This is a spoiler-free review of Scream, which will hit theaters Jan 14.
Reboots, sequels, “requels”… they’re all hard to execute well. Everyone wants something different, and if those desires aren’t met, then sometimes things in fandom can get messy. Scream is here to maniacally cackle in the face of fan disdain for rehashes that dare attempt to reinvent their precious IP, and maybe some folks will be a little bit mad at that! But it’s hard to be angry when the material is just so damn good.
The return to Woodsboro is a bloody one. If you’re thinking “duh, Amelia, this is a slasher,” I get you. But understand that Scream takes the violence to the next level. It’s not since… Scream… that Scream has been so vicious with its kills. (Yeah, they address the title thing. It’s very funny. Still doesn’t make us look less silly while writing about it.) Things get gnarly in 2022’s entry into the franchise, and it’s for the better. Every single one of the gruesome maimings and murders is well earned, and Ghostface is trickier than ever as he works his way through his victims.
When Wes Craven died in 2015, some wondered if we’d ever see another Scream movie. Perhaps a not insignificant number of those folks thought that we definitely shouldn’t. But the DNA of his franchise is on full display here, and there was perhaps no better team to take over directing duties than Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of filmmaking collective Radio Silence. Their reverence for Scream clearly shows, but this new chapter also manages to be a completely unique addition. Writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick crafted expert-level dialogue for the whole of the cast, with one-liners from the Meeks-Martin twins being particular standouts.
If you’ve seen any of the previous movies, you should already know that Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox all kill their returns as Sidney, Dewey, and Gale. While the original three absolutely crush the fresh material they’re given (including some new character directions), it’s the new cast that does most of the heavy lifting here. While the concept of ushering in a new generation is often the point of these kinds of films, it’s not always well executed. You don’t have to worry about that with Scream, though. Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega are both incredibly believable as the Carpenter sisters, and you’ll find yourself rooting for them no matter the amount of screentime they see. Mason Gooding is a fun addition as Chad Meeks-Martin, but it really is the season of Jasmin Savoy Brown. Whether it’s as one of the most compelling characters in Yellowjackets or as Mindy Meeks-Martin in Scream, she’s redefining the meaning of Scream Queen in every role she takes on. And what about Jack Quaid, you wonder? Of course Jack Quaid was great. He’s hilarious and as charming as ever.
There’s not a bad performance in the bunch, is what I’m sayin’!
Being meta is hot right now, but there truly is no one out there doing it like the Scream franchise. (You too, Deadpool.) Scream goes harder into the meta commentary than its predecessors, but in a way that works every single time. As you may have gleaned from the first paragraph, this film takes off the gloves when it comes to mocking toxic fandom. It’s here to roast anyone who’s ever threatened a creator over art within an inch of their lives and every single second of it is delicious. Is it hamfisted at times? Maybe. But it still works like gangbusters. “Elevated horror” folks? Don’t think you’re safe from a poke or two, either. This “rebootquel” continues the Scream trend of punching above its weight and punching up at anything that could benefit from being a little bit more humble.
Perhaps the most successful — and certainly the most impressive — aspect of this new entry is that it leaves you excited for a future that may not even require Sidney Prescott’s involvement. No one wants to see any of the Big 3 go, and you won’t find their fates revealed in this review, but Scream accomplishes the dang near impossible task of laying the groundwork for a future that may be completely removed from its original key players in a way that audiences can be excited for. Every single explanation that justifies these statements is a spoiler, so you’ll just have to trust me until you can see Scream for yourself.
from IGN Reviews https://ift.tt/3K6gRfZ
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