Scream VI proves the franchise is here to stay.
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Scream VI takes a deep dive into the franchise’s mythology, addressing every film before it and even setting up a shrine with past costumes and murder weapons – a museum of Scream fans’ dreams! It’s a little worrying that they’ve peaked so soon with the revival sequels (aka requels) but it’s also exciting to see what the screenwriters will come up with next for future films.
Scream (2022) directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to the helm here, with Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere and Courtney Cox reprising their roles from previous instalments. Joining them are Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.
Scream VI continues with the survivors of the latest Ghostface killings from the previous film – sisters Samantha and Tara Carpenter (Barrera and Ortega) and twins Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Gooding and Brown) – leaving Woodsboro behind and starting a new chapter of their lives in New York City, only to be plagued again by a streak of murders by a new Ghostface killer.
The Scream franchise is very self-aware of its cult status and cleverly plays into it with meta commentary through a token character. Brown’s Mindy plays this role to perfection, filling in the shoes previously worn by franchise favourites Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) and Kirby Reed (Panettiere) with such ease. Her wit and expertise first explored in the fifth instalment continues here, securing her place as one of the best characters in all the Scream films.
The sixth instalment is also the first to not feature Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott - the face of the franchise, other than Ghostface. This was not a creative decision but it does give room for Barrera to prove herself a worthy replacement as the new final girl of the franchise. Sam may not be her father's daughter but she's also capable of murder, making her a compelling lead with much to explore.
Even with keeping to the tried and true formula the Scream films are built on, there’s freshness in Scream VI that promises longevity for the horror franchise. With a more sinister and unhinged Ghostface on the loose, the kills here grow more brutal as the bodycount increases. The unfaltering suspense will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, especially with the intensity of the sequence in the underground subway.
When Ghostface goes from asking “What’s your favourite scary movie?” to “Who gives a f*ck about movies?”, you know shit’s about to get real.
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