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  • ‘Nutcrackers’ Interview: David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller

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    Streaming exclusively on Hulu beginning November 29th is the new Christmas comedy ‘Nutcrackers’, which was directed by David Gordon Green (‘Pineapple Express’, ‘Halloween Ends’), and stars Ben Stiller (‘Night at the Museum’, ‘Tropic Thunder’), Linda Cardellini (‘Hawkeye’), and newcomers Homer Janson, Ulysses Janson, Atlas Janson, and Arlo Janson.

    Related Article: ‘Halloween’ Director David Gordon Green on Resurrecting an Iconic Franchise

    (L to R) Director David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller on the set of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    (L to R) Director David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller about their work on ‘Nutcrackers’, how the unusual production came together, discovering the Janson siblings, Stiller’s experience working with Green and the kids, tone, choreographing the dance sequence, shooting on location, reading children’s stories, and making a family Christmas movie.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Green, Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Homer Janson, Ulysses Janson, Atlas Janson, and Arlo Janson.

    Director David Gordon Green on the set of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    Moviefone: To begin with, David, I understand that this production was done in an unusual way, can you talk about how this movie came together?

    David Gordon Green: It all started a little bit backwards, where I met the cast before we had a script. These four kids were the sons of a friend of mine from film school that live on this farm where we filmed it and they’re ballet dancers, and so hanging out with them, I just thought there’s a movie here if we’re crazy enough to turn a camera on them. I got my buddy Leland (Douglas) to come and write a movie and our influences were the 80s movies we grew up on. Movies like ‘Overboard’, ‘Bad News Bears’ and ‘Six Pack’, this Kenny Rogers movie about orphaned kids was a big one for me, and ‘Uncle Buck’, which I think is a classic but somehow underappreciated. We wanted to lean into those tropes, the nostalgic flavor of those movies, and make a family Christmas movie that I could show to my kids.

    Ben Stiller in 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    Ben Stiller in ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: Ben, what was it like for you as a filmmaker yourself to work in that specific way with David on this movie?

    Ben Stiller: Well, I’ve been a fan of his for a long time, and over the years we’ve tried to figure out something to do together. He is such a good filmmaker. He comes from the independent world. He can work in different genres. But he’s great with comedy and he loves movies. This guy loves movies. He loves making movies. I don’t know when the last time I was on a set with a director where they just literally said out of nowhere, “I love making movies.” But he did a couple days in, I was like, this is my guy. I love it. He was just so excited to capture these kids and this place and this world. He was coming from a very independent, organic place with this movie where he just wanted to make something that I think hearkens back to the world that he comes from with his first movies. He created such a fun atmosphere. As an actor, you just want to work with a filmmaker who has a point of view and has a voice and feels inspired, and that’s what it felt like on this one.

    Director David Gordon Green on the set of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: David, after making three ‘Halloween’ movies and an ‘Exorcist’ film, what was it like to make a family friendly Christmas movie?

    DGG: It is fun because it’s a different set of challenges. How do you not lean into some of the vulgarity and the grotesqueness that gives me such a jolt in the filmmaking process, but this was leaning into different things and trying to find things that felt natural and authentic about childhood and things that made me laugh about this group, this ensemble, and then bringing Ben Stiller into the insanity. It was a different set of circumstances and honesty, it was cool. We shot it on 35 millimeter and really wanted it to be a bit of a flashback to that era of movies and put our modern day independent minded spin on it.

    (L to R) Ben Stiller and director David Gordon Green on the set of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    (L to R) Ben Stiller and director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: The movie is a comedy with dramatic moments. David, can you talk about striking the right tone for this film?

    DGG: It wasn’t difficult once we landed Ben Stiller for the movie. I felt very comfortable with the dramatic gravity of the movie and the comedic opportunity of the movie. He’s one of the few actors in that niche that can play in both ranges so well, so we could lean one way and then feel like we’ve done the funny version of the scene, what happens if we play it in the serious emotional version of the scene? In the editing room, we got to make a lot of those decisions and figure out what our balance was. I was really trying to engineer something that parents and kids would each get something different out of and enjoy watching together.

    Ben Stiller in 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    Ben Stiller in ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: In addition to being a great actor, Ben is also an accomplished writer, director and producer. David, is it an added asset to have someone like him on set?

    DGG: Yeah, it was valuable. He’s an actor I’ve always admired and a director I really admire. The choices he’s making these days, and it had been too long since the last time he was in front of the camera so for me, it was “Hey man, let’s do this. This is an opportunity to let loose and take all the pressure off because it’s not a big franchise.” There’s only so much preparation you can do because these kids have never acted before, been in front of a camera, and the animals are running lose all over their house. You can’t be in control. All you can do is put a camera in a place and start to play. So for both of us, it was a chance to really break the rules that the last several years of our professional careers had constructed these cages around us of discipline and this was just anarchy. What greater collaborator to do that, to step back into that world of anarchy than Ben Stiller?

    (Far Right) Director David Gordon Green and the cast of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    (Far Right) Director David Gordon Green and the cast of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: David, can you talk about working with the Janson siblings and what is it like directing actors who have never acted before?

    DGG: A couple of them couldn’t read and they weren’t going to memorize their scripts in a traditional way, so we brought in an acting coach to give them the essence of a scene and help sculpt what that might be so that when Ben got to town, they would already have a formation of an idea. It wasn’t like “Hey, Arlo, you stand here and say this line.” It wasn’t memorized in that way, it was more like, here’s what the in and out of the scene must achieve, and then we do play to the nuances. Sometimes we’d play it funny, and the kids would be allowed to cuss and other times we’d say “Okay, keep it clean, and let’s do this one in a different style”. It was just playful. It was one 35-millimeter camera sitting on a tripod, and we just try to put it in a place where whoever was the hero of the scene, whether it was Ben or one of the kids or one of the pigs, let’s let them lead the way. Every day unfolded like that. You could have a plan for the day, but it was never going to work. You would always just have to evolve with the realities of this organism of the creative process on this movie. It was fun and liberating in a lot of ways because there weren’t the traditional rules that you have on a movie with either a studio behind you or the pressure of a franchise or these other things that we come face to face with as filmmakers. This was like, let’s just roll the dice and see if these kids are as cool as I think they are, and they exceeded all our expectations.

    The cast of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    The cast of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: Ben, what was your experience like working with the Jansons and acting opposite non-actors?

    BS: I mean, that was one of the reasons I wanted to do the movie, just to have an experience where these kids weren’t going to have a pre-determined idea of what they’re supposed to do or be professionally trained in any way. I felt like if David was thinking that they would be great to be in this movie, then there must be something there and a reason for that. He was right. They just brought so much of their heart and their innocence and their humor to the process. So, every day, as I thought it might be, it was different. We didn’t know what would happen, and it was a little bit chaotic in a great way, and I think that was what David wanted to capture, the real-life moments, and make this film not feel like a cookie cutter movie for the holidays, but really feel like something that was unique and independent and organic. Every day was just fun. It flew by. The whole movie is very real. They are doing the ‘Nutcracker’ at the theater in Wilmington in less than a month. When we shot the movie last year, they were doing the ‘Nutcracker’, and I went to see them all dance, and these guys are amazing dancers. I mean, it’s all kind of real.

    'Nutcrackers’ premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    ‘Nutcrackers’ premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: David, what was it like shooting the ‘Nutcracker’ dance sequence at the end of the film?

    DGG: The kids were preparing to do the ‘Nutcracker’. They’re doing it again right now. They do it every year and so I had their ballet teacher choreograph the scene. I said here’s our version of the story. Can you choreograph something for us? They take ballet three times a week, so they know what they’re doing, and they have the discipline as dancers. I think that was a great attribute to them as actors is there was a little bit of if they have choreographers that they’re working for and the directors of the dance department that they acknowledge and admire, Ben and I could step into those shoes a little bit. They were receptive to the guidance and the sculpture that we were trying to create, and then that just got us ready for the dance sequence in the middle of the night on the street when it was 10 degrees outside, which was a very surreal experience for the entire town. It was a fun community to be making a movie in because there’s not a lot that has filmed in Wilmington, Ohio. It was funny, because we went back to the Murphy Theater where we filmed the movie, where they were going to put on their big dance performance at the end of the film and we played the movie for a crowd. So, it was fun realizing that a lot of people had no idea what we were doing. They were like “Oh, this is a real movie.” I think they thought it was some sort of weird performance art we were just doing on the streets of their town last year. It was cool to have this. They were always very supportive and a welcoming artistic community, so it was cool to be able to find that balance between the agricultural community, the artistic community, and see everybody enjoying a movie with one mindset. It was a beautiful experience.

    'Nutcrackers’ premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    ‘Nutcrackers’ premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: David, in the film, you mention that the Murphy Theater is where actor John Ritter was married. Is that true?

    DGG: It is the theater that John Ritter was married in. I was very proud to be able to work that nuance into it because I’m a big John Ritter fan. So, I love the fact that we could lean into that reality with our tour of the Murphy Theater.

    Ben Stiller in 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    Ben Stiller in ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: There is a scene in the movie where Ben’s character is reading bedtime stories to the kids and ends up retelling the plot of ‘First Blood’. David, was that an improvisation or was that in the script?

    DGG: It was in the script and one of the funny aspects of that scene was our script supervisor, her first job was ‘Rambo III’, so we had a creative consultant there guiding us through some of the attributes of later in the franchise for the kids to know and put their spin on it. That was a fun sequence to film, and it was hard not to laugh every time because Ben had to play it seriously and it was hard for me and the kids not to crack up every time.

    Director David Gordon Green on the set of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: David, if you had to read a bedtime story to a child based on one of your movies, which one would it be?

    DGG: That’s an interesting question because I’ve recently written a children’s book based on ‘Halloween’. That’s out now, and that was a very fun experiment because we were looking at that exact thing that you’re talking about and I thought that would be the one because it’s such a provocative, alluring thing for young readers and young minds. People talk about ‘Halloween’ and Michael Myers and my kids were always so curious about it, but I didn’t want to show them the movie, so I made the children’s book version of it for them. That would be a fun one. I would also do ‘Your Highness’. I think that would be a great one. Danny McBride and I have talked about that maybe it didn’t work financially or commercially as a big budget studio movie, but maybe as a strange, offbeat, animated show for kids would’ve been a better idea. I don’t know. Whenever we’re developing these projects, we’re thinking who is the audience? Sometimes, we say the audience is us and let’s see who joins the parade and other times, you want to engineer it specifically for old, young, male, female, or whatever. But that’s one of the cool things about a movie like ‘Nutcrackers’ is everyone’s invited. I wanted to make a movie that wasn’t necessarily engineered for kids, but I think kids are going to see a lot of themselves in it, crack themselves up and mom and dad are going to enjoy it just as much. ‘Your Highness’, in a weird way, I think one of our mistakes was making it R-rated because it was such silly obnoxiousness that I think if you would’ve been able to have nine-year-old’s go see that movie when it came out, and that might’ve triggered our own juvenile instincts a little differently.

    The cast and crew of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    The cast and crew of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    MF: Finally, David, what did you learn from making this movie and do you think it will change the way you make movies in the future?

    DGG: What it did is it reinstated the confidence I have in my crew, the same crew that made ‘Nutcrackers’ made the ‘Halloween’ movies and the ‘Exorcist’ movie, and so we all needed a palate cleanser after having the experience of the pressure of a franchise on your shoulders. I have to say it’s nice to be making a movie in the shadows that I think people are going to love and I’m not worried about that. I also just love that we’re creating something new from the ground up that also has a nostalgic vibe to it, that feels familiar in a lot of ways to the movies I grew up on in the 80s. Everything I make triggers a lot of the child in me, and so whether that’s the allure of a Michael Myers or the silliness of a ‘Nutcrackers’, I just want to respond to my own inner 11-year-old. Whatever that kid in me is still saying with the possibilities of this industry is where I lean for the next film.

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    What is the plot of ‘Nutcrackers’?

    A workaholic, Mike (Ben Stiller) must travel to rural Ohio to look after his recently orphaned nephews.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Nutcrackers’?

    • Ben Stiller as Michael “Mike” Maxwell
    • Linda Cardellini as Gretchen
    • Homer Janson as Justice
    • Ulysses Janson as Junior
    • Atlas Janson as Samuel
    • Arlo Janson as Simon
    • Toby Huss as Aloysius “Al” Wilmington
    • Edi Patterson as Rose
    (L to R) Director David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller on the set of 'Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
    (L to R) Director David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.

    List of David Gordon Green Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy David Gordon Green Movies on Amazon

     

  • Miramax Buys ‘Halloween’ TV Rights in New Deal

    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.

    Preview

    • Miramax has bought the rights to make TV series based on John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ concept.
    • The deal is with the company that also owns the movie rights, so that could indicate more movie plans.
    • Other companies such as A24 and Blumhouse were also interested in securing a deal.

    Having stalked cinema screens off and on since he first debuted in John Carpenter’s landmark horror ‘Halloween’ back in 1978, Michael Myers could be forgiven for thinking he’d earned a nice long snooze before picking up his knife (or whatever else comes to hand) again for more murderous rampages.

    Yet despite being the subject –– well, alongside his most usual target, Laurie Strode –– of a movie trilogy from David Gordon Green that started with 2018’s eponymous legacy sequel, it looks like he’ll be back for more, and this time on the small screen.

    How so? Miramax has now locked in a deal to buy the rights to make a TV series (probably more than one) based on the basic ‘Halloween’ story from Malek Akkad’s Trancas International Films, which produced the most recent trilogy.

    The new deal gives the company the option to craft TV properties from any elements of the ‘Halloween’ movie story and may even end up in it being able to forge a new cinematic universe around the characters, since that’s what people still seem to want to do these days.

    Miramax speaks out about the ‘Halloween’ deal

    Jamie Lee Curtis in 2018's 'Halloween.'
    Jamie Lee Curtis in 2018’s ‘Halloween.’

    Here’s what Miramax’s Head of Global TV Marc Helwig said about the deal in a statement run on Deadline:

    “We couldn’t be more excited to bring Halloween to television. We are thrilled to expand our long and successful partnership with Trancas and the brilliant Malek Akkad in introducing this iconic franchise to a new form of storytelling and a new generation of fans.”

    For his part, Akkad seems just as enthusiastic:

    “Trancas International Films is extremely enthused to be expanding our long-standing relationship with Miramax, and we look forward to working with Marc Helwig and the entire team in creating this new chapter.”

    Related Article: Andi Matichak and Rohan Campbell Talk Legacy Sequel ‘Halloween Ends’

    Where other companies interested in the ‘Halloween’ rights?

    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    (L to R) Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.

    Miramax was not alone in pursuing the Myers rights – though no one is officially commenting, Deadline heard that other companies had been looking to snap up the chance to make more from ‘Halloween’.

    A24 and Blumhouse (which oversaw the most recent trilogy) were among those making bids and pitches for the rights, and the latter in particular makes sense considering its history with the subject.

    As for what will become of the new show, that’s anyone’s guess at this point –– could it be an expanded universe gamble like MTV’s ‘Scream’ series?

    With Writers Guild of America members now back at work following the strike, we’d expect meetings to start taking place soon. And Michael Myers will be looking to come home again.

    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.

    Other Movies in the ‘Halloween’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Halloween’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Halloween Ends’

    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Andi Matichak as Allyson Nelson in director David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Andi Matichak as Allyson Nelson in director David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Ends.’

    Opening in theaters and streaming on Peacock beginning October 14th, ‘Halloween Ends’ represents David Gordon Green’s stab at closing out the trilogy he began with 2018’s ‘Halloween’.

    You may recall that Green sought to up the mayhem levels in his last outing, 2021’s ‘Halloween Kills’. That film saw mob violence overtake the town of Haddonfield Illinois and largely sidelined Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie, hospitalized after her latest brutal encounter with Michael Myers (played by both James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle).

    While it was a big swing in terms of the mythology, it didn’t quite work, coming across as unfocused and chaotic, and robbing the movie of its personal vengeance connection. It tried to balance that out by (spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie) killing off Laurie’s daughter Karen, played by Judy Greer.

    ‘Ends’ moves the story on four years, as Haddonfield has enjoyed a time of relative calm after the disappearance of Michael Myers. Though the vibrating hum of tension is always present as an undercurrent, Laurie has done her best to move on with life.

    Andi Matichak as Allyson in 'Halloween Ends.'
    Andi Matichak as Allyson in ‘Halloween Ends,’ co-written, produced and directed by David Gordon Green.

    She’s living without a complicated security system, writing about her experiences and the nature of evil and trying to guide granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak), who is still suffering the psychological scars of her parents’ loss and trying to move on by working as a nurse at the local hospital.

    But even as everyone looks to cope and heal, the town is set back on edge when Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) accidentally kills the boy he’s babysitting. Though it’s a tragic mistake, the repercussions are devastating, turning Corey into an unwitting bogeyman and the target of bullies.

    And when he makes an unexpected connection with Allyson, their traumatic histories drawing them together, things become even more complicated, forcing Laurie to act.

    Of course, by this point, you’re probably wondering how Michael Myers factors into all this – but we’ll not reveal that for the sake of keeping the movie’s secrets.

    Jamie Lee Curtis and director David Gordon Green on the set of 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis and director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Halloween Ends.’

    Suffice to say, this once again represents Green, plus co-writers Danny McBride, Chris Bernier and Paul Brad Logan, still trying new ideas within the existing ‘Halloween’ mythology. But as with ‘Kills’, the results are severely mixed.

    Curtis is thankfully handed more to do as Laurie this time, and of course she’s still fantastic as the haunted heroine we’ve come to know and worry about. Switching up her attitude once more works for the character, as she tries to put the past behind her and concentrate instead on a future for her and her family.

    But of course, she can never quite put Michael Myers out of her mind, given all the pain and suffering she’s endured at his hands (and knives).

    The emphasis, though, is less on her than it is on Matichak and Campbell. And while they try to make the unexpected partnership work, there’s often the creeping feeling that you’re watching people act a certain way because the movie demands they do, not out of logic. Certain actions you can understand, but as the narrative goes to more extreme ends, it becomes less easy to comprehend.

    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham in director David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.' Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham in David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham in director David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Ends.’

    Campbell’s Corey is at least an interesting addition to the story, a young man pushed to extraordinary behavior by guilt, grief and the local community’s reaction to him. He’s got a haranguing mother and an indulgent quiet-spoken father, so there are added layers to how he’s gotten to this point and what happens when he decides he’s been pushed too far.

    As for others in Haddonfield, there are brief, human moments for Kyle Richards’ Lindsey and particularly Will Patton’s Hawkins, who fosters his tentative feelings for Laurie. But while the story is fortunately trying to juggle far fewer balls this time, there’s still the feeling of not quite hitting all its targets.

    On a subtextual level, there are attempts here to reflect on the effects of trauma and the continuing injuries that no one can see or comprehend. And in slightly clunky voice-over as she continues writing, Laurie muses on the nature of evil.

    For those after a slasher movie – because, after all, isn’t that what we really want from a ‘Halloween’ installment? – there could be some disappointment, at least until the slaying starts. But while it was Laurie in the background in ‘Kills’, here it’s her nemesis, which can be disappointing (again, we won’t go into details).

    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in director David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.'
    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in director David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Ends.’

    Musically, ‘Ends’ is of course up to the task, with franchise founder John Carpenter once more providing the score, all electronic terror and creeping notes.

    As shot by Michael Simmonds, who was cinematographer for both ‘Halloween’ and ‘Halloween Kills’, Haddonfield here is at least authentic looking (albeit with suburban Illinois played by Georgia and Utah) and there are some fantastic visual moments.

    Green has also not lost his talent for building tension. There’s less of it here than in the previous two movies, but he and his team are adroit at designing sequences that quicken the pulse. Yes, there are the usual fake-outs and jump scares, but Green doesn’t lean on them.

    Without going into specifics, ‘Ends’ truly does aim to wrap a bow on at least Green’s take on the franchise but pushed to slightly ridiculous levels. The result is a movie that succeeds more than ‘Kills’ but never lives up to the promise of the director’s first film featuring Laurie vs. Michael.

    ‘Halloween’ as a franchise never truly ends (no matter how many times Michael has died – or appeared to), but this particular conclusion is never as satisfying as it might have been, and that’s a shame.

    ‘Halloween Ends’ receives 2.5 out of 5 stars.

    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
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  • ‘Halloween Ends’ Interviews: Andi Matichak and Rohan Campbell

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    Opening in theaters on October 14th is ‘Halloween Ends,’ which is the thirteenth film in the ‘Halloween’ franchise and the final movie in the “H40” trilogy that began with 2018’s ‘Halloween’ and continued with 2021’s ‘Halloween Kills.’

    Once again directed by David Gordon Green (‘Pineapple Express’) and co-written by Danny McBride (‘Tropic Thunder’), ‘Halloween Ends’ stars Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her iconic role as Laurie Strode.

    Set four years after the events of ‘Halloween Kills’ and Michael Myers last rampage, the new movie finds Laurie living a quiet life with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak). But when Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.

    In addition to Curtis, Matichak, and Campbell, the cast also includes Will Patton, Kyle Richards, and James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle, who together portray Michael Myers.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking to Andi Matichak and Rohan Campbell about their work on ‘Halloween Ends,’ their characters, the plot, and working with director David Gordon Green.

    Rohan Campbell and Andi Matichak star in 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Rohan Campbell and Andi Matichak star in ‘Halloween Ends,’ co-written, produced and directed by David Gordon Green.

    You can read the full interview below of click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Matichak, Campbell, and Kyle Richards.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Andi, Allyson went through a lot in ‘Halloween Kills.’ What is she doing when we catch up with her at the beginning of ‘Halloween Ends?’

    Andi Matichak: What is really wonderful is that there is that four-year time jump. So, we had a lot of attention to detail and a lot of care went into figuring out what happened and where she goes on that journey in that four-year period that as an audience you do not see. When you meet Allyson in this new version, she’s seemingly quite okay.

    She is trying to live a pretty normal life and holds a job and just has this kind of stoic facade. The thing about trauma and the thing about pain and tragedy is it kind of lives within you. Even if you’ve done the work, done the healing and moved on in the best way you can, it still is right under the surface. As new characters emerge and new relationships blossom, it’s kind of tested and you start to get a peek underneath, which is really a fun exploration of character.

    MF: Rohan, what does it mean to you to be a part of this movie and join the ‘Halloween’ franchise?

    Rohan Campbell: It’s crazy. It’s just incredible. I mean, obviously I’m a massive fan of John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween.’ It was one of the first horror movies I ever watched. It’s a crazy thing because the opportunity comes and you’re so excited. I was so amped.

    Then you show up on set and you’re actually making a ‘Halloween’ movie and you freak out. You’re like, “What am I doing here? This is crazy!” It’s just an honor. I’m so grateful and it’s just been the most special experience of my life so far.

    Director David Gordon Green, Andi Matichak and Kyle Richards on the set of 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Director David Gordon Green, Andi Matichak and Kyle Richards on the set of ‘Halloween Ends.’

    MF: Andi, what was it like for you to reunite with director David Gordon Green after making the last two ‘Halloween’ movies with him?

    AM: He is an incredible filmmaker. This to me is really David Gordon Green’s stamp on the franchise. This is him personified in a movie and albeit a ‘Halloween’ movie. It is an incredible film. I have a deep appreciation for it, largely because I do feel like it’s so close to David’s heart. He’s such a blast to work with.

    MF: Finally, Rohan, what was your experience like working with David Gordon Green on this project?

    RC: I think when I first watched the film, I had an experience where the movie’s end credits are rolling, and I said, “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a movie with a tone like this.” I realized it’s just the purest part of David coming out in cinema. It’s such a wild ride and I can’t wait for people to watch it.

    Allyson (Andi Matichak) and Corey (Rohan Campbell) in 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Allyson (Andi Matichak) and Corey (Rohan Campbell) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ co-written, produced and directed by David Gordon Green.
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  • New ‘Halloween Ends’ Trailer

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    How exactly do you go about ending a run of films where the villain has a notorious habit of always coming back? That’s the challenged faced by director David Gordon Green, who gave the ‘Halloween’ horror franchise a jolt back in 2018 with his first entry (which directly followed the events of the original and largely ignored most of the other sequels) and is here wrapping up his own run on the movies.

    Jamie Lee Curtis is back once again as Laurie Strode, one of the few survivors of Michael Myers’ original October slaughter rampage, who has since turned herself into a lean, mean fighting machine, ready to put an end to him once and for all.

    To be honest, we’ve heard that before – no matter how many times someone (even Laurie) thinks they have put an end to Michael, he always seems to return, ready to pick up whatever is around and start slashing people.

    This latest movie is being billed as Laurie’s last stand, as she faces off for the last time against the embodiment of evil in a final confrontation unlike any captured on-screen before. Only one of them will survive.

    Four years after the events of last year’s ‘Halloween Kills’, Laurie is living with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and is finishing writing her memoir. Michael Myers hasn’t been seen since. Laurie, after allowing the specter of Michael to determine and drive her reality for decades, has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life.

    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham in director David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.' Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham in David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham in director David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Ends.’

    But when a young man, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.

    And from the sounds of it, both Green (who is already moving on to an ‘Exorcist’ movie) and Curtis are ready to hang up their respective director’s chairs and knives. “I speak with John (Carpenter, godfather of the whole movie series) and Jamie Lee Curtis regularly about it,” Green told Empire magazine recently. “It’s exciting, uncertain, satisfying and sad. I’ve enjoyed the ride but it’s probably time to get off. I think we’re gonna go out with a bang.”

    But while there will – of course – be blood, don’t expect quite such a huge conflict as the Haddonfield-engulfing drama of the previous movie. “If our second film was free-for-all, violent chaos, this is a more intimate, atmospheric conclusion,” says Green.

    As well as directing, Green wrote this one with regular collaborators director Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier and Danny McBride.

    The movie also features the likes of returning cast Will Patton as Officer Frank Hawkins, Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace and James Jude Courtney as The Shape/Michael Myers.

    ‘Halloween Ends’ will be in theaters and streaming via Peacock on October 14th.

    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and director David Gordon Green on the set of 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Halloween Ends.’
    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in director David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.'
    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in director David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Ends.’
    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Andi Matichak as Allyson Nelson in director David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.'
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Andi Matichak as Allyson Nelson in director David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Ends.’
    Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    (L to R) Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    (L to R) Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
    Will Patton as Deputy Frank Hawkins in director David Gordon Green's 'Halloween Ends.'
    Will Patton as Deputy Frank Hawkins in director David Gordon Green’s ‘Halloween Ends.’
    Director David Gordon Green on the set of 'Halloween Ends.'
    Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Halloween Ends.’
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  • Beyond Fest Announces Full Line Up

    Beyond Fest runs September 27th – October 11th.
    Beyond Fest runs September 27th – October 11th in Los Angeles.

    We brought word last week that hugely popular genre festival Beyond Fest would be featuring a retrospective about the work of ‘RRR’ director S.S. Rajamouli. Now the full details of this year’s event have arrived.

    The complete slate of 2022 programming comprises 63 features, including 10 world premieres, 3 US premieres, and 25 West Coast Premieres over 15 days of cinematic excess from September 27th – October 11th.

    Partnering with American Cinematheque, Beyond Fest will screen at the legendary IMAX at the TCL Chinese, Hollywood Legion Theatre, Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3, and IMAX headquarters with all ticket sales going to the 501c3 non-profit film institution.

    The tenth anniversary of the festival will open with two free screenings of Finn Parker’s horror ‘Smile’ and closes with a world premiere of David Gordon Green’s wrap-up to his ‘Halloween’ trilogy, ‘Halloween Ends’.

    Other world premieres include ‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism’ and Joe Begos’ festive epic ‘Christmas Bloody Christmas’.

    The new ‘Hellraiser’ (which we wrote about here), directed by David Bruckner, will screen with in-person appearances from Bruckner himself.

    Quinta Brunson as Oprah Winfrey, and Daniel Radcliffe as "Weird Al" Yankovic in The Roku Channel's 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.'
    (L to R) Quinta Brunson as Oprah Winfrey, and Daniel Radcliffe as “Weird Al” Yankovic in The Roku Channel’s ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.’

    And just in case you think it’s all horror all the time, the festival will also offer ‘WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story’, and Martin McDonagh’s caustic comedy ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’.

    In a first for the fest, a partnership with IMAX will offer some exclusive screenings at the company’s HQ, including ‘Dunkirk’, ‘Gravity’ (in 3D) and ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’.

    “After the rejuvenating 2021 edition reminded us of the importance of cinema and community, we knew our 10th anniversary had to be special,” head of programming Evrim Ersoy said. ‘And here we are with a program as eclectic, electric and diverse as the community we serve with old masters mingling with new talent and a chance to discover and celebrate the whole spectrum of films including some once-in-a-lifetime dream events. Long live cinema and glory to the People’s Republic!”

    All Beyond Fest programming at the Los Feliz 3 Theatre is 100% free courtesy of streaming service Shudder. Rebranded as the ‘Shudder Theater,’ it will be host to a series of hotly anticipated titles including the world premiere of social media horror ‘Grimcutty’ from director John William Ross, West Coast premieres of Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper’s visionary science-fiction epic ‘Vesper’ from IFC films.

    Also on offer? A24’s one-take hairdressing murder mystery ‘Medusa Deluxe,’ Amanda Kramer’s ‘Give Me Pity!’, the SXSW breakout ‘Deadstream’, Decal’s Jewish lore horror ‘The Offspring’, Austrian shocker ‘Family Dinner’ and the latest journey into the heart of human darkness from ‘Tickled’ director David Farrier, ‘ Mister Organ’.

    For TV fans, there will be a special screening of Showtime’s new small-screen adaptation of vampire tale ‘Let The Right One In’.

    Tickets will be on sale via americancinematheque.com on Wednesday, September 14th at 10am PST. Visit beyondfest.com and americancinematheque.com for full details on programming and venues.

    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    (L to R) Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.

  • First Trailer For ‘Halloween Ends’

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    How many times can Michael Myers truly come back to terrorize the residents of Haddonfield?

    If the ‘Halloween’ franchise is anything to go by, the answer to that is, “as long as people show up to watch the movies.” And the latest entry is on the way this fall, so the first trailer for ‘Halloween Ends’ has now stalked online.

    Director David Gordon Green, who gave the horror franchise a jolt back in 2018 with his first ‘Halloween’ (which directly followed the events of the original and largely ignored most of the other sequels), is here wrapping up his own run on the movies.

    Jamie Lee Curtis is back once again as Laurie Strode, one of the few survivors of Michael Myers’ original October slaughter rampage, who has since turned herself into a lean, mean fighting machine, ready to put an end to him once and for all.

    To be honest, we’ve heard that before – no matter how many times someone (even Laurie) thinks they have put an end to Michael, he always seems to return, ready to pick up whatever is around and start slashing people.

    This latest movie is being billed as Laurie’s last stand, as she faces off for the last time against the embodiment of evil in a final confrontation unlike any captured on-screen before. Only one of them will survive.

    Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in 'Halloween Ends,' directed by David Gordon Green.
    (L to R) Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in ‘Halloween Ends,’ directed by David Gordon Green.

    Four years after the events of last year’s ‘Halloween Kills’, Laurie is living with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and is finishing writing her memoir. Michael Myers hasn’t been seen since. Laurie, after allowing the specter of Michael to determine and drive her reality for decades, has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life.

    But when a young man, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.

    You knew it wasn’t going to be that easy, right? Laurie’s spent decades being worried that Michael would return, even when everyone else was convinced he was gone for good. Of course, he wasn’t, and the end of ‘Halloween Kills’ hinted that he’d once more be wandering the suburb killing people.

    Green now faces the true challenge of putting a capper on the whole story – even if someone picks up the baton in the future.

    ‘Halloween Ends’ co-stars returning cast Will Patton as Officer Frank Hawkins, Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace and James Jude Courtney as The Shape/Michael Myers.

    As well as directing the movie, Green also co-wrote it with regular collaborators Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier and Danny McBride.

    ‘Halloween Ends’ will be in theaters on October 14th, just in time for… is it Christmas? No, wait, another holiday that slips our mind right now.

    ‘Halloween Ends’ will be in theaters on October 14th.
    ‘Halloween Ends’ will be in theaters on October 14th.
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  • John Carpenter Confirms He Is Scoring Both ‘Halloween’ Sequels

    Blumhouse

    John Carpenter is bringing his legendary touch back to the “Halloween” sequels.

    The iconic horror director served as an executive producer on last year’s “Halloween,” the direct follow-up to his 1978 original slasher film. He also scored the movie.

    Now, Carpenter has confirmed he will return to score the two sequels, “Halloween Kills” and “Halloween Ends.”

    “I loved it, It was a lot of fun,” Carpenter told ComicBook.com of scoring the 2018 film. “And I’ll do the score, do a new score. That’s always fun.”

    He added, “I’m on board. Let’s go.”

    Carpenter has scored many of his own movies, which early on in his career, was a financial decision to save money. His father was a music teacher, which sparked his initial interest. Carpenter was an early adopter of synthesizers, since his film debut “Dark Star.”

    In recent years, he’s released and went on tour with three studio albums: “Lost Themes” (2015), “Lost Themes II” (2016), and “Anthology: Movie Themes 1974–1998” (2017).

    “Halloween Kills” is coming October 16, 2020. “Halloween Ends” will conclude the saga of serial killer Michael Myers on October 15, 2021.

  • Two ‘Halloween’ Sequels Confirmed, Titles Revealed

    Two ‘Halloween’ Sequels Confirmed, Titles Revealed

    Blumhouse

    Save the date for the next two Halloweens.

    A teaser trailer has confirmed “Halloween” is getting two sequels — and revealed the titles.

    “Halloween Kills” is coming October 16, 2020. “Halloween Ends” will conclude the saga of serial killer Michael Myers on October 15, 2021.

    Director David Gordon Green is likely to return to direct the sequels for the 2018 hit film, which brought back Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode to battle the demented murderer.

    A follow-up is a no-brainer considering “Halloween” raked in over $225 million worldwide. Blum previously told Moviefone that he hopes “to make 10 more” “Halloween” films.

    When Green and co-writer Danny McBride set out on the 2018 project, they apparently planned to make two movies, but ended up just making the one.

    “We were going to shoot two of them back-to-back. Then we were like, Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This could come out, and everyone could hate us, and we’d never work again,” McBride told EW.

    “So, we were like, Let’s learn from this, and see what works, and what doesn’t. But we definitely have an idea of where we would go [with] this branch of the story and hopefully we get a chance to do it.”

    Of course, “Halloween” went on to make oodles of money at the box office and fans are clamoring for more. And even after “Halloween Ends,” you never know what might be resurrected.