What actually happens
Two podcasters wave a mask at a man who does not react
On October 29, 2018, Michael Myers has been locked up in Smith's Grove for forty years and is about to be moved to a facility called Glass Hill. Two true crime podcasters, Aaron Korey and Dana Haines, visit and show Michael his old mask, and he does not react. In Haddonfield, Laurie Strode drinks heavily and rarely leaves her fortified house. Her daughter Karen was taken from her at age twelve, and Laurie's granddaughter Allyson tries to keep in touch. On the night of October 30, the bus carrying Michael crashes, and he gets away after killing two people and taking their truck. The next morning he finds Aaron and Dana at his sister Judith's grave and kills them, then a mechanic for his overalls, and takes his mask back out of Aaron's car. Laurie hears he has escaped and tries to warn Karen, who tells her to let it go.
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Halloween night, as scheduled
Later, Allyson walks in on her boyfriend Cameron with someone else at a party, so she leaves with his friend Oscar. Michael murders her best friend Vicky and Vicky's boyfriend Dave. Deputy Frank Hawkins, the officer who took Michael into custody back in 1978, hears it on the radio with Laurie, and they head to the house. There Laurie lays eyes on Michael for the first time since 1978 and shoots him, but he gets away. The police take Laurie, Karen and Karen's husband Ray to Laurie's house for protection.
The doctor has been studying Michael personally
Dr. Ranbir Sartain, Michael's psychiatrist and a former student of Dr. Loomis, convinces Sheriff Barker to help him hunt Michael. Michael kills Oscar, then Hawkins and Sartain rescue Allyson. Hawkins disables Michael and tries to finish him, but Sartain, now completely fixated on Michael, jumps Hawkins and abandons him for dead. Sartain has been behind the escape the whole time, because he wanted to study Michael in the wild. He sets off for Laurie's house with the unconscious Michael and Allyson shut in the back seat together. Michael wakes, kills Sartain, and Allyson runs. Michael then kills the two officers outside Laurie's home and strangles Ray.
Laurie's house finally gets to be a trap
The showdown happens in Laurie's house near the end of the movie. Michael stabs Laurie and throws her off a balcony. When he walks down to look at her body, it is gone, which echoes their first meeting forty years ago. Karen shoots him in the cheek, and then Laurie, helped by Karen and Allyson, locks him in the safe room. The three women set the house on fire, and Laurie bids Michael farewell, then passes out. This is the scene people brace for, and you can expect a fight and a fire, with all three women walking away. The family takes Laurie to the hospital, and the last shot of the burning basement shows no sign of Michael.
The ending, explained
Laurie, Karen and Allyson lock Michael in the safe room and set the house on fire. Laurie says goodbye to him and faints, and her family drives her to the hospital. The last shot is the burning basement, with no sign of Michael, and after the credits his breathing can be heard, which suggests he survived. Aaron, Dana, Vicky, Dave, Oscar, Ray, the mechanic, two police officers and Dr. Sartain are dead. Hawkins was left for dead.
The post-credits ruling
There is a post-credits scene in which Michael's breathing is heard, which suggests he survived.
✓ Spoiled safelyDog status: fine, no dog dies.
Questions people ask at 1am
Is Halloween (2018) scary?
Yes, Halloween (2018) is a 6 out of 10. The dread is medium, with real tension, some jump scares and a fair amount of bloodshed.
How does Halloween (2018) end?
Laurie, Karen and Allyson lock Michael in the safe room and burn the house. They survive, and the last shot shows no sign of him, although a sound after the credits suggests he is still alive.
Does the dog die in Halloween (2018)?
No dog dies in Halloween (2018).
Is there a post-credits scene in Halloween (2018)?
Yes. Halloween (2018) has a post-credits scene in which Michael's breathing is heard, which suggests he survived.
Who is Dr. Sartain in Halloween (2018)?
Dr. Ranbir Sartain is Michael's psychiatrist and a former student of Dr. Loomis. He becomes obsessed with Michael, arranges the escape to study him in the wild, and Michael kills him.
