Scream 2022 Review

Scream (2022)

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet

Written by: James Vanderbilt (screenplay) and Guy Busick (screenplay)

Starring: Never Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Jenna Ortega, Dylan Minnette, etc.

Hard to believe the original Scream from 1996 is already celebrating its 25th anniversary this pass year into the new one with yet another entry in the franchise.  That original, genre redefining slasher blockbuster started a franchise that still is making fans go crazy over the self aware, who-dun-it? blood baths that these films have been for a quarter of a century now.  After 2011's Scream 4 under-performed at the box office, original plans for a Scream 5 and 6 were officially scrapped....even made worse, the legendary Wes Craven, who directed the first four films untimely death in 2015.  It seemed the Scream franchise was done! Until the success of "Ready or Not" back in 2019 generated so much praise and reverence for the genre that directing team, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet aka Radio Silence decided that their next project would be the fifth installment of the franchise which of course seemed highly unlikely.  Never Campbell and the rest of the surviving trio seemed all but ready to leave the iconic series behind with Wes no longer with us but thanks to duo of slasher crazed filmmakers being such devoted fans of the films by writing very convincing and heartwarming letters to the old cast, Neve Campell expressed such joy and content for returning as she, Courtney Cox and David Arquette couldn't wait to come back to do a film honorable of Wes' legacy.  And...luckily, I can tell you Scream 2022 or Scream 5 or even hilariously 5cream! :P It's one of the best sequels yet and arguably the best Scream since the very first film blew audiences away by starting this whole insane phenomenon in the first place! :)

I'm sure many of us didn't think it could be done but Radio Silence deliver a film that definitely progresses the franchise forward in ways that even Scream 4 didn't and feels like a movie written as well as directed by fans of Wes Craven's legacy on the horror genre. I can't believe I'm say this but Scream 2022's opening alone rivals the Casey Becker classic opening from Scream 1 and I dare anyone to tell me different.  Scream 4's opening with the Stab meta commentary on relentless horror sequels was beyond clever and entertaining no doubt but the actual opening kills weren't exactly the most memorable outside of a neat reference to Tatum's death from the first film.  But my goodness, I never thought a new Scream opening would nearly restore that similar intensity and chill inducing anxiety of the original.  The character of Tara is immediately incredible to watch as well as the script building sensational tension and dread like horror movies should always do; not being an exception these days.  Jenna Ortega is a natural Scream Queen for sure and her performance is so full of vulnerability and sensibility that it's shocking what becomes of her character even tho it's the opening and she's about to die! O_o What's smart about this sequel or "requel" as one of the best new characters of the film mention, is that the new cast do a fine job in their roles while also making for the most entertaining group of friends to be the main suspects of the Scream who-dun-it mystery.  Since I can't really get into who dies and who the killers are revealed to be, I will talk about the new characters as well as our always reliable trio of the legacy characters.  Like I said, Jenna Ortega as Tara, giving one of, if not, the strongest performances out of the fresh meat for Ghostface to slaughter.  

Then there's her sister, Sam, played by Melissa Barrera who is the new final girl moving forward taking after our fearless Sidney after 4 films of being the main protagonist of the series.  I have to admit, Melissa has some unprecedented shoes to fill as the new Scream lead of the franchise moving forward and it seemed for the first hour or so, that she seriously is in capable of handling the pressure.  It's not that her acting was bad per say, it was more that her character seemed too cold, distant and disconnected when we're following her and her sister's story. Not to mention being so extremely unlikable and too guarded at times.  But it soon becomes all too clear why she is the way she is given how he backstory is the catalyst for the Ghostface killings this time.  I don't want to spoil ANYTHING about her but by the third act of the film (and my GOD, that third act! O_O :), you really see Sam's evolution from this stuck up, stone faced new girl with some serious psychological issues to someone who seems actually worthy of taking Sidney's place as the new final girl moving forward.  And It's honestly, mostly because of how the film comes to together so well during the third act! 

Moving on, Jack Quaid from "The Boys" fame is also very bizarrely quirky as Richie, Sam's boyfriend but he definitely is the second most lively of the new characters, ready to chime in his own brand of awkward average Joe comedy.  All I can say is he gives probably one of the best performances of his career here, especially during that third act.....seriously that third act! I promise I'll go into more detail! lol  The rest of the cast is pretty great as well.  Dylan Minnette's Wes Hicks (In honor of Wes Craven! *tear* ;_( is good as well as Marley Shelton returning as Deputy Judy Hicks after debuting in Scream 4.  I just wish they were used more and we got to see more of that family dynamic between them but they are apart of the one of the finest back to back sequences of the film.  Marley Shelton in particular is exceptional during one suspenseful, edge of you seat driving scene when her son might be in danger! I have to say, I loved how the new crew of teens to be terrorized in this Scream have ties to the original characters or characters from previous sequels.  Heather Matarazoo, who played Randy's sister returns as we meet her children, the twins! One a snarky high school jock, Chad Meeks-Martin and the other, the new horror film expert of the group, Mindy Meeks-Martin are both great additions that add their own brand of enthusiasm to the group dynamics.  I like how Chad isn't just some 2 dimensional jock stereotype and actually uses his head throughout when making observations of his friends by looking out for himself even at the expense of his rather b!tchy girlfriend, played with such entertaining ditzy wit by Liv McKenzie.  She even becomes so fed up with him not taking their relationship to the next level aka have sex.

But honestly what we are REALLY here for are the now renowned legacy characters of the franchise as we call them now and in the Scream films' case that would be the trio of survivors Dewey Riley, Gale Weathers and of course, the baddest final girl since Laurie Strode defeated Michael Myers in the original first two and new recent Halloween films, Sidney Motherf#$%ing Prescott herself.  It is amazing and always heartwarming to see these three return as we've been following them throughout the first four films of the franchise and I'm glad to say they are used exceptionally well here. Like I said, I won't mention if they die or not, but I can say out of the three, David Arquette gives probably his best performance not just of the three but his best performance of Dewey ever.  I loved the direction they went with his character as he has his usual Dewey quirks but is a more nuanced, rundown and after a beautiful talk while getting Sidney up to date on the new killing spree, comes off more heroic and badass than ever.  This is a man who's been through a lot and it shows! I loved his immediate dismissal of Sam and Richie yet going on to have such a great mentor dynamic with the new kids or should I say future Ghostface victims to be! Of course, Neve Campbell has NEVER missed a beat with Sidney and she absolutely doesn't again in her fifth go around as our favorite Scream Queen of them all. :)  I love how they wrote Sidney in not only inspiring Dewey to get back in hunting down Ghostface but also showing how much stronger she has become with each installment.  I think it's safe to say more than ever, Sidney jumps back into the film when she needs too and holds nothing back when helping the teens take down this new Ghostface once and for all.  My god, Scream 5's Sidney is even more focused, tactful and ruthless than in Scream 4 when she immediately jumps into action to try and save Jill and her friends when Ghostface attacks.  My favorite moment with her is of course, when the new Ghostface calls her and the way Sidney deals with "yet another call" from him.  Omg! Excellent writing guys and Neve just sells Sidney's conviction as a seasoned veteran of this franchise. Bravo!

Lastly is Gale and I'd say she has the least important role in the film in terms of what she adds to the film than the last four but the best of her was of course her scenes with Dewey and seeing how their relationship has evolved emotionally since Scream 4.  Also, she does get some amazing banter and one liners when alongside Sidney with once again this hilariously knowing "here we go again!" redundancy of these murders by not even flinching in the face of danger.  Man, these women are so awesome and Courtney is definitely her best when reminding us of her and Sidney's bond throughout these films by backing each other up like no time has passed in the face of yet another...well Ghostface! :P  In terms of that final act that I can well finally get too, it is also hands down the best third act of ANY Scream film with the obvious exception of the very first. DUH! lol  Never has a Ghostface reveal been this unforeseen and man, when that reveal happens, the last 30 minutes or so of the film almost makes up for some of its shortcomings that I didn't like at first....but made so much sense in the end. It made the whole ride so worth it and even make so much sense! Yeah, there's a definite pacing issue here unlike the first four films that was bothersome.  Things were happening too fast and it seems we weren't given enough time to breath....but by the third act, it's like I completely forgot about that in how the whole movie came together so vibrantly maniacal during its conclusion.  The way the film is structured makes A LOT of characters look like red herrings and it's definitely the approach the writers were going for.  It actually helped in making almost everyone a prime suspect but also giving this group of friends some of the most hilarious distrust issues.  I mean, I know they are all friends but they're hormonal teenagers aka ticking time bombs too with yet another serial killer or killers roaming around their town waiting to stab them to death.  I'd be immediately distrustful too! O_O Survival over friendship/relationships is a definite consequence and reaction of these Scream films remember???

And I can't end things without mentioning how the kills in this film are growing in infamy on how they are truly the most brutal and merciless kills of the franchise.  My god! I didn't think anything could top the dark, sinister kills of the original or even the return to more savage Ghostface attacks like Olivia's death in the fourth installment after Scream 3 but YIKES!!! Ghostface REALLY is more sadistic in this one and the way he almost torments his victims with his signature hunting knife instead of just outright killing them is just.....spine chilling! Roger L. Jackson as the infamous voice of Ghostface also gives probably his BEST performance as the character's iconic disturbing tone by giving Ghostface more personality again like in the original during that classic opening with talking to Casey over the phone. Seriously, I can't wait for an inevitable Scream 6 as the film is already exceeding expectations at the box office as opposed to Scream 4 being the poorest Scream film in terms of revenue at the box office and almost considered a flopped compared to the consistently staggering financial success of the original trilogy.  But I don't blame audiences and especially critics for being so blown away by this film.  It is in every-way a Scream movie worthy of sharing its place alongside its predecessors and takes some serious risks that is needed to evolve the franchise as it moves forward with each generation.  The commentary here is as meta and sharply written as ever with the writers taking shots at the toxic fandom of late and their prideful persona of knowing better than Hollywood when it comes to their favorite, obsessed over franchises by including the Stab franchise within the Scream franchise. Let's just say the story around Stab 8 has one hell of a punchline that fandom will either cringe or groan at or surrender to the insults being thrown at them that you can't help but smile at the ironic sincerity of such a twist! LMAO!  The ending itself leaves too many possibilities for the films moving forward and for a series that would have ended after Wes' death, that is a shocking success in and of itself.  I have no more words......:_(

"After four slasher meta commentaries on the world of horror films from sequels, trilogies and remakes, Scream 2022, the fifth entry in the ongoing franchise is possibly the darkest and most blood ridden Scream since the 1996 starter of one of the most beloved horror series of all time.  From Radio Silence's tactful, boldly vicious take on Ghostface attacks and interactions to the writing duo James Vanderbilt and Busick more than adequately taking over for Kevin Williamson with a script with so much emotional punch and tension drench suspense, this is the film that Scream fans truly deserved whether you loved it or not.  Sure the immediate pacing is problematic and odd, the acting feels jarring at times as first before the film justifies the "off" performances and I'd admit, sometimes characters say, even do things that are idiotic as usual but it doesn't matter when a film can beautifully pay tribute to such a renowned and deeply missed directing legend with such heart and enthusiasm as this! For Wes indeed! He'd be so proud for sure!" :_)

 

Final Film Score: A-