The Legacy Character Halloween Ends MUST Finally Introduce
Halloween Ends is exceptionally well-suited for finally introducing an infamous yet entirely unseen legacy character from franchise past: Ben Tramer. Once a singular mention in 1978's Halloween, he has since been re-introduced to the new timeline established by David Gordon Green in his film Halloween Kills, the second installment of his legacy Halloween trilogy. However, fans have yet to get a glimpse of the mysterious Ben Tramer, who now appears to be much more a myth than a man.
There isn't much information about Ben in the new timeline beyond Laurie Strode, who briefly admits her crush on him to Annie Bracket in '78's Halloween, followed by a second mention by Laurie when she and Sheriff Hawkins reminisce side by side in Halloween Kills. When Annie asks who Laurie wants to attend the prom with in '78's Halloween, she wastes no time naming Ben Tramer. In Halloween Kills, Laurie and Hawkins share a hospital room. Thanks again to the infamous Michael Myers; both are badly injured, but they share their memories over the years, and Hawkins speaks to the crush Laurie once had on Ben, but neither mentions him further.
Since Green has re-introduced relatively minor legacy characters like Tommy Doyle, Lindsey Wallace, and even Doctor Loomis' former assistant, Marion Chambers, to his franchise timeline, Green must finally give life to Ben Tramer and mark his first legitimate appearance in Green's upcoming Halloween Ends. The character has been alluded to for nearly fifty years but remains unseen. One mention in '78's Halloween might indicate a throwaway line to a minor character. But a second mention in Halloween Kills, decades, and an entirely reconstructed timeline later either alludes to a fun, nostalgic wink or, hopefully, a tease at a long-awaited reveal.
While outside the new timeline of the David Gordon Green films, Ben Tramer also appears in 1981's Halloween II (the direct sequel to '78's Halloween, written by the infamous horror master John Carpenter). This film doesn't play into the continuity of the new Halloween timeline. Still, it's an essential film to understanding why Green must finally introduce Ben Tramer, as it's the only other real glimpse of him, and it's a miserable one, one definitely deserving of redemption. While he's still not directly revealed to the audience here, he's at least present. Unfortunately for Ben, though, he meets his untimely death as a police car rams him into a parked van with the assumption that he's Michael Myers. His Halloween costume is remarkably similar to Michael's, so it's understandable but sad nonetheless. Halloween II reveals just how tragic Ben Tramer's storyline has been so far, and Halloween Ends marks the perfect chance for redemption.
Though David Gordon Green chose to retcon '78's Halloween following sequels, Halloween Kills does make part of 1981's Halloween II part of the new timeline. Since the archival footage doesn't speak to Ben, he's likely still alive and well, as neither Laurie nor Hawkins mention him dead. The groundwork for his possible introduction comes directly from 2018's Halloween, where Laurie reveals she's been divorced twice and had a one-night stand with a man from a local bar, resulting in her daughter, Karen Nelson. Either of these three unnamed men could very easily be Ben; it's the perfect opportunity to legitimize Ben as a possible character and reveal Karen's mysterious father in Halloween Ends. With her daughter's death at the end of Halloween Kills, Laurie Strode needs all the help she can muster, and having Ben at her side could aid her in the final Halloween confrontation with Michael Myers.
There has always been a mystery behind the ever confusing legacy of Ben Tramer. His lack of a legitimate appearance in the new film canon and his unfortunate demise in the original timeline has created a creative crossroads for the character. Halloween Ends is a perfect opportunity to pivot his storyline away from brief timeline mentions and his tragic fate in Halloween II by finally bringing a real face to the legacy of Ben Tramer.