The Scream franchise is back into action with a fifth movie, and it has been getting positive reviews from critics – here’s what they’re saying about it. Reboots are part of the current trends in the film industry, and they have been mostly seen in the horror genre, with classic franchises being revived with new movies that either continue the legacy or retcon some movies in order to make way for a new timeline. Among those is the Scream franchise, which is now back with a fifth movie, also titled Scream, set in the same continuity as the previous ones, bringing together old and new characters.
Set 25 years after the events of the first movie (but without disregarding the sequels), Scream is taking viewers back to Woodsboro, where a new wave of murders has begun. A new killer is now wearing the Ghostface mask and targeting a group of teenagers, while also resurrecting secrets from the town’s deadly past. Ghostface’s new murders will bring survivors Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and Dewey Riley (David Arquette) back together to save Ghostface’s new targets and find who’s behind the mask this time and why. Joining the original trio are actors Melisa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Dylan Minnette, Jack Quaid, and Mikey Madison.
Since a fifth Scream movie was announced, there has been a lot of speculation and expectation around it, which only grew once Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not) were confirmed as directors and the three main characters from the saga were confirmed to return. Scream got a January 14, 2022 release date and early reactions have been quite positive, and at the time of writing, Scream holds an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics are mostly praising the performances of the new cast, its faithfulness to the saga, and (of course) its meta-commentary – after all, that’s what the franchise is all about. Here’s what the positive reviews of Scream are saying:
“The film is sharp, especially in its analysis of horror, slicing through the layers of the genre, the Scream franchise itself, and the rules of surviving. But it’s perhaps most scathing in its commentary about obsessing over the first movie in a franchise and how it can lead to fandom toxicity. This commentary, among other things, is what makes Scream so good. It recognizes its legacy and history without reveling in it, taking shots at its past without being too self-deprecating, delivering a sequel that has stakes and likable new characters.”
“Nestled deep at the center of a fascinating story lies the familiar self-awareness and respect for the genre. Only this time, that’s broadened to a surprising degree. It looks outward as well as inward. It dovetails so nicely with the narrative that the third act’s impact hits hard. Scream defies simple expectations. It’s a clever examination of the genre and how it’s shifted since the ’90s without ever losing focus on building a deeply engaging story that makes you care. The stakes are higher than ever in many ways.”
“The tension of Scream is buoyed throughout its runtime because Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are constantly messing with your expectations. For one, no character is safe, regardless if they’re a legacy hero or a newcomer. On the other hand, some survivors who seem like goners end up being alive. The pair of filmmakers anticipate the audience's reactions, making the surprises as terrifying as Ghostface himself. And through all the scares and stab wounds, there’s also comedic beats consistently used – succeeding in nailing the iconic tone of the Scream franchise.”
CBR:
“Out of all the Scream newbies, Melissa Barrera (In the Heights) steals the show with a steely confidence that's only outmatched by her riveting chemistry with Jenna Ortega (You). Much of Scream's success is due to this pair's ability to effortlessly, and on a dime, bring palpable love, fear and rage to the big screen. Yellowjackets' Jasmin Savoy Brown and The Boys' Jack Quaid bring their unique brand of comedy to the film, gifting us with plenty of self-consciously quippy moments that balance well against the film's heartbreaking storylines.”
“James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick's clever script not only relishes joking about "requels", but also takes memorable digs at toxic fandom in a manner that would make Rian Johnson proud. Scream knows it's a "requel" or a "legacyquel" if you prefer that term, a sequel that blends legacy characters with a new cast to reboot a franchise. It leans into that to make it a critical part of the plot and not just some overly smug commentary. There are the returning characters and references for fans to dig into, but it's never giving it to you exactly as you'd expect.”
The Scream franchise has stood out for how it addresses horror clichés and current social issues and trends, with a good dose of self-awareness that has ultimately made it so unique. The new Scream movie follows that path and doesn’t disappoint, and the chemistry between the new and old cast is one of the strongest elements of the movie, but not all critics are fully on board with what Scream has to offer. While some are also praising its new type of violence, others are criticizing it, and also found that some moments (especially humorous ones) fall flat and the overall mystery of who’s behind the Ghostface mask isn’t as exciting as in previous movies, particularly the original one, and it turned out to be quite predictable to some. Here’s what some of the negative Scream reviews are saying:
THR:
“The first few startling appearances of Ghostface pack a jolt or two. But as the action progresses, the filmmakers start teasing us with pointed music cues and shots set up to make us anticipate the murderous, cloaked and masked antagonist behind every door. That gives Ghostface’s reappearances, when they do happen, the feel of a game rather than a life-or-death encounter.”
“Unlike the rebooted “Halloween” and “Candyman,” which successfully dragged their franchises into the present with added social commentary, the tired teen slasher film is stuck in the past. And proud of it. [...] The heroine’s backstory is a groaner. A should-be devastating development is totally unmoving. And when you think you know who is behind the Ghostface mask, you’re probably right.”
“There is some suspense for a while about who’s doing the Ghostface thing this time out, but viewers with sharp eyes and ears should be able to figure it out pretty early on. That’s really the big problem with Scream: there’s a sense of going through the motions this time out, and even the trying-to-be-smart cultural and genre observations feel more forced than usual.”
Although there was a lot of excitement around Scream, it was also somewhat expected that it would be over-analyzed and harshly criticized, mostly when comparing it to the original one (which seems to be inevitable, especially with reboots), but most critics agree that it’s a fitting entry in the franchise created by Wes Craven and checks all the elements that make a Scream movie part of the saga – and whether the reveal of the killer’s identity is underwhelming or predictable or not, is up to every viewer.
