
Halloween Kills is now in theaters and streaming on Peacock.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for almost ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association, Hollywood Critics Association, and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.