Scream VI (2023)

Scream VI (2023)

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

Writers: James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick, Kevin Williamson

Cast: Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Dermot Mulroney, Jack Champion, Liana Liberato, Hayden Panettiere, Skeet Ulrich

When most horror fans think of sequels that take place in a big city, far from the typical rural or suburban settings of the films before it, what comes to mind oftentimes tend to be Leprechaun in the Hood and Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. Along with those, the association doesn’t usually come with very good rapport (depending upon the lens through which it is viewed, of course). This type of departure from the familiarity of norm isn’t too common, as many would rather see their favorite horror icons take a trip to space, but one franchise has decided to make the move to the city, and unlike others that have tried it, Scream VI has achieved success in giving its iconic slasher a change in scenery.

In this installment of the popular horror whodunit series, we’re re-introduced to four survivors of the Woodsboro murders from Scream V: sisters Sam & Tara, and siblings Mindy & Chad, who have moved to New York City to move on and detach themselves from the violent events of their hometown. What they didn’t anticipate is that a new Ghostface killer has found them and the new members of their group, and this time the obsession goes far beyond the Stab movies that exist within the Scream universe. Possibly the most admirable thing about this movie is its awareness towards its audience. This is absolutely a film for the fans, but the service isn’t too gratuitous. The nods to previous films may not be very subtle, but they don’t rob the film of its integrity. It never loses sight of what it is despite the fan service, but fanaticism is an integral element of these movies, isn’t it?

Of course, a Scream movie couldn’t be discussed without mentioning its cold open. In the iconic fashion, we follow a recognizable actor/actress–in this case, the incomparable Samara Weaving–as they’re terrorized by Ghostface. Quite a normal opening, but unlike its predecessors, this movie doesn’t wait for the climax to give us a twist. Not only does it throw the audience for an attention grabbing loop, but it firmly establishes that this isn’t the kind of Scream movie we’re expecting. As reiterated later in the film in the classic way, there are new rules, and no one is safe. The blend of old and new tactics to scare the audience is masterful, and succeeds at being a viable sequel to Scream V while maintaining its place within the franchise’s continuity.

A smartly told story, Scream VI does more than merely give us a run-of-the-mill slasher sequel that is released to just exist. It delivers a meaningful allegory of overprotective parenting and the different ways people can deal with trauma, all while perpetuating the tension and mystery from frame one all the way to the fascinating ending that makes you wonder where the franchise will go from here. As if that wasn’t enough, the well timed, relatable comedic moments that are sprinkled throughout make for more depth than most sequels can say they have, especially when that sequel is the sixth installment.

Scream VI has made its mark on modern horror, not just as an installment of a series, but as a film on its own. While it mostly follows the formula it created back in 1996, the small yet significant deviations make it one of the greatest movies in a franchise that’s far from finished making some of our favorite scary movies.

Scream VI is available to stream on Paramount+.