Scream VI Review
Six films in and it still manages to surprise you. Scream VI is a self-aware, meta franchise success.
Scream VI picks up just after the conclusion of Scream V, and follows the story of half-sisters Tara and Sam Carpenter (Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera), who have now moved away from Woodsboro and are trying to start fresh in New York City.
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett bring back fan favourites and legacy characters, journalist Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere), as well as the surviving siblings Chad Meeks-Martin and Mindy Meeks-Martin.
There is a notable absence of the original 'final girl' Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) who is missing from Scream IV (apparently due to failed contract negotiations).
There's a lot of time given to the relationship development of the characters. Having survived different instalments of the ghost face killer, they are bonded through trauma. Special focus is given to the pair of siblings (Sam, Tara, Chad and Mindy), the self-proclaimed "core four" who have stuck together after the bloody show down in the last film. Their dynamic is sweet and sincere and will have you emotionally invested. You can't help rooting for them throughout.
The film feels fresh and light. Mindy again delivers a monologue explaining the rules and tropes of horror movies, explaining the possible suspects and likely outcomes as they try to figure out who the killer might be. The film reaches a whole new level of meta when Mindy proclaims that they are indeed in a 'franchise' and as such, there will be more kills, more blood and no characters are safe. And that’s mostly what the film does.
Even with the multiple self-references and constant tongue in cheek self-analysis of horror movie archetypes, the tension doesn’t dissipate. Per the tried and true, Scream formula, the film ensures that all characters are possible suspects and the killer could appear at any moment. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett hold the pretty cards close and don’t provide any solid clues for the audience to work with, making the reveal a genuine surprise.
Special mention also has to go to Courtney Cox who shines in a pretty incredible fight scene, big action for the often sidelined news reader.
