The original Scream, helmed by Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson, helped usher in a new era of horror where the main characters were aware of the tropes of the genre classics and all of the tropes that came with them. As the film became a hit and transformed into a franchise, the meta-narrative approach became a fun way to comment on the state of horror, usually with Jamie Kennedy as Randy Meeks explaining “the rules.” After the passing of Wes Craven, many thought the franchise was over, but directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett—also known as Radio Silence—crafted a clever reboot in 2022, bringing back legacy characters Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette, while passing the torch to the self-proclaimed “core four” of Samantha and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega) and Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (Jasmine Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding).
The passage of time from Scream 4 (2011) to Scream (2022), mixed with the takedown of toxic fan culture and reboots, made the first go-round without the late Wes Craven a memorable entry that revitalized what many thought was impossible. Unfortunately, Scream VI coming out only a year later, and without the franchise’s leading lady Neve Campbell, means it doesn’t carry the same weight. What it does do is take the main cast out of Woodsboro—a welcome change—and bring them to New York City. To nobody’s surprise, Ghostface returns. The main distinction for this Ghostface is that the mask is weathered like the Michael Myers one in the Halloween reboot. The relentless killing style and set pieces that Radio Silence are known for also return.
Scream VI picks up with Tara (Jenna Ortega) and the other members of the core four going to college in New York to escape their traumatic past and make a new start. Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) from Scream 4 is also back to help the survivors, as well as Scream veteran Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox). The newcomers to the cast include Detective Wayne Bailey (Dermot Mulroney), Mindy’s girlfriend Anika (Devyn Nekoda), the hot next-door neighbor Josh (Danny Brackett), and the roommates Ethan (Jack Champion) and Quinn (Liana Liberato). Like all Scream movies, part of the fun is trying to narrow down who is behind the Ghostface mask, and your enjoyment of the final reveal largely results in your ability to suspend your disbelief — something that becomes harder to do the more you think about events of the movie.
The movie’s main appeal comes from the talented cast of young actors. In only two movies, their charisma and acting talent does a lot of heavy lifting since there isn’t a ton of time for characterization once the murders start happening. The setting of New York also works to its advantage, taking locations like alleys, bodegas, high-rise apartments, and subways and turning them into bloody crime scenes. Radio Silence are gifted when it comes to crafting memorable set pieces and kills that are distinctly brutal. The flickering lights in the subway scene and the scene where they have to climb across apartment buildings in particular, are the standouts. The opening sequence, which is a staple of this franchise, is also such a shocking deviation that made me excited for where the movie could go. I just wish the rest of the film lived up to this “all bets are off” premise that they established.
Scream VI is a serviceable sequel that will appease fans, but I am starting to wonder where else they can go from here? Ghostface in space has a ring to it. I’m joking, but when a killer goes after Gale for the SIXTH time in this movie, one starts to wonder why you wouldn’t just move to another country and change your name at that point. The friendship among the core four is what makes you root for them to survive, but with every passing sequel, the ability to suspend disbelief becomes harder. That’s why I’m hoping for Scream VII they throw out the rulebook and do something truly inventive and surprising. It’s what Randy would have wanted.
Final Rating:
‘Scream VI’ is now playing in theaters
Rated R.
(Photo: Paramount Pictures)
