The following contains spoilers for Halloween Ends, now playing in theaters.
At the core of the Halloween series has (usually) been Michael Myers, the nominally human but unstoppable murderer who stalks people across the town of Haddonfield. But there've been plenty of fans who've speculated there might be something more unique to Michael, given his apparent invulnerability to pain and death -- especially extending to the modern version of the series, building to Halloween Ends.
While Halloween Ends never overtly makes Michael Myers a supernatural entity, it's hard to describe what he accomplishes in the film without ascribing it to some unexplainable phenomenon affixed to the character. This seemingly confirms fan theories that the Shape has never truly been just a man.
Michael Myers Gets a New Accomplice and New Powers
Halloween Ends reveals that since the events of the prior film, Michael Myers has been more or less in hiding, living in the tunnels underneath the town of Haddonfield. While the town has struggled to overcome the trauma of his most recent rampage, Michael has more or less lain in wait, unseen by the public. He only makes his return as a result of a chance encounter with Corey (Rohan Campbell), a put-upon young man who is consistently insulted and feared by the town for his role in the accidental death of a child years earlier. After being left for dead, Michael discovers Corey -- and the encounter ends up reinvigorating both men in a particularly dark way.
Staring into Michael's eyes seems to transform Corey, with multiple characters saying he's become different during the film's events. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) picks up on this transformation and increasingly fears the romance blossoming between him and Alyson (Andi Matichak) as a result. Meanwhile, Michael is reinvigorated by Corey bringing him a victim, seemingly regaining his full stature and strength by the act. Michael kills alongside Corey and eventually follows after him when the young killer steals his mask -- ultimately delivering the finishing blow to Corey and reclaiming his mask for a final battle with Laurie that sees him take multiple knives to the chest and continue to fight.
Halloween Ends Hints at Michael's True Nature
Michael's uncanny endurance and strength have always been a factor in the character, explaining why it takes so much to bring the villain down once and for all. The previous film in the franchise, Halloween Kills, featured plenty of realism-breaking amplification of Michael's strength and toughness. But Halloween Ends takes it to the next level, arguably making Michael Myers supernatural in some way. Although all of his actions could theoretically have realistic explanations, they make much more sense as acts of a force of nature rather than a person. Michael's influence on Corey is described as an "infection," suggesting Michael might have genuinely grafted a murderous aspect into Corey -- something even the father of the boy he killed admits Corey never had before. Michael gaining apparent strength from murder could be taken as a literal device, with Michael's strength and durability increasing with each kill.
That concept could easily explain not just Michael's renewed strength in Halloween Ends, but his durability across the entire series, explaining why Michael could survive so much punishment. The final battle with Laurie even sees Michael get stabbed directly in the chest and still get up, suggesting he's truly inhuman in some way. It doesn't make him immortal -- as Laurie finally kills him and mulches up his body for good measure -- but the apparent supernatural edge to Michael explains why she has to go to such extreme measures to ensure his demise remains permanent. Although it's never overtly confirmed in the film itself, Michael's actions border on the inexplicable if he is meant to just be taken as a man, suggesting the long-running theories that even connect Michael to the franchise's supernatural entry might have been onto something.
To see how Michael Myers isn't simply a man in a mask, Halloween Ends is in theaters and on Peacock Premium now.