Self-awareness in horror films is something that many films have attempted to portray in recent years. Films like “Final Destination” and “Cabin In The Woods” brought attention to how these sorts of stories follow certain rules. But many seem to forget how the first “Scream” from 1996 started the self-aware horror film craze. Five films later, the franchise still draws flocks of people to theaters for the latest thrills and chills fest. This latest installment continues the trend and makes this one of the best offerings in the franchise. Set 25 years after the first film, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is forced to return to her hometown of Woodsboro after a series of gruesome murders.
This latest follow-up in the “Scream” franchise has enough tricks up its sleeve to make it one of the better horror sequels. Thanks to directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (“Ready or Not”), the film has a great sense of fun. What makes it so engaging is that, like the original, it acknowledges it’s a horror movie. Sequences that bring attention to classic clichés work as winks to the camera. If you’re a horror-lover, you’re going to love just how clever these winks are. But even if you’re not, there’s enough humorous chemistry among the cast to make an enjoyable journey.
Our original cast is back and really gives it their all in this latest effort. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette have turned rather cliched roles into emotional ones. Seeing these characters again ten years later allows them each to bring new dimensions. In a horror franchise five films deep, that’s something incredibly difficult to do in the wrong hands. To make it successful, both the directors and the cast have to be in on the joke that horror has become. By this fifth film, these characters are given a chance to have real emotions, which was a pleasure to see. The same could be said for the new cast who can carve their place amongst these bigger-name actors.
To avoid spoilers, I will be as vague as possible with who most of these new characters are. What can be said is that each of these new characters keeps the same humor and sharp wit that the franchise is known for. Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and Jack Quaid fit seamlessly into this universe and have interesting connections to the legacy cast. Watching these reveals unfurl was rather delightful, especially when the pieces of the story’s puzzle are put together. Ghostface’s kills were also as entertaining and gory as you’d expect. If gore isn’t your favorite aspect of horror films, some are admittedly hard to stomach. Particularly in the third act, the gore rides a fine line between seriousness and parody. This over-the-top gore and “twists” in the third act are where the biggest problems with the film reside.
A franchise whose purpose is to subvert horror tropes gives us a certain expectation. Being five films deep, you’d hope they would not fall back on some of the genre’s ridiculous clichés. When the story acknowledges but then depicts the cliché they’re making fun of, it feels contradictory. But the story had built up so much goodwill that the sillier “reveals” were easy to forgive. The journey is so entertaining that the resolution falls flat when it should be thrilling.
Even with a lackluster resolution, “Scream” is still one of the more fun times you can have at the theater. The great performances, gnarly kills and general self-aware nature of the story will keep you on the edge of your seat. If both this franchise or horror films, in general, aren’t your thing, “Scream” will do nothing to convince you to hop on board. Whereas if you’re a die-hard or even just a lukewarm fan, the rewards are vast. Ideally, this is the sort of corner of cinema that deserves to be seen on the big screen. If you’re at all uncomfortable going to a theater, it will be just as fun of a watch at home. Premiering on Paramount+ 45 days after its release in theaters, “Scream” is worth your time no matter where you watch it.
Rating: 8/10
Watch The Trailer Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beToTslH17s