Continuing the bloody saga that began 27 years ago, “Scream VI” follows the previous film’s survivors as their attempts to move on with their lives in the Big Apple are interrupted by the latest in a long line of copycat killers mimicking the murderer from the first “Scream” movie, Ghostface. It stars Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox. It is available to view exclusively in theaters.
One year after Sam Carpenter, played by Barrera, escapes the wrath of her murderous boyfriend, she and her sister Tara, played by Ortega, move to New York City. They both attend Blackmore University with fellow survivors Mindy and Chad, played by Savoy Brown and Gooding respectively. While Tara has done her best to escape the shadow of the tragedy, Sam is still plagued by online conspiracists who insist she was the real mastermind behind the deaths of the previous film. Worst of all, the brutal murders of a Blackmore professor and two of her students lead the survivors to confront possibly the most dangerous individual to assume the Ghostface identity so far.
To address the elephant in the room, this is the first “Scream” film not to feature Neve Campbell in the role of Sidney Prescott. In-universe, she is said to have taken her family into hiding, a completely logical move for a character in her position. Many franchises have derailed iconic characters by artificially extending their stories, so Campbell’s exit allows her character to have the happy ending she deserves.
As much as fans may want a continuation of her story, her absence in the film allows the spotlight to shine on the newer cast members. Barrera and Ortega make for the perfect sisterly duo, just as Savoy Brown carries the self-aware, comic relief torch of Jaime Kennedy’s iconic performance as Randy Meeks in the first two “Scream” films. Though his character may not leave a large impression, Gooding does do his best to elevate the material.
Following the previous entry’s footsteps, “Scream VI” leans much harder into horror than comedy. The cinematography employs a dark color palette that synchronizes with the soundtrack to create a perpetually intense atmosphere. The sequences of violence eschew over-the-top stylization in favor of being brutal and to the point, selling how dangerous the killer is this time around.
“Scream VI” is a terrifying and impressive addition to the franchise, with a compelling cast and engrossing central mystery that pushes the franchise to the next level.
RATING: 8/10 Hawks
