This review contains spoilers.
In hindsight, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for the producers of ‘Scream VI’ to lowball Neve Campbell. She’s the heart and soul of this series, and her absence will be sorely felt in this loosely crafted, brutal, but ultimately tired and empty reboot of 2022’s wildly successful franchise – a film I’m very excited about.
The latest Woodsboro massacre survivors, sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega), have now moved to New York and adopted twins Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmine Savoy Brown). They are trying their best to put the past behind them in healthy ways like Sam seeing a therapist and in unhealthy ways like Tara trying to kill her trauma with alcohol and partying.
Unfortunately, the events of last year will not leave them alone. A social media conspiracy theory that Sam was the mastermind behind the latest murder is spreading like wildfire. When a new (or old?) Ghostface takes over Manhattan and the bodies start piling up, clues from the previous five films remain in a never-ending parade of callbacks to the murder scenes, and Sam becomes suspect number one.
Barring a scary sequence on a subway train on Halloween (with a Ghostface mask everywhere), the film never has the opening scene, which does something clever and creative, and briefly threatens us with the prospect of adding something new and exciting to the mix. Saga. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work out that way, and instead we get two-and-a-bit hours of bland chase and kill scenes. But, in the hands of Wes Craven, what used to be fun, tense and funny, these scenes are now furiously violent and bloody, but by no means impactful.
Overall, it’s fun enough for what it is, and I’m sure fans of Scream movies will be very pleased. In keeping with the tradition of the franchise, ‘Scream VI’ takes us on some very meta journeys, trying to tie it back to the canon of horror films. However, when you tweak the rules to fit your movie (if they don’t exist, and there are no rules for surviving a franchise rebooted from the second movie), it just doesn’t work.
Where the film really sinks, however, is that there are no stunts. I get that the “core four” characters are fun to hang out with, but if there’s absolutely no chance of them dying, what’s the point? The filmmakers have made a film that is cowardly when it can lead to death. In my previous review of the film, I mentioned that the new crop of characters could be used a lot. Obviously, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
‘Scream VI’ has the feel of a film made by a focus group. “Please don’t kill the one we love. Sure, you can trap them and take them out, but please make sure they’re gone or at least gasping for air by the end of the movie. No matter how funny that is. ” In fact, being stabbed forty times in the body does not mean anything?
The Blu-ray disc comes with a commentary from the filmmakers, and over an hour of behind-the-scenes features and immersive interviews. All the main players are seen behind and in front of the camera. Of particular note is the smashing ‘Night Train to Terror’ iconic subway sequence, arguably the best scene in the film.
take on Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, Jasmine Savoy Brown, Courteney Cox. Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett Secretary: James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick Released by: Paramount Home Entertainment Certificate: 18 Duration: 123 min Official date: 10 July 2023
