“Halloween Ends.”

Or does it?

Writer-director John Carpenter’s “Halloween,” released in 1978, for better or worse, is credited with popularizing what became known in the cinema as “slasher films.”

One could argue that the Godfather of slasher films is Alfred Hitchcock with “Psycho,” released in 1960, for its notorious shower scene of Janet Leigh succumbing to the knife attack of Anthony Perkins.

Jamie Lee Curtis, whose film debut at age 19 was in “Halloween,” is back as Laurie Strode in “Halloween Ends.” Curtis is the daughter of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis.

Jamie Lee Curtis, dubbed the “Scream Queen” for her roles in the “Halloween” movies, is listed as an executive producer of “Halloween Ends,” as is John Carpenter, whose iconic theme music (also credited to his son, Cody Carpenter) that he wrote for the original movie, is heard in “Halloween Ends.”

“Halloween” inspired a slew of other slasher films and their franchises, including “Friday the 13th” (1980), “The Evil Dead” (1981), “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984), “Child’s Play” (1988), “Candyman” (1992) and even slasher film parodies, “Scream” (1996) and “Scary Movie” (2000).

I am not a fan of slasher films. I actually avoid them whenever possible.

There was no avoiding “Halloween Ends,” which as it turns out, is more of a psychological thriller headlined by a brilliant performance by Jamie Lee Curtis.

David Gordon Green (director, “Halloween Kills,” 2021; “Halloween,” 2018; “Pineapple Express,” 2008) is back as director of “Halloween Ends” for what is called a trilogy in the reboot of the “Halloween” franchise. There are a lucky 13 movies in the overall “Halloween” franchise.

The “Halloween Ends” screenplay (David Gordon Green, Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, Danny McBride, “Halloween Kills,” “Halloween,“ based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill) plumbs the depths of the myth of Michael Myers, the evil killer who puts the slash in slasher in the film. Michael Myers terrorizes the fictional town of Haddonfield, Ill., especially babysitters, every Halloween.

“Halloween Ends” has excellent cinematography (Director of Photography Michael Simmonds, “Halloween Kills,” 2021; “Halloween,” 2018), editing (Timothy Alverson, editor, “Halloween Kills,” “Halloween”) and sound design.

“Halloween Ends” is not a low-budget slasher film, but rather a quality film that, believe it or not, merits artistic and intellectual consideration.

“Halloween Ends” examines the nature of evil. Is evil external, Laurie Strode writes in her memoir and ruminates in a voice over, or is it internal?

The movie asks: What price revenge? It emphasizes that hate can take over even the best-intentioned individual, stealing that person’s identity and destroying a righteous person in the process.

A few shibboleths apply: “The road to hell is paved with good intensions.”

Or as the Bard from Hibbing, Mn., Bob Dylan, put it in the song he wrote, ”My Back Pages,” from the 1964 album, “Another Side of Bob Dylan”: “Fearing not that I’d become my enemy in the instant that I preach.”

“Halloween Ends” takes us to church? Not exactly, but it’s a cautionary tale with a moral to the story.

“Halloween Ends” and the slasher genre appeals to true crime fans. While “Halloween Ends” isn’t a crime drama procedural, it is a psychological procedural. Laurie Strode’s memoir examines the exploits of Michael Myers and her complicated association with him (he was her brother).

In addition to the excellent performance by Jamie Lee Curtis, there are two other standout performances in “Halloween Ends.”

Andi Matichak portrays Allyson Nelson, Laurie’s granddaughter. She projects a very believable girl-next-door persona.

Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham, Allyson’s boyfriend, successfully assays the arc of his character as a young man whose babysitting duties ended in tragedy to going down a dark path.

Will Patton plays Deputy Frank Hawkins, a sheriff’s deputy (he had arrested Michael Myers in his initial killing spree in the 1978 movie), has some nice Hallmark moment scenes with Laurie Strode.

Michael Myers, listed in the credits as The Shape, is played by James Jude Courtney.

Hollywood movies are rife with the revenge movie plot where a character goes to the dark side. Think Darth Vader in “Star Wars,” as well as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “The Phantom of the Opera,” to name a few.

“Halloween Ends” ponders the dangers of seeking vengeance. When a person has hatred in his heart it can consume him and have tragic results for everyone he encounters.

“Halloween Ends” shows where making a tragic choice ends.

“Halloween Ends,”

MPAA rated R (Restricted: Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.) for bloody horror violence and gore, language throughout and some sexual references; Genre: Horror, Thriller; Run Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“Midnight Monsters Hop” by Jack & Jim is heard on the soundtrack at the opening of “Halloween Ends.”

At the Movies: “Halloween Ends” was seen in the Imax theater at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Box Office,

Oct. 21 - 23: “Black Adam,” the DC Extended Universe franchise starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a Freedom High School, Bethlehem Area School District, graduate, in the title role, opened at No. 1 with $67 million, in 4,402 theaters, ending the one-week No. 1 run of “Halloween Ends,” dropping three places to No. 4 with $8 million, in 3,901 theaters, $54.1 million, two weeks, as “Ticket to Paradise,” starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, opened at No. 2 with $16.3 million, in 3,543 theaters, and “Smile” dropped one place to No. 3 with $8.3 million in 3,296 theaters, $84.3 million, four weeks.

5. “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” dropped two places, $4.2 million, in 3,536 theaters, $28.7 million, three weeks. 6. “The Woman King” dropped two places, $1.9 million, in 1,858 theaters, $62.8 million, six weeks. 7. “Terrifier 2” moved up one place, $1.8 million, in 755 theaters, $5.2 million, three weeks. 8. “Don’t Worry Darling” dropped two places, $880,000, in 1,306 theaters, $44.2 million, five weeks. 9. “Amsterdam” dropped four places, $818,000, in 1,750 theaters, $13.9 million, three weeks. 10. “Triangle of Sadness” moved up four places, $600,000, in 280 theaters, $1.4 million, three weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Oct. 23 is subject to change.

Unreel,

Oct. 28:

“’Prey for the Devil,”

PG-13: Daniel Stamm directs Jacqueline Byers, Virginia Madsen and Colin Salmon in the Horror Thriller. A nun who is about to perform an exorcism faces demonic forces from the past.

“Call Jane,”

R: Phyllis Nagy directs Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver and Chris Messina in the History Drama. A married woman with an unwanted pregnancy works with a group of suburban women to find help.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of Oct. 23 are subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes