Scream VI, 2023.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
Starring Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Courteney Cox, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Hayden Panettiere, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Segarra, Jack Champion, Liana Liberato, Skeet Ulrich, Devyn Nekoda, and Henry Czerny.
SYNOPSIS:
The four survivors of the Woodsboro tragedy head to New York to gain a fresh start, only to find that Ghostface has other plans for them.
The Scream franchise is undoubtedly the most consistent horror franchise out there, and if the smashing success of the recent most outing is any indication, we can look forward to more Ghostface related shenanigans down the line as well. Debuting back in 1996 Scream was the love child and the result of a brilliant collaboration between legendary horror filmmaker Wes Craven and newbie writer Kevin Williamson. Craven dabbled with the concept of meta commentary previously on New Nightmare so he immediately saw the potential when he read Williamson’s out-of-the-box script. Suffice to say, Craven’s instincts were spot on and Scream went on to become a smashing success, revitalized the slasher sub-genre and spawning five more sequels in the process.
Last year’s Scream 5 saw the Radio Silence duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett taking over directorial reins from Craven, so there was some degree of concern and trepidation as to what the final product would be like. To everybody’s great relief the flick turned out to be a solid legacy sequel, introducing audiences to a brand-new cast whilst bringing back legacy characters and making them feel relevant to the story. But I always had this awful nagging feeling that the directors and writers James Vanderbilt and Gary Busick were holding back and playing it safe with Scream 5. And having viewed the team’s sophomore effort I’m inclined to agree with my thoughts on the former.
Scream VI picks up one year after the nightmarish Woodsboro killing spree orchestrated by Richie Kirsch and Amber Freeman, and sees the Carpenter sisters (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) move to New York to get a fresh start. Joining them both are the Meeks-Martins siblings – Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) – as well as some new additions who now make up their tightly-knit friend group. But the shadow of Woodsboro is relentless and soon bodies start piling up as they realize a new Ghostface killer is hunting them, trying to tie up loose ends.
Scream VI is something of a doozy. There I’ve said it. The opening kill itself and the short sequence that follows, is just, mind-blowingly brilliant. Honestly, having binge watched the entire Scream franchise more than a dozen times I never thought that they’d be able to pull the rug under my feet, but the team behind Scream VI accomplish just that. And not just once, a couple of times too, which is certainly impressive. It’s when we reached the third act that we start treading on familiar territory once again, but I suppose its inevitable.
Regardless, the writer team of Vanderbilt and Busick must be applauded for taking risks and making us fear Ghostface once again. ‘Cos believe me when I say, this Ghostface is the most savage iteration we’ve encountered thus far. There’s a certain brazen quality to the murderous bastard and how he stalks his victims, and the gnarly kills reach an unsettling level of vicious this time around. But amidst the carnage and chaos, the story still manages to takes time and afford some breathing space so that some much needed character development takes place.
If the ‘core four’ didn’t really grow on you during the previous outing, you’ll just fall in love with them here. The chemistry between them is just too good and in some moments, I actually thought they were better than the original trio, I kid you not. Barrera is simply fantastic as the new generation’s final girl, no offense to Neve Campbell, but the talented actress does a stunning job convincingly portraying a conflicted individual wrestling with her inner demons. You feel the internal struggle and the lurking darkness she strives so hard to keep at bay.
In a rare move, the final girl herself has become the biggest wild card of the franchise. Jenna Ortega has achieved mega stardom since last we saw her, but she doesn’t let that hinder her performance nor the camaraderie with her co-stars. The unexpected beating heart of the film, however, is Mason Gooding’s Chad Meeks-Martin. The guy is such a lovable presence but when shit hits the proverbial ceiling the guy doesn’t think twice before jumping headfirst into danger. Neither fan favorite Hayden Panettiere nor Courtney Cox’s addition feel redundant or shoehorned in, as is the case with most legacy characters, and they are both afforded the right amount of screentime to shine, and remind us why Kirby and Gale still kick ass.
The directing duo of Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett appear to be more confident tackling the material, than with their previous effort. The pacing is damn near pitch-perfect and the action set pieces are just white-knuckling and thoroughly entertaining. To say, the New York setting has been utilized in the best way possible by the pair, is something of an understatement. I mean, who knew a crowded city bustling with activity, like the Big Apple, would still end up being as scary and isolated as a sleepy suburb like Woodsboro? Staging nail-biting action sequences seems like second nature to these guys so here’s hoping the two of ‘em can be lured back to helm Scream VII when the time comes.
Composer Brian Tyler and Sven Faulconer also do a tremendous job behind-the-scenes, churning out exciting new material while artfully paying homage to Marco Beltrami’s contributions from past Scream films. And DOP Brett Jutkiewicz injects a harsher mood to the urban sprawl that is New York, through his creative lens.
Bigger, bloodier, and bolder Scream VI reminds us that a go for broke approach can sometimes reel in great rewards. It is a superior sequel to its predecessor in every way, and serves as a testament that the franchise is in good hands.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Hasitha Fernando is a part-time medical practitioner and full-time cinephile. Follow him on Twitter via @DoctorCinephile for regular updates on the world of entertainment.
