After more than a decade since the last installment, "Scream VI" is finally here, bringing with it a new generation of survivors and a fresh take on the iconic horror franchise. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, this latest chapter follows the story of four survivors of the Woodsboro massacre as they try to move on with their lives in New York.
The movie begins with the murder of a film professor and quickly escalates when Ghostface continues his killing spree. The core four characters, Samantha (Melissa Barrera), Tara (Jenna Ortega), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad (Mason Gooding), are also joined by returning characters Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere). As a bunch of newbies to take on a notorious killer.
As the body count mounts, the film explores themes of trauma and coping, but ultimately fails to make a deeper commentary on horror fans. Even so, “Scream VI” still delivers on the tense set pieces and tension-filled moments that made the franchise a cult classic.
One of the standout performances comes from Ortega, whose smudged mascara and sharp one-liners inject electricity into her every scene. But the absence of a regular actress Neva Campbell, Sidney Prescott from the franchise, it feels like a misstep, missing an important part of the series.
On the technical side, the filmmakers decided to use Montreal as the city New York, which made some viewers feel disconnected from the scene. However, the use of bodegas and subway cars adds an air of authenticity to the film.
Fans of attractions will enjoy it, when they'll spot horror Easter eggs in the background, including costumes from other horror films and references from horror directors and movie podcasts. In one scene, a character even has a poster titled “The Babadook” hanging on the wall.
While “Scream VI” may not reinvent the wheel, it still offers simple pleasures of an old-fashioned slasher film, with a new generation of survivors battling the iconic killer. Fans of the franchise will be pleased, and newcomers will appreciate the film's mix of horror, comedy and mystery.
