Only one year ago, the filmmaking collective known as Radio Silence- directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, for those not in the know- took over the late Wes Craven’s iconic “Scream” franchise in the fifth installment. It was a massive hit and as such, a sixth was all but inevitable. With Scream VI, Radio Silence mixes up the tried and true franchise formula in ways that make a very entertaining time at the movies, as well as give the new cast members a chance to take the stage from the absent Neve Campbell.
The plot summary is tricky to dive into without ruining the fun, but Scream VI lets you know right out of the gate that it’s not f*cking around in a way that is truly special to experience. From there, Radio Silence makes it clear that the “Core Four,” as they’re known, from 2022’s “Scream” are the real stars here. Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown and the red hot from the success of “Wednesday” Jenna Ortega carry the film forward, as their characters try to move on from the past, a theme onscreen and off, which gives this film a fascinating take on trauma that pays off in a cool way by the credits.
That’s not to say that these four are all that’s special about the cast. The much hyped return of Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed, now an FBI agent tracking the Ghostface killings, delivers lots of fun for longtime fans- a moment between her and Brown’s Mindy is a highlight. Dermot Mulroney adds a new dimension as a cop who is dedicated to bringing Ghostface down, and Jack Champion, fresh off the mega hit “Avatar: The Way of Water,” has fun as a dopey freshman oblivious to the rules of the game.
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Speaking of the rules, it’s here that the film surprises. Longtime fans are keen to be on the lookout for suspects and clues to the killer’s identity and Radio Silence knows this. That’s why they make it very clear that any rules previous killers have adhered to are out the window in this one. Ghostface will pick off characters you don’t expect to bite it early and as with every “Scream” film, the tension and paranoia is turned up to the max until the final reveal, which without giving anything away, should keep fans on their toes throughout.
Also, and it sounds weird to say this for a horror film, but there’s fan service galore, making this a rewarding experience for the legions of “Scream” faithful. Easter Eggs hunters will have a field day with the Ghostface shrine and clear attention to detail from the filmmakers to make sure everything connects to the franchise’s long and storied past. If you’ve been following the franchise since day one, watching this film will be like Christmas.
There are, however, a few drawbacks. Every “Scream” film has been meta to the max, Radio Silence’s 2022 entry included, but this one seems to leave that by the wayside, outside of an early breakdown of the rules. Another major issue is the way the film handles Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers; Following her previous character development over a whopping five films, Gale regresses slightly here, which will probably rub some diehard fans the wrong way. It’s not a dealbreaker for the character, seeing as this isn’t completely centered around her, but it may cause debate.
Scream VI is an entertaining, twisty and risky slasher sequel with a focus on great characters that could hold a candle to Sidney Prescott. While not the best the franchise has to offer- that debate I’ll leave to the fan boards- it is nonetheless a fun time at the movies that will satisfy horror fans and film fans alike.
Scream VI is now playing in theaters.