A clever, thrilling, worthy continuation

Even to viewers who dislike the last two Scream sequels, the notion of continuing this franchise without the legendary Wes Craven seems ill-advised and sacrilegious. After all, it was a fascinating hook to watch slasher films that gleefully and knowingly skewer the genre from the iconic director of A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, and more notable horror flicks. But the Scream series is in safe hands with screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick and directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who clearly understand the franchise, delivering a clever, worthy continuation that affectionately pays tribute to Craven while offering slick, visceral thrills. 2022's Scream does not drastically alter the formula, as it adheres to the first film's narrative structure and returns to the familiar setting of Woodsboro, but it does not feel like a pale or lifeless imitation. On the contrary, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett craft a suspenseful, gripping sequel with sharp character interplay, a dollop of humour, and a captivating central mystery.

Twenty-five years after the 1996 Woodsboro Murders, high school student Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) is tormented over the phone before someone dressed in a Ghostface costume attacks and stabs her, leaving her in the hospital. The incident compels Tara's estranged sister, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), to return to her hometown, accompanied by her boyfriend, Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid). At the hospital, Sam meets with Tara's teenage friends, including Amber (Mikey Madison), Wes (Dylan Minnette), Liv (Sonia Ammar), and twins Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown). Tara's attempted murder signifies the start of another Ghostface killing spree, drawing the attention of intrepid reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and former sheriff Dewey Riley (David Arquette), while Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) plans to stay away from Woodsboro.

With eleven years elapsing between sequels, there is plenty of fodder for Scream's meta themes, as the horror landscape has shifted and evolved with the rise of "elevated horror" films like The Babadook, The Witch, and Hereditary. The script touches on the clash between those who prefer elevated horror and the viewers who gravitate towards more straightforward, traditional genre offerings. Additionally, Scream also sets its sights on toxic internet fandom, with the story's film buff, Mindy, discussing negative online reactions to new sequels that stray too far from the formula (Rian Johnson gets a special shoutout), while discussing trends like "requels" - i.e. follow-ups that are not quite a sequel or a reboot, which feature a mix of new characters and legacy characters. Titling this fifth instalment Scream is also a meta reflection of the peculiar trend of requels carrying the same title as the original movie (2018's Halloween, 2021's Candyman).

Scream's first two acts focus on the new ensemble, introducing the Carpenter sisters and their circle of friends (i.e. the pool of suspects) and on Dewey's decision to assist the investigation, while Gale also returns to Woodsboro to cover the unfolding story. The legacy characters take centre stage in the third act as the climax approaches, and this is where Scream undeniably takes off, leading to a thrilling, violent showdown at the former home of Matthew Lillard's Stu Macher, where the original Scream's climax took place. Perhaps the setting is blatant nostalgia bait, but it's a treat to see this iconic house once again (lovingly recreated by the dedicated production designers), and the movie gives the legacy characters several memorable lines and moments. With the Star Wars sequel trilogy drawing ire for its treatment of legacy characters, it is encouraging to see Sidney, Gale, and Dewey play essential roles in the story and get involved in the action. Granted, Dewey falls into the eye-rolling stereotype of an aging male character who is isolated and despondent, but he quickly snaps out of it.

Although a new creative team oversees Scream, Kevin Williamson (screenwriter of the original Scream) serves as an executive producer, and Patrick Lussier (editor of the first three films) provided feedback on an early cut. This sequel shows further reverence to the previous films by including voiceover cameos from several former Scream actors, including Drew Barrymore, Jamie Kennedy, and Matthew Lillard, among others. Another appreciable nod to the previous films is the inclusion of the instantly recognisable song "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The tune is synonymous with the franchise, becoming an unofficial theme song, and it's a treat to hear it in another Scream movie after its absence from 2011's Scream 4. (To date, Scream 4 is the only entry in the series not to feature the song.) Franchise composer Marco Beltrami was too busy with the Venom sequel to score Scream, but replacement Brian Tyler (Ready or Not) creates a memorably intense soundtrack that incorporates themes from the prior films.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett lack Craven's experience and pedigree, as they only have two previous feature films to their name (Devil's Due and Ready or Not), but the pair acquit themselves admirably with the material, staging tense chase scenes and brutal murders. The directors understand the franchise's tone, ensuring the kill scenes are serious and hard-hitting, but also including a touch of humour and satire. The Scream movies have always been thrifty endeavours (Craven made the first film for a paltry $15 million), and this sixth film is no different, carrying a $24 million price tag. Luckily, Scream is a slick, good-looking slasher movie that never feels cheap or nasty, and the directors rely on practical bloodshed through make-up and squibs, making the murders more visceral. Stylistically, Scream seamlessly fits in with its predecessors, though the digital photography admittedly lacks the grit of 35mm film.

The Scream franchise grew wary of killing off beloved, established characters, with Scream 3 killing only Liev Schreiber's Cotton Weary and Scream 4 letting all the legacy characters live. 2022's Scream might follow a similar structure to the 1996 original, but not everyone makes it out alive, leading to one death as controversial as Randy's murder in Scream 2. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette are all terrific here - the girls bring genuine spunk and spirit to their performances, and Arquette is wholly believable and likeable as an older, wiser Dewey. Another returning face is Marley Shelton, reprising her Scream 4 role as Judy Hicks (now the sheriff), while Roger L. Jackson also returns as the series's longstanding Ghostface voice. Plus, with Sam having a familial connection to Billy Loomis, Skeet Ulrich gets an intriguing cameo. Among the newcomers, Jasmin Savoy Brown makes the biggest impression as the friend group's resident film geek, and it's fascinating to see rising stars like Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, and even future Oscar winner Mikey Madison in the ensemble.

Scream avoids a radical reinvention, which feels like the right approach after the franchise's 11-year sabbatical and Wes Craven's passing. This fifth instalment excels thanks to top-notch execution, as the directors get it right where it counts, from the unexpected twists and kills to the tense, white-knuckle set pieces. Most slasher franchises lose their lustre after one or two sequels, but Scream demonstrates that life still remains in this series twenty-six years later.

7.6/10