Movie Review | ‘Scream VI Moves Deadly Action To The Big Apple
"In space no one can hear you scream."
It was the slogan of the classic 1979 sci-fi horror film Alien.
Well, there are plenty of people in New York City who will hear you scream, but rest assured, that won't stop a psychopath in a Ghostface mask from cutting you off.
That's a harsh lesson learned in Scream VI, the wildly violent, often hilarious, and generally entertaining latest installment in the long-running Scream horror film franchise.
Scream VI is the sequel to last year's Scream, which is a sequel to the 1996 original of the same name. The second "Scream" and - stay with us - the fifth film in the franchise brought new life to the genre-conscious formula and grossed $140 million in theaters worldwide.
Last year's Scream co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillette replace the late horror master Wes Craven, who is working on a strong script from screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busik. The formula, implemented in the film by one of its characters, a gender addict, is to pair an "existing" character with a new generation of would-be killers and victims.
Thankfully, the filmmaker is back on V, along with starlets Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmine Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding. The only major legacy player to return is Courteney Cox, and David Arquette and Neve Campbell are absent for entirely different reasons. (Hayden Panettiere, who played Kirby Reed in 2011's Scream 4, also joined the bloody fight.)
In the new film, set shortly after the events of last year's novel, Sam, his half-sister Tara (Ortega) and twins Mindy (Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Gooding), a sleepy but deadly Woodsboro, set out on the Way Big Apple. While the last three are in college (warning: this is a parallel to 1997's Scream 2), Sam works two jobs and helps pay the rent on the apartment the girls share with "sex-positive" newcomer Quinn ( Liana Liberato) share. Meanwhile, Chad gets a room with another new face, jerk Ethan (Champion Jack).
While Tara tries to live a normal college life and move on from her traumatic past, Sam is still haunted by her experiences with various Ghostfaces as well as the family line that formed in Scream. Sam offered advice but said little.
"I have trust issues," she told her therapist.
we will take it
Before meeting the gang at a frat party, "V" rearranges the traditional "Scream" call. Also joining the cast are Samara Weaving, star of Bettinelli-Olpin Solids and Gillett's Ready or Not 2019, and Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: No Way Home, TV series Willow).
This story also features Police Quinn, Detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney from the TV series Hannah); Neighbor's "nice guy" Sam has exchanged looks with Danny (Josh Segarra); Anika (Devin Nekoda), Mindy's girlfriend; and of course the station Gail Weathers (Cox). It keeps you busy but doesn't feel as fresh as its predecessor.
However, there's a dangerous distraction as Mindy guides the gang - and us - through the gendered implications of the situation, meaning they're now in the franchise. Anyone can be killed or become a murderer, he stressed, because bets must be placed and expectations downplayed, he said.
The writers and directors seem to have upped the gore quotient, if not necessarily the kill count, with "VI," and they manage to leave you guessing—mostly somehow—who's behind Ghostface's mask.
They also take advantage of the big city atmosphere, especially with the long scenes where different characters ride in a crowded and sometimes dark subway. As horrible as the movie Scream.
The big climax sequences are much harder to take seriously, but they do fit into this often comical world and are closely tied to the fictional film franchise series.
At the very least, it's relatively fun to revisit the "Big Four"—as Chad calls Sam, Tara, Mindy, and himself. Brown (The Yellow Vests) brings most of the stuff into the mix, but we're also excited to see Ortega again, whose title returns Wednesday in the hit Netflix series and equally well-received horror film X. a character who is always in danger.
It's easy to see how rushed it was to make this latest Scream, but a little more time between it and the inevitable seventh part might just help the horror's heart get that little bit sweeter. And it wouldn't hurt that the franchise and Campbell find a way to reconcile.
So maybe put that knife down for a second, ghost face. But you know, don't stay away too long.
"Scream VI" received an R rating for heavy gore and profanity and short-term drug use. Duration: 2 hours 3 minutes.
