When the original Halloween was released in 1978, it ended on a rather suspenseful note. Michael Myers escaped despite his gunshot wounds and simply disappeared into the night. It’s an eerie moment and one of the greatest revelations of the entire franchise. When the 2018 Halloween film was released, itself a direct sequel to the 1978 movie, it had to follow this ending. However, being set 40 years into the future, it only implied what happened next rather than show it. The film stated that, after being shot, Michael Myers was apprehended and arrested by police. Thus the reason why he’s at Smith’s Grove Sanitarium at the beginning of the 2018 film. But now, thanks to Halloween Kills, we now know just how Michael Myers was arrested.
The explanation happens not long after the opening of the newly released film Halloween Kills. Cameron Elam finds the body of Deputy Frank Hawkins, who was nearly murdered by Dr. Sartain during the events of the 2018 film. It was previously stated in said film that Hawkins was one of the first responders on the night that Michael Myers was arrested. As such, we see a flashback sequence featuring a younger Hawkins. He’s shown tracking Michael Myers and walking with another Deputy to the Myers House.
The second Deputy is attacked by Michael, and Hawkins attempts to shoot the masked maniac. Unfortunately, Hawkins misses, fatally shooting his fellow Deputy. Michael Myers takes the opportunity to walk away, only to find the entire Haddonfield’s Sheriff’s department waiting for him outside. It isn’t until later that we see another flashback which further reveals Hawkins’ role in Myers’ arrest. While Dr. Loomis wanted to kill Michael Myers once and for all, Hawkins stopped him, instead wanting to have the killer properly arrested. This is ultimately what happens, and Michael Myers is kept at Smith’s Grove until he manages to escape yet again forty years later.
It’s definitely a somewhat convoluted series of events, albeit less convoluted than other storylines in the franchise. And, fittingly enough, it does mirror the events in which six-year-old Michael Myers murders his sister in the opening of the original film. It’s also nice to see Michael Myers get arrested after three years of wondering how it happened following the release of the 2018 film. It’ll be interesting to see if Halloween Ends will flesh this exciting backstory out any further.
Halloween Kills was directed by David Gordon Green who also helmed the 2018 film. He wrote the script alongside Danny McBride and Scott Teems. The film features a cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Charles Cyphers, Anthony Michael Hall, Kyle Richards, Nancy Stephens, Jibrail Nantambu, and Robert Longstreet. James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle both return as Michael Myers.
Fans are currently able to see Halloween Kills both in theaters and on the Peacock streaming service.