Synopsis: Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.
Everyone carries their trauma differently. Some of us walk around with a chip on our shoulder and deep-rooted hatred and a general disdain for everything, while others of us transformed a bad situation into fuel to succeed despite the circumstances. On the other hand, you may not even realize that something has traumatized you until it swallows you up like a black cloak. Nevertheless, you have to deal with what is and has happened to you. Whether it’s enrolling in therapy or something else that is productive, we must do right by ourselves in order to do right by others. Moreover, there may not be a definitive “right” way to rectify what plagues you, but there are wrong ways and unfortunately, it can negatively affect those around us. So, in order to avoid ending up in a pool of your own vomit or blood, look inward and take the necessary steps to get better. Just don’t end up as a psychopath in a mask, we know how that story ends for you.
“When do I get to be a normal person again?”
Now that Woodsboro is taking a slice out of the Big Apple, someone let the Wu-Tang Clan know that there is a new Ghostface in town and he’s a real killer. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett, Scream VI will have you screaming for more. This sequel to the requel is exactly what you want it to be and greater than you can imagine. Elevated in almost every way, it’s the best since the original. The tone is darker while still maintaining the meta-wit that we’ve come to love and define the franchise, the stakes are as big as the city it’s set in, not to mention the brutality and gore of the are at their peak. Additionally, the performances are outstanding and the deception is at an all-time high. As Scream continues its legacy as arguably the greatest slasher franchise of them all, the world of Woodsboro has never felt this tense or suspenseful. No one is safe and everyone is a suspect.
“You fuck with my family, you die.”
As the story takes the natural next step and sends the teens to college and to another coast for the first time, it grows in sophistication as well. There is not only a diabolical intricacy to who Ghostface is and the motive and conspiracies behind the attacks, but there is an emotional focus on trauma and its effects as well as family and independence. And in classic meta-form, it examines itself and asks the philosophical question about what contemporary horror tells us about ourselves. Consequently, as we live in an egotistic, self-aggrandizing, trollish, gentrified, conspiracy theorist trauma vacuum, the film reflects that. And as the size and scale of this stab-happy blood-spattered romp dwarf its predecessors, Scream VI creates a fresh new path with extraordinary potential.
There is no shortage of meetings between knives and flesh with kills that will make you gasp. The wit comes at you fast and only in precise moments as this sixth installment ramps up the drama. Homage is paid to other fan-favorite horror franchises as well as past Scream films as the previous five play a major role in this murderous mystery. And of course, some familiar faces return. The sound and visuals are astounding, the score is thrilling, and the chemistry is top-tier. The film is unpredictable, revitalizing, and the opening sequence is unforgettable. This is not only a blood-dripping good time but it’s a great theater experience. I loved it. Its rewatchability is high.
Oh, and don’t forget to stay for the post-credits scene
Pacing & Pop
The pacing of the film is perfect and incredibly satisfying. From the opening sequence up until the rolling of the credits, there are stabs around every corner. Every beat has a purpose and every moment leads to the blood-soaked truth. Furthermore, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an instance when you are not fully engulfed in the story. What popped for me was the savagery of the kills. They’re a step up from the violence in the fifth installment of the franchise which was unlike anything we had seen up to that point.
Characters & Chemistry
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Mason Gooding, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Jenna Ortega, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, Samara Weaving with Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox.
To say that the cast did a fantastic job is putting it lightly. However, I won’t say much more so as to not reveal who the killer or killers are. Nevertheless, the core four from the previous film, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding work incredibly well together. Also, this is the first in the franchise that feels as if anyone and everyone could be Ghostface. It should come as no surprise that Jenna Ortega continues to prove that she is our macabre sweetheart. But Savoy Brown steals the show. Barrera is an unstoppable force and Gooding has one of the craziest scenes in Scream history. Oh, and let me not forget how eerie Roger Jackson’s voice continues to be.
Scream VI releases in theaters on March 10, 2023. Remain safe and tell me your favorite scary movie.
Rated: R Runtime: 2h 2m Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Writers: James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick
Producers: William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein
Executive Producers: Kevin Williamson, Gary Barber, Peter Oillataguerre, Chad Villella, Courteney Cox, Ron Lynch, Cathy Konrad, Marianne Maddalena
Based on Characters Created by: Kevin Williamson
Director of Photography: Brett Jutkiewicz
Music by: Sven Faulconer, Brian Tyler
Scream VI will have you screaming for more.
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
