The day has finally come for slasher fans:Halloween Endsis in theaters everywhere and streaming on Peacock. The supposed final battle between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode in theHalloweenfranchise saw many unique twists and turns, and was unlike anyHalloweenfilm we’ve seen before. That was by design, as the slasher shares a connection to one of the cult-favorite films in the franchise. Keen eye viewers will notice that in the classic opening credit sequence, directorDavid Gordon Greenused blue text instead of the typical orange. The only other film to do that in the franchise wasHalloween III: Season of the Witch.
For anyone who hasn’t seenSeason of the Witch, it was famous for being the only film in the almost 45-year-old franchise to not feature Michael Myers. Instead, it was an anthology story about an evil mask maker named Conal Cochran, who planned on using his Halloween masks to kill the children of the world and bring Halloween back to its medieval roots. The 1982 film not having Michael is the reason why fans and critics panned it at the time. However, now this creepy psychological thriller is rightfully regarded as one of the best in the franchise.
The blue font isn’t just a visual tribute either, it serves as a warning to every fan thatEndsis not your typicalHalloweenmovie. The story shares DNA withSeason of the Witchwith its slow burn mystery pacing, focus on a new central character, and like that cult classic film,Endsallows the horror to breathe by having the story span about a week leading up to Halloween night. LikeSeason of the Witch, this is a character driven nightmare. It has Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, but it throws them into the middle of a paranoid thriller and a dark romance. While some fans aren’t going to gel with this film’s new terrifying identity, Green’s trilogy capper took genuine risks that ensured his version ofHalloweenwent out with a jaw-dropping emotional bang. On top of that,John Carpenter’s more industrial sounding score gleefully invokes his work inSeason of the Witch.
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This isn’t the first time Green has paid tribute toSeason of the Witcheither. In bothHalloweenandHalloween Kills, there are trick or treaters seen throughout that bloody Halloween night wearing the three iconic Silver Shamrock masks from that film. Michael even eventually murders one of them. You can say many things about Green’s legacy trilogy, but you can’t say this director and his crew aren’t hardcoreHalloweenfans. All three films are loaded to the brim with references from every film in the franchise. The previously mentioned blue font also completes Green’s opening credits reference trilogy of sorts.Halloween’s font was the same as John Carpenter’sHalloween,Kill’s font was the same as the originalHalloween II, andEnd’s font is ripped straight fromSeason of the Witch. Even crazier, each time Green paid tribute to the original trilogy in his opening credits, each of the three films were celebrating their 40th anniversary.
Season of the Witchhas been getting a lot of love in 2022 given its 40th anniversary and various greatclothing collections, but its complex tribute inEndswas the perfect way to cap off its anniversary. WhileEndshas been receiving mixed reviews by both critics and fans alike, likeSeason of the Witchbefore it, in 40 years we could be regarding it as a horror cult classic.
To see how Green infused his love forSeason of the Witchinto his finalHalloweenfilm, you’re able to watchHalloween Endsin theaters and on Peacock now.
