Scream VI waves goodbye to Woodsboro as it follows another horror franchise relocating to New York. However, unlike Jason Takes Manhattan the entirety of this movie is set in the Big Apple. The movie is directed by returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet (Radio Silence). Meanwhile, James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick also return after writing the previous instalment.
Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown are back along with series regular (and fan favorite) Courtney Cox. Yet, that’s not all. Also returning to the franchise after an impressive performance in Scream 4 is Hayden Panitette as Kirby Reed. Rounding out the cast are Tony Revolori, Samara Weaving, Dermot Mulroney, Jack Champion, Josh Segarra, Devyn Nekoda, Liana Liberato and Henry Czerny.
Of course, there’s one more return. The iconic slasher villain Ghostface wouldn’t be the same without Roger L. Jackson. With this appearance, he and Courtney Cox are the only two people to be in all six movies.
Scream VI opens a year after the unfortunate events of Woodsboro. Sam (Barrera) and Tara (Ortega) live together while the latter attends university. Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (Brown and Gooding) are also in New York with them. They’re trying to move on from the last Ghostface attack but unfortunately, this is a horror movie and nobody is allowed a happy ending.
One of my favourite things about this movie is how it ticks off a list of ideas I’ve wanted to see in the franchise. I won’t say what these are as they’re spoilers but they made me happy. The opening scene is slightly different to what we’ve seen before but don’t worry, the infamous phone call with Ghostface is still there. After all, what’s a Scream movie without Ghostface’s opening phone call?
The tension in Scream VI is ramped up. You’d imagine moving to a bigger city means there’s less opportunity for tension. Thankfully, that isn’t the case. This might be the tensest movie in the franchise and it’s because of the open space of the setting. It’s also down to the solid script and direction that also creates a sense of claustrophobia. Even though there are more places to hide from the masked killer, there are also more places to die.
You never know who is around the corner.
The script delves deeper into the characters and some of their choices from the previous movie. The main crux between the two sisters is Sam’s reluctance to let Tara go. After nearly losing her last year, she refuses to let anyone harm her, even if it means she loses herself in the process. This is one of the more important aspects of the story too. In true Scream fashion, it holds a mirror up to society.
They build upon the groundwork of toxic fandom in Scream 5 with more meta references and a bolder story. Conspiracies are all around us in the real world and it’s no different in this universe. Is Sam the hero or the villain? That is the question the conspiracy posits as the filmmakers delve deeper into the likes of Reddit and how unhinged anonymous internet forums can make people. It’s a 21st-century allegory that’s the gift that keeps on giving.
While there are still laughs a-plenty, the kills are bigger and bloodier than before. The person under the mask is a destructive force who refuses to stop butchering until they get what they want. With this, it’s easy to assume anyone, including our main cast, can die.
While there are some spoilery decisions I don’t wholly agree with, it wasn’t enough to detract from my enjoyment. This is the Scream where we finally experience Gail having her Ghostface call. That isn’t a spoiler, it’s in the marketing. Wait until you see that scene. Courtney Cox gives one of her best performances and made me love Gale Weathers more than I already did.
With the official greenlight of Scream VII at the beginning of the month, my favorite horror franchise shows no signs of stopping. If it’s anything like Scream VI then I can’t wait to see what the filmmakers cook up.
