[REVIEW] Scream VI (2023) Isn't Like Other Scream Movies, It's Better
New York’s hottest club is the next installment in the Radio Silence Scream Cinematic Universe. She’s got everything: kills that’ll make you squirm, young love that’ll make you blush, and twists that’ll make you say “I did not see that coming, okay!!”
Scream VI stabs its way into theaters this Friday March 10 and it sure is filled with all the gore, guts, and glory of a Scream movie, but this time multiplied by the number of times someone answers the phone when they shouldn’t have and plopped into the hubbub of Manhattan.
This is a spoiler-free review.
The survivors of the latest Woodsboro killings have migrated to New York City to embark on University life, some coping with the events of Scream (2022), and some not so much. Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega) Carpenter are living together and navigating city life with the Meeks-Martin twins Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown). Chad renames the group The Core Four, much to the protest of the group who find the name corny. But this is Mason Gooding we’re talking about, so the bit is delightful and charming, as is his entire performance.
While Ortega was the standout star of Scream (2022), the whole ensemble steps it up this time and really shows off their chops. Newbies Quinn (Liana Liberato), Ethan (Jack Champion), Anika (Devyn Nekoda), and Danny (Josh Segarra) are welcome additions that bring their own charm to the group and superstars Samara Weaving and Dermot Mulroney make their marks in the franchise with their respective performances. And, of course, Hayden Panettiere makes her long awaited return as Kirby and is used expertly in her role. Savoy Brown is another standout this time around, giving us another one of her “them’s the rules” talks once the Ghostface murders begin once again.
I would even argue that the cast as a whole is more connected in 6, which makes sense given what they have been through together. Their bond is the shining star of this installment and really builds upon the bond of the original cast, mirroring it and yet creating a dynamic all their own. This Core Four is fresh, dynamic, and tender and serves as the heart of the film.
As previously stated, this new Ghostface brings the guts and gore. He is mean and unrelenting, and most importantly, he has a gun. Mindy addresses the standards of the sequel in her speech to the new crew, noting that the requel sequel always goes bigger than the previous installment. She also mentions that in the sequel, no one is safe, upping the stakes even more in this city-wide goose chase. All of the elements are in place to ensure a Ghostface who has no remorse; one whose kills are brutal, to say the least. Not only is Ghostface working to follow the footsteps of those who came before, he has it out for the Carpenter sisters and makes this quite apparent in every threatening phone call. Brace yourself for this guy. He knows what he’s doing.
The Radio Silence team took their last knockout and outdid themselves. The film was crafted to be large and in charge to match its larger than life setting. Placing a Scream movie in New York City was a brilliant move that paid off. There were more places for Ghostface to hide in plain sight and since all of the transportation had to take place in public, there was even more tension added. Dark alleys and crowded trains were made for this universe and the team took full advantage of the surroundings. The city also adds a grimy undertone that has yet to be seen in a Scream film and it adds to the connotation that this Ghostface is something different from the others.
Scream VI is nasty, it’s fun, and yeah, it’s a bit sexy. The script and direction, along with the performances, are done so tightly and masterfully that this entry has instantly shot to the top of my favorites in the franchise. This is a Scream sequel at its best and I cannot wait for everyone to catch their train into Manhattan and witness this beast for themselves.