“Scream (2022)” Review
The serial killer Ghostface returns with a new psychopath donning the costume in “Scream,” the fifth film in the franchise.
In an age where elevated horror films compete against slashers and stereotypical scary popcorn films, the “Scream” series always felt like the perfect middle ground. On the one hand, it’s a slasher series with teenagers and a serial killer in a mask. But all of these films are self-aware and the characters know about all the horror classics and the “rules” of survival.
Now, after 11 years, the “Scream” series has returned with “Scream,” because apparently Hollywood is afraid of numbers in the titles, and it proves to be a worthy film in this series. In fact, it’s the best in the series since “Scream 2.”
Set 25 years after the events of the original, a new Ghostface killer has begun terrorizing the teens of Woodsboro. When her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega) is attacked, her older sister Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barerra) returns to Woodsboro to confront the killer who knows a dark secret about her past. As the bodies start piling up, Sam reaches out to the survivors of Ghostface in the previous films, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette), to unite and take out this killer.
What I love so much about the “Scream” series is how each film understands the current climate of horror and parodies the hell out of it. Now, mainstream franchises are making “requels:” films that incorporate new characters alongside legacy characters to bring the series back to basics. Not quite a sequel. Not quite a reboot. With franchises like “Halloween” doing this, “Scream 5” creates its own self-aware requel by being a sequel to all of the films but with new teen characters.
In typical requel fashion, seeing the previous sequels isn’t necessary to enjoy “Scream 5” but longtime fans will certainly enjoy all of the subtle references to the previous four films.
Melissa Barerra is fantastic as Sam with she and Tara being the main characters of this film. While it’s impossible to make a “Scream” film without Sidney Prescott, who does appear in the film quite a bit, these new protagonists are likable and could definitely carry the franchise in the future if they make another sequel.
Like the previous “Scream” films, the entire teen cast is well rounded and likable despite the fact they’re playing basic teen characters. But because the filmmakers acknowledge they’re standard, it bizarrely gives the actors freedom to create memorable performances. Talented young actors like Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown make up the potential victims and they’re a lot of fun to watch.
Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) serves as the main protagonist and does a fantastic job trying to get to the bottom of this mystery while fending off Ghostface.
But most people who go to see “Scream 5” are expecting to see Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley and they will be satisfied. Seeing these characters return is entertaining with David Arquette being incredible as Dewey.
Screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick wrote a hilarious film and crafted an unpredictable story that doesn’t try to change the nature of “Scream,” but embraces it. It’s difficult to figure out who’s the killer because the past films, written by Kevin Williamson, have had multiple killers working together and you never feel safe because every one of these teens is on edge, accusing one another.
But the real challenge rests on the shoulders of directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet who are taking over horror legend Wes Craven, who directed the four previous “Scream” films and sadly passed away in 2015. Taking over the franchise can’t be easy, but I wasn’t nervous given how well Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet helmed 2019’s “Ready or Not.”
The direction of this film is fantastic and manages to work with the cliches of horror. There are intentional set-ups for cheap jump scares that the film doesn’t follow through. It’s not only refreshing but it’s kind of funny. My only complaint is that the film starts to drag in the second act but that is quickly dissolved by an incredibly violent and fun third act.
The kills and scares are a bunch of fun with all the gore you could want. While not particularly inventive, until the final act, they’re done with such zeal that it’s hard not to enjoy them.
Like most of the “Scream” films, the commentary that lies within the story is fantastic and all of the ways modern horror and film fans are mocked are hilarious. In the films, the murders of Ghostface have been adapted into films called “Stab” and, like most horror franchises, the series has a huge fanbase. Some of the fans are insane and, in an age where fans on the internet are insanely cruel, “Scream 5” is a perfect response to toxic fandoms.
While some reinventions of horror classics, like the new “Halloween” films and “Spiral,” have been met with mixed responses, “Scream 5” is a fantastic film to satisfy fans of horror.
