Why Doesn'T Michael Myers Die?
Credit: Universal Pictures

Michael Myers is the primary antagonist in the movie franchise Halloween.

The Backstory: Myers was institutionalized as a youngster for the murder of his older sister, Judith Myers. After 15 years in captivity, Myers escapes and goes on a murderous rampage on his way back home.

Unanswered Questions: Whether you watch the original 70s Halloween movies or the newer movies, fans are always left with a slew of unanswered questions. Most of them surround Myers’ mortality because he always seems to come back.

  • Is Michael Myers even human?
  • Is he capable of being killed?

Read on for what we know about Michael Myers.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

Why Can’t Michael Myers Die?

Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers - Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes

In Halloween Ends, Michael Myers is put through a grinder – which he’s unlikely to come back from. However, Halloween Ends is the end of just one trilogy. In previous movies, he truly did have superpowers that kept him alive.

Michael Myers could not die in the earlier films because The Cult of Thorn has cursed children from his tribe, rendering them “immortal.” They also commanded him to murder every family member as a sacrifice to maintain the cult members’ immortality.

This supernatural power was even hinted at during the recent trilogy. For instance, in Halloween Kills, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) delivers a monolog in which she explains her belief that Michael Myers has transcended and became something other than human.

During the scene, Michael is led into the streets and violently attacked by a crowd of Haddonfield locals in the movie’s final act. He appears to be defeated for good, but we see the villain rise and massacre mob members after hearing Laurie’s revelation. He also emerges from the darkness in the Myers house in the last seconds of the movie.

Laurie stated, “a mortal man could not have survived what he has endured.” He has been beaten and bludgeoned so many times that it’s difficult to think he survived as a simple human. And this is why he was put through the grinder (literally) in Halloween Ends.

Can Michael Myers Die?

Michael Myers has died several times throughout the Halloween franchise, yet he is always resurrected, even when it makes no sense. Who is to say he won’t be resurrected again for future Halloween movies?

Carpenter’s 1978 movie had him stabbed in the chest by Laurie and then shot six times by Loomis, falling from a balcony in the process. But, then Michael was gone seconds later when Loomis peered down at the ground where his body just was.

Laurie also shot Michael in the eyes, blinding him, and Loomis set off an explosion at the hospital. And yet, Michael was spotted moments after walking through the flames.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch deviated from the Michael Myers plot line and told a whole different story. However, The Boogeyman reappeared in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and he was struck by a truck and shot many times.

Michael was nursed back to health in Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers by a hermit (whom he subsequently murdered) and he was later battered severely and rendered comatose. Yet, he still survived.

Can he come back from the grinder? Who knows, but where one trilogy ends, another one can begin.

Is Michael Myers Immortal?

According to certain supporters, he cannot die due to the “Curse Of The Thorn.” As mentioned previously, this is a tribal ceremony where one family is sacrificed to ensure the community’s survival. The family must be killed by one of their members who is chosen and endowed with the Thorn community’s “blessing.” The curse brainwashes the chosen member into murdering their family for the group.

As he has yet to kill a living family member, this could be why Myers keeps returning. His sister, his niece, and the niece’s infant are all connected.

Check Out: How to Watch Halloween Movies in Chronological Order

The Curse Of The Thorn effectively transforms him into a superhuman, but we’ve seen he’s not invincible. We will have to wait until the next movie to officially decide if Michael Myers is immortal. If he were to die, some of us may sleep better, but the horror franchise would be missed on the TV screen.