There’s no doubt I have a devoted bias to the Scream “franchise”, the idea of more tales that continue the legacy without damaging the core concept is welcome for as long as they are creative, and invest in characters that are as charismatic and investing as those in the original. Without convoluted twist and turns that could easily derail the course of the current iteration on the legacy that Wes Craven invented, to falter against such heights is a fall against so many thorns.
To that I know it excels, there’s no comparison to the previous instalments because they all contribute to the central core of mystery and intrigue, gory slasher history runs through the reinvention of a genre that stands the test of time when it utilises everything we know and delivers in ways that, with logic intact, reinvent themselves through each setup in the latest two films.
Scream VI in terms of reinvention, does so in ways that seem obvious but deserved. New city, same Ghostface… with a different motivation. All interwoven with sense that is constructed out of necessity to present itself with restraint, that issue has plagued many of this franchises contemporaries that in sequels of time gone by (Halloween 5, 4 was such a great new beginning), or repetitive exhaustion (Friday the 13th; although has its charm for another go around with the machete) had removed the essence of what made them true to their originals.
Here the film takes calculated risk for what seems plausible yet undeniably true to the rules. To the nature of having to outdo logical outcomes, that can be instantly recognised and debunked before any answers come to light, they present layers of subversion without removing what grounds the film in its own logic. Avoiding trying to make itself stand out for the wrong reasons, throwing in nonsensical plots that guide you one way, for the sake of misdirection for what seems obvious on the path that it does tread. They contain clues and in hindsight obvious reasoning that in effect brought a smile to my face, knowing how serious the “core four” are treated as characters, indispensable and worth following in the footsteps of Sydney, Gale & Dewey.
Embracing success of older horror franchises re-emerging into the limelight, going from strength to strength is nothing short of passion and love, no dumb luck found here but a compassion and dedication to the genre. The directors, cast & crew assemble to deliver what they know is true, creating what I as a fan always want, something new that retains the essence of what we’ve come to adore.
5/5
Weslar 