New York: The city that never sleeps

Set a year after Scream (2022), half-sisters Tara (Jenna Ortega) and Sam (Melissa Barrera) move from Woodsboro to Big Apple alongside fellow survivors Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown). They hope to finally escape their past, move forward and enjoy their lives. However, it seems that dread and murder find them wherever they go. Soon after their arrival, a series of brutal murders happen, inspired by Ghostface, the Stab movies and everything that has to do with it. Someone is continuing the work of the likes such as Billy Loomis, Roman Bridger, Jill Roberts and Stu Macher and again, the “core four,” as the group calls themselves, fear for their lives.

However, with Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and former classmate/now FBI detective Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere), they decide to try and get rid of Ghostface once and for all, but during Halloween night, New York is full of people in Ghostface costumes. Will they be able to find the real killer and bring him to justice?

The perfect combination of nostalgia and modern aspects

When watching Scream VI, it’s clear that this movie wants to honour its predecessors in the best way possible. Think of the massive shrine the killer has set up, Mindy’s monologue about the different elements of a horror slasher movie and the many subtle and not-so-subtle mentions of horror classics. But it’s not all about tradition in this movie. No, by swapping Woodsboro for New York, the filmmakers can use brand-new ideas. A bigger city, more people, and more potential victims all lead to a more inventive, bloodier and funnier film.

While the ‘core four’ certainly has more fun in this movie, they can’t fully enjoy it because Ghostface is always right behind them. With a higher population, the Big Apple is the perfect playground for Ghostface and directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Ready or Not, Devil’s Due) and Tyler Gillett (V/H/S, Ready or Not). This is highlighted during the subway scene and the bloody and adrenaline-fueled climax. We even dare to say that Scream VI might have the best opening scene since the first movie. We don’t see much of Samara Weaving (The Babysitter, Babylon), but she undoubtedly impacts with her strong performance. 

A new environment, the same old great performances

Speaking of solid performances, both Barrera (In the Heights, Carmen) and Ortega (X, The Fallout) absolutely carry this movie. You might not have liked Sam in Scream (2022), but we’re confident you will change your mind when watching this film. Ghostface having even more rage and a sharper tongue and knife ensures that Sam has to step up her game, and Barrera does that. Her fierce, strong and clever performance ensures you will sympathize and root for Sam.

Barrera’s on-screen sisterhood with Ortega is extremely powerful. This is also because Ortega is in top form. After being stuck in the hospital for most of the previous film, she now gets to shine, and that’s precisely what she does! She’s finally allowed to have fun, stab around and bring out the badass in her. Do we have a new scream queen on her hands? Maybe not, cause Tara still feels a bit underdeveloped.

Because Sidney Prescott didn’t return to this movie, Gale Weathers gets a lot more screen time, and Cox (Scream, 3000 Miles to Graceland) certainly grabs that opportunity with both hands! Weathers is finally standing face-to-face with Ghostface, resulting in a standout scene and a knockout performance by Cox. She brings both power and humour to this movie. While the return of Panettiere (Custody, The Forger) as Kirby is wonderful to see, her excellent acting doesn’t come through as much due to the unfortunate wig and mainly supporting role. It’s only during that climax scene that Panettiere can show us what she got.

Scream is bloodier, creepier and funnier than ever!

After the release of Scream (2022), fans were questioning how the franchise could stay alive after Craven’s death. With his death, we lost a master in horror, but directors Gillett and Bettinilli-Olpin know what they’re doing. They have proven that by creating a frighting 2022 film and even bloodier, creepier, funnier Scream VI. Thanks to the many plot twists that certainly keep you on your toes, the standout performances, and the many wonderful easter eggs, the Scream franchise is still very much alive!

Scream VI is out now in U.K. cinemas

Rating: (4.5 / 5)

Also Read: The Future of Scream Without Sidney Prescott

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Spooky Season

2022 has seen at least one horror film hit theatres or a big Netflix release (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) a month, with March having the horror-coded Morbius. So there were plenty of options. Some of these were returning franchises, like Scream or Halloween Ends, some were original stories from directors familiar with the genre, like Nope or The Black Phone, and others had more cult followings such as Men or X. While many of these have been commercially successful, critically, some films that seemed like sure hits have been met with a more mixed response. Scream was mostly positive, and did well enough to warrant a 6th entry (without Neve Campbell), but it much of it revolves around knowledge of previous films, especially the first.

By contrast, Halloween Ends was mostly considered a disappointment by audiences and critics, although some did appreciate it for trying to do something different. Despite the first entry being praised, the second part of the trilogy Halloween Kills was polarising. For the most part, audiences loved it, while the critics didn’t. This latest entry seems to have pleased neither, but it does have fans on both sides.

Jordan Peele‘s Nope on the other hand did better with critics than audiences, being less of a horror like his previous efforts Get Out and Us, instead having more in common with Speilberg’s Jaws. While Alex Garland’s Men was widely regarded as one of the director’s weakest efforts, even by its fans.

A New Breed of Terror

While the above may have had much hype and marketing around them, they were not the biggest success stories for horror. Although they all did respectably at the box office, many lower-budget horrors have dominated both the conversation and the box office this year. Films such as The Black Phone, Smile and Barbarian have all earned far more than their budget, and have been well received by audiences.

The likes of Cocaine Bear and Blood and Honey seem to be following this trend, a lower budget, focusing on a simple (even if absurd) premise. Terrifier 2 has proven to be in the same vein. While the original film has become a cult classic, the sequel has received attention from a much wider audience and is considered an improvement. Perhaps the rise in these smaller-budget horrors could help induct some more villains into pop culture. It’s been a while since a slasher villain has entered the conversation alongside the likes of Michael Myers, Freddie Kruger or Jason. Perhaps Art, the Clown could join Pennywise, while Cocaine Bear and Pooh enter the conversation.

Also Read: Horror Films To Enjoy During The Long Dark Winter Months

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