Scream is an excellent reminder of how impactful the communal experience of going to a theater can be. While it would be pretty foolish of me to sit here and complain about getting to see something ahead of time in a nearly empty theater, the latest installment in the Scream franchise had me longing for our theater to be packed so we could immerse ourselves in the gasps and shrills from theatergoers every time Ghostface claimed another victim. It’s pretty damn near impossible to take source material that’s widely known and tweak it in such a way that unique but compelling enough to attract members of the original cast to join this “requel.”
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s latest venture is tightly constructed with no moments that drag and are packed with nonstop intensity and just soo much stabbing (not that I’m complaining). What takes this film up a notch is its clever premise, and we can attribute that to James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick’s screenplay. The best advice that anyone can give you going into watching the film is that it’s best to avoid social media or “spoilers” before seeing the movie. Going in blind enhanced my experience. We can say that the film takes place 25 years after the last string of brutal murders in Woodsboro, California. A new killer emerges and targets a group of teens seeking to shed light on the town’s dark past. Through a chain of events, Dewey Riley (David Arquette), Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell), and Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) are drawn into the killer’s deadly game.
The strength of this film is its ensemble. Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega play sisters and stand out from this new cast. Jenna (Who plays Tara Carpenter) sets the stage in the opening sequence, which will leave theatergoers breathless. It does appear that both Tara and Sam Carpenter (Barrera) are at the top of Ghostface’s kill list? What could be the motivation? Could it have something to do with the town’s twisted past? Scream leaves audiences guessing up until the final moment. Who is behind the mask isn’t close to being obvious, so don’t waste time guessing. Just let the experience wash over you like a wave. A blood-red wave!
Dewey Singleton has been reviewing new releases in television and film for many years. Dewey's reviews have been heard in multiple markets (Houston Atlanta, Tampa). Dewey's past work has been with awardswatch.com, awardsradar.com, and bleeding cool. Dewey is a proud member of the CCA.