Ghostface is back in another killer installment in this legendary franchise. We shift to NYC, where we see the new “Core Four” fight for survival against the most brutal Ghostface yet. An all-around impressive second outing from directors Matthew Bettinelli and Tyler Gillett.
In the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.
For a franchise to span this many years and remain fresh and new is nothing short of spectacular, because in all honesty, there never has been a lousy Scream movie. Fans of this beloved franchise love ranking these films. If you ask ten Scream fans, it will be hard to find a large number of people who rank these films in the same order. Each has its own highs and lows, things fan love and things that fall flat. This new addition is no different. With some big pros and some cons, Scream VI is a ton of fun and it keeps you guessing until the very end. Well, unless you’re me and you figured out who Ghostface was 20 minutes into the movie, but we all can’t be me, can we?
It’s been 6 months since the events of Scream V and the Core Four, Chad (Mason Gooding), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Tara (Jenna Ortega) and Sam (Melissa Barrera) have packed up and moved to the big city of NYC to attend college. Leaving Woodsboro doesn’t always mean that Ghostface won’t find you, and it doesn’t take long for our survivors to be reunited with not only their past but their biggest fears as well. Trying to live their lives, each one of them is dealing with the events and all the baggage that comes with it in a different way. Sam is trying to be the protective big sister, while Tara is finally trying to spread her wings and let go of the past.
With each new movie, it becomes harder to reinvent the wheel in a way, but with a unique opening kill sequence, the best since the second, you see right away that this isn’t just your typical Ghostface. This is now a “franchise” as movie expert Mindy puts in and no one is safe this time around. We are following in the same eerie footsteps as the original sequel did, as we follow our survivors to college. With that comes some fresh new faces, the roommates, Ethan (Jack Champion) and Quinn (Liana Liberato). Who seemingly happen to fall into this horror show just by being a part of the group. When Detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney) who is actually Quinn’s father gets involved it makes it all too real for the friend group. Even more so when fellow survivor and fan favourite Kirby (Hayden Panettiere) returns as now a full-fledged FBI agent. Another legacy character to root for baby! With Neve Campbell not in the first Scream movie, her absence felt really weird, we only have one of the remaining trio left, none other than Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox). She’s really underutilized here, and that’s a shame, but gives us one hell of a chase sequence with Ghostface.
The theatre was packed and everyone was having such a good time, Scream VI is such a blast, but that doesn’t take away from the biggest flaws and letdowns of the movie. Now, we are reaching a point where there can only be so many killers with great motives and the best part about these movies is the big reveal at the end and find out why they are doing all of this. It fell kind of flat for me, maybe because I knew what was coming the entire time, or when the reveal did happen, I just found myself disinterested in who Ghostface ended up being. But leading up to that was what made this movie really great. The chemistry and friendship of the Core Four, how they bond and stick together really works. They’re all so talented and bring so much charisma to this franchise. Especially Chad and Mindy who seriously shine in the later half of this movie.
I left wanting more Scream and I have high hopes for the next one. Little seeds have been planted and I hope they follow through. Scream 7 in my opinion can be special if they go a certain direction because you need an interesting Ghostface next time around. For the new directors who clearly have a passion for the source material and the franchise, the thing that lacks from their movies is a truly compelling Ghostface, and that’s how you get serious butts in the seats. They have megastar Jenna Ortega involved with this franchise and they can’t squander this opportunity. Bring on Scream VII.
Scream VI = 87/100