Certificate – 18
Directed By – Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Starring – Melissa Barrera, Courteney Cox, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Skeet Ulrich, Hayden Panettiere, Dermot Mulroney, Jack Champion, Liana Liberato, Josh Segarra, Samara Weaving, Roger Jackson (voice).
Running Time – 122 Minutes (2 Hour 2 Minutes)
Following the major success of the Scream Five, death comes to the city as the sixth instalment of the franchise, the second of the new generation, occurs in New York City.
I stated before the previous film did two things wonderfully, paying respect to Wes Craven’s legacy whilst introducing newcomers. This film is now Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett fully taking the reigns as this movie is a far meaner affair.
It stems from being a Ghostface we’ve never seen before. They still play with the formula of the series and the character, as it’s far more violent and bloodier and uses guns!
If the 2022 movie leant towards dark humour, the directors and writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick created a brilliant murder mystery that will have you guessing, and in this age of spoilers and social media (just like before) I had no idea who was the killer.
The team makes us guess right at the final moment.
As for the performances, Barrera and Ortega play off each other wonderfully as the Carpenter sisters. Jenna has become the heart of this new generation as Tara. She just wants to forgive the past and move forward, not being terrified, but becomes a badass whilst never losing her feminity. I can’t wait to see her character grow because these movies won’t work without her.
The same can be said of Melissa, who we saw become a badass in the last movie, but I love the character building of if we as an audience should be keeping a closer eye on her and worry that Sam will become like her father.
There’s a scene in the film with Gal Weathers that made me seriously think it might be Sam, but as long as Sam has Tara in her life, she won’t have the spectre of Billy Loomis over her.
Meanwhile, Gooding and Savoy Brown have become my favourite characters. It’s always good to see Chad and Mindy on screen as they puncture the pressure with levity.
It’s great to see Weaving show up, having starred as the final girl in the directors’ movie Ready or Not. Bringing back another legacy character in Panettiere’s Kirby Reed is just another sign of respect for the franchise’s history. There is a place for the character moving forward alongside “the core four”.
Elsewhere, Brain Tyler delivers another brilliant score working alongside Sven Faulconer. Kailee Morgue and Mike Shinoda, of Linkin Park fame, made a banger of a song to go with the film.
Finally, while I’ll still stick to the fact I’m not a horror fan, I will now admit I’m a Radio Silence fan, as they are three for three with me.
Bonus Features
The Blu-ray has over an hour’s worth of extras, which are all great. Though I am bummed the gag reel is a digital exclusive and not on the Blu-ray.
Verdict
Another great chapter to this franchise with brilliant character development and a murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.
The Bear Cave 