SCREAM VI: The Perfect Sequel To A Requel

Typically when a franchise starts to reach its sixth induction, there is little anticipation that the film will be a box-office success. Saw 6, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, and Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives each boasted some of the lowest successes within their franchises. Curse of Chucky didn’t even see the theater beyond its premier at the 2013 Fantasia Film Festival, finding its release limited to Video on Demand. Quality, oversaturation, and even the wane of slasher films have all been cited as some of the reasons these films failed to reach the heights of the entries before them. So when Scream was announced to be the next franchise to expand, there was hesitation and uncertainty for the beloved series. And with Wes Craven no longer in the director’s chair, would it even be worth it?

Thankfully, Scream‘s release in 2022 proved that there is not only more of Ghostface to be had, but that the baton of a franchise could successfully be passed. And with the wild success of last year’s requel, the anticipation for Scream VI was high – and boy did directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett ever deliver.

Pushing Bloody Conventions

If you thought Scream (2022) honored the franchise last year, you are in for an even wilder ride this year. Olpin and Gillett continue to honor the franchise and its fans, never forgetting the legacy Craven crafted as they create one for themselves. This is immediately apparent from the moment the film opens, Scream VI once again pushing the boundaries of expectations. Where 2022’s Scream pushed convention by giving us our first survivor of a Scream opening, Scream VI pushes even further effectively setting the framework and tone of what is to come.

And the tone is brutal. Ghostface is faster than ever before, and the kills bask in the gore. And while some of the kills and gore push the limits of authenticity, each and every horror fan will welcome them with open arms. Oplin and Gillett promised Scream VI would be bloodier, and they show no restraint. Yet, as brutal as they want to push the film, they do not lose their characters or story to the effect of making the film more horrific. The core four still take center stage, all while legacy characters are never forgotten.

The Core Four in New York

Scream VI also feels fresh, once again leaving the horrors of the streets of Woodsboro, and bringing the film to New York City. This is not the first time the franchise has branched out of the cursed small town, Scream 2 embracing Windsor College and Scream 3 the studios of Hollywood. There is the anonymity that Scream VI brings with its New York setting. Killings, assaults, and terror can happen on crowded streets, subways, and darkened alleyways without anyone seeming to notice. Much of this anonymity and ability to disappear within the city heightens the horror and plays well into the gruesome nature of this film’s Ghostface. The same can be said for our core four as this same sense of anonymity gives them a false sense of security. Yet, as expansive as this setting is, the film gives itself a twisty duality as it also feels like New York City is closing in and, in a city that never sleeps, there is truly nowhere to hide.

Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, and Jasmin Savoy Brown are the true standouts within Scream VI. Barrera and Ortega continue to work through the complex relationships of sisters, harnessing the trauma of their characters to fully craft their emotional connections and interactions. They are just as strong individually as they are together, giving authenticity to the horror that surrounds their characters. Their commitment to Sam and Tara has made them fan favorites, and future legacies. Jasmin Savoy Brown leaned hard into the role of surrogate Randy in last year’s Scream, yet this year she delivers a more contrasting version. Her Mindy is more reserved and aware that this is not a horror film and that the stakes are real. There is a strength within her Mindy that shines, yet an understanding of the cost within the difference between fiction and reality. Her character delivers the most growth between the previous film and this one, and Savoy Brown proves she completely understands the assignment.

Conclusion

It’s hard to tell viewers how good Scream VI is without giving some of its best parts away – and this is a film you will need to talk about, especially if you are a fan. And while you do not need to be a fan to enjoy this latest entry, the film is a beauty for those who are. As sequels give way to franchises, each entry attempts to be fresh and relevant, all too often failing at both. Scream VI is a love letter to horror, to a franchise, and to its fans, proving that not all stories are dead.

Scream VI was released in theaters on March 10, 2023!

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