The reasons the Scream series is an iconic horror franchise are plentiful. The villain, creative kills, meta commentary and self-referential humor. But one piece it’s become best known for is the opening scene. The opener is usually a high-point for each movie. It sets the tone for what’s to come (it’s no coincidence that the worst movie in the franchise, Scream 3, also has the weakest open). And while the original 1996 Scream still holds the title belt here, Scream VI comes close to snatching it away.
From the moment that first phone call is made, you’re on the edge of your seat. You brace yourself for what you know is coming. You may not for sure know who or when, but you know the first (of many) brutal kills is waiting right around the corner. There’s incredible tension built up, let out, built up again throughout the opening sequence. There are even some new twists that the series hasn’t shown us before to keep you on your toes. And the next 100 minutes or so keep that same feeling of dread, loosening up just a bit at just the right times, before tightening the proverbial noose once again. Right up until the final reveal and standard issue villain monologue, Scream VI is humming along.
It picks up several months after the events of 2022’s Scream (which I’m going to refer to as Scream 5 from here on out, to avoid any confusion). Sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega) Carpenter have moved to New York, along with Tara’s friends, twins Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad (Mason Gooding). Tara still hasn’t fully recovered from the horrors of the previous year, choosing to ignore the events as though they never happened. Sam has gone the complete opposite direction, rarely ever thinking of anything but the murders. She’s constantly worried about Tara, who feels her older sister is overbearing. And Sam probably is being overbearing, but can you blame her?
It’s not long before the overprotectiveness is proven justified as the movie’s opening murders quickly evolve into full blown serial killings. Each subsequent kill leaves a link to a previous Ghostface murderer, counting backwards starting with Richie, the most recent one. It’s obvious this new Ghostface has big plans for number one on that list: Billy Loomis, revealed in Scream 5 to be Sam’s father. But what could he (Or she? Or they?) be planning? What’s the big finale? Only time will tell, assuming the characters can survive the onslaught until then.
Scream VI might be the series’ most brutal entry yet. Every one of the previous five has its fair share of blood and gore, but there was a certain level of creativity in the kills that somehow managed to lessen them. Then Scream 5 appeared on the scene, and started the transition into more “traditional” horror. There was still levity and a sense of satire, but definitely to a lesser degree than the preceding four films. Scream VI takes it even further, easily the least funny in the series. This works both for and against it.
It gives the movie a grittier feeling that helps it feel fresh and different from the rest of the movies. It still has the same general Scream DNA, but it’s the next stage of evolution, if you will. Any time you get this deep into a franchise, an overwhelming feeling of sameness has a real chance to derail it. And while there certainly still are familiar themes and ideas at play here, the different broader vibe allows those parts to survive, at times even thrive. But with the darker tone, it’s harder for the humor that is included to land. The smaller bits still work, and are a must for any Scream movie. But the bigger moments – like when Mindy goes through the requisite “let’s explain the rules” monologue – just don’t feel as natural as you would like them to.
But even though Scream VI may not be particularly funny, there is still plenty of fun to be had. Granted, “fun” might be an odd adjective when the crux of the movie is Ghostface trying to murder our main characters, along with murdering several side characters in the process. But there are several truly great set pieces and chase/fight sequences that you can’t help but enjoy yourself. The train sequence that was so heavily featured in the trailers is a master class at building tension. Courteney Cox returns as Gale Weathers and has one of the highlight scenes all to herself (well, and Ghostface). Those are just two examples; Scream VI features a handful more that can be considered among the best in the franchise.
Even with how well much of the movie is put together, there are a few components that hold it back. As I alluded to before, the ultimate reveal is a major letdown. The final set piece and showdown itself is fun and well-done. But even still, it’s probably the second weakest ending in the series, only ahead of the dismal Scream 3 finale. I was all geared up for a big fun revelation, and then…nothing. Unimaginative motivations. Lots of questions as to how exactly Ghostface pulled off certain parts of their escapades. It all felt very unearned.
There are a couple romantic subplots that didn’t quite fit either. With one, at least, it serves a purpose and you know why it’s included; it was just severely underdeveloped. The other, however, has no business being here. Thankfully, not much time is spent on that one. But each time it gets center attention, it really takes you out of the movie.
Aside from the ending, there is one other major issue. I won’t get into specifics on this one, but lots of these characters must have some of that Steve Rogers Super Soldier Serum the way they heal. Characters have always taken a beating in the Scream movies and come out just fine on the other side. But not like they do here. The injuries some of them sustain that they are able to bounce back from minutes later is maybe the most unrealistic part of any movie in the series. It’s not inherently bad, I suppose. But it sticks out in a bad way, when most of the rest of the movie feels so grounded in reality.
All in all, though, those complaints can’t fully diminish all the good here in Scream VI. There’s plenty of what long-time Scream fans expect and want from a Scream movie, while returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet continue to carve their own path for the series’ second generation of characters. And with these directors, and Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega holding down the leads, the series is in good hands.
Score: 81/100
