SCREAM VI Review: Ghostface Returns In Tediously Tame Horror Sequel

"I'm something... different!" Nah, you're really not. The sixth Scream movie hits theaters this weekend, and now that the review embargo has lifted, you'll find our verdict right here...

Review Opinion

By MarkCassidy - Mar 08, 2023 06:03 AM EST

Filed Under: Scream

"F*ck this franchise," a character states in Scream VI immediately after being knifed repeatedly in the stomach (they survive, of course).

A meta dig at the fans who took issue with the last movie, or have we entered the self-loathing phase of the long-running slasher series? Either way, I'm inclined to agree.

Almost three decades after Wes Craven's masterful original, this latest Scream movie leaps over the slyly self-aware line to become a full-on parody of itself, to the point that it really does begin to play out more like an instalment in the Scary Movie franchise.

The story picks up with the survivors of the last movie, Sam (Melissa Barrera), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Chad (Mason Gooding), and Tara (Jenna Ortega), in college after relocating to New York City in an attempt to put their horrific ordeal behind them. When the Ghostface killings start up again, they enlist the help of Scream 4's Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere), who is now an FBI Agent, and franchise OG Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) to find out who has donned the mask this time, and why.

Ghostface takes New York City in 'Scream 6′: Watch the first trailer - pennlive.com

Scream VI does, admittedly, get off to a strong start with an opening sequence that puts a clever spin on the usual lone teenager being stalked by the masked killer formula. The NYC setting also makes for a welcome change of scenery, but after the first few slayings, it soon becomes clear that it's going to be business as usual for Ghostface and his not-so-bright victims.

While hardcore fans may be okay with this, when pretty much every opportunity to take a few risks and attempt something new or surprising with the narrative is avoided in favor of the safest option possible, tedium sets in. I don't want to give anything away, so let's just say it's probably best not get your hopes up for any major twists or turns.

Unfortunately, this also extends to what many will consider to be the most important aspect: the kills. There is some inventive gore here and there, and the blood does flow freely, but for the most part, the action consists of Ghostface stabbing people repeatedly... and most of them surviving.

This seems to have become something of a running joke (at least, I hope it's a joke) with this franchise, but it really does make it next to impossible to care what happens to any of the characters when we get so many fake-out deaths. How do these people keep breathing after being practically eviscerated? Sure, some suspension of disbelief is always going to be required for this kind of movie, but at a certain point it just becomes completely ridiculous.

It's also not very funny. The gallows humor and genuine wit of the earlier films is all-but gone, replaced with endless audience-winking and self-referential silliness ("oh no... did I miss the monologue?" Yes, it sucked).

As for the performances, the "core four" are fine (Ortega is, yet again, the standout), but they are all dealing with some truly abysmal dialogue here, and some of the new cast members don't fare so well with it. Dermot Mulroney hams it up (badly) as a cop assigned to the Ghostface case, and I have no idea what Josh Segarra was attempting as Sam's love interest, but it did not work.

As you've probably figured by now, Scream VI was... not for me. But, it must be said, quite a few people at my screening did seem to be enjoying themselves, and as I was leaving, I heard some teenagers use the words "best" and "yet."

The movie will likely find its audience, so directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett know what they're doing - I'll just be very happy for them to do it a million miles away from me in the future.

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24 Comments

tmp3 - 3/8/2023, 3:33 AM

i wasn’t a fan of the last one but idk, the premise for this one sounds a lot more fun

PartyKiller - 3/8/2023, 4:57 AM

No one knows how to do good slasher flicks anymore.

bkmeijer1 - 3/8/2023, 7:03 AM

@PartyKiller - think The Babysitter and Happy Death Day were fun attempts. Weren't full-on horror slasher though

DannRamm113 - 3/8/2023, 7:11 AM

@PartyKiller -

SorceresSupreme - 3/8/2023, 5:42 PM

@DannRamm113 - love that movie

AmySabadini - 3/8/2023, 7:13 AM

marvel72 - 3/8/2023, 7:49 AM

For me the one and only best Scream movie is the first movie.

thewanderer - 3/8/2023, 7:57 AM

@marvel72 - Scream 2 remains my favorite slasher flick ever.

Frshcoupe - 3/8/2023, 7:50 AM

I finally got around to watching the fifth one a few weeks ago and i actually loved it. So I’m looking forward to this one. I live in NY so it’ll be a nice little change of scenery and to see what they do here. Gonna be seeing it tomorrow.

thewanderer - 3/8/2023, 7:56 AM

@Frshcoupe - #5 was great IMO.

thewanderer - 3/8/2023, 7:56 AM

May have just not been for you, which is fine. It's getting rave reviews elsewhere.

MahN166A - 3/8/2023, 7:59 AM

It’s extremely redundant to demand originality and something new from slasher films now when we have spent 6 decades of learning and conditioning ourselves of the typical horror slasher tropes that made the genre what it was. Even with a Franchise like Scream that was meant to be commentary on the genre was eventually going to become what it made fun of.

This franchise and basically all horror movies are popcorn flicks that you’re just seeing to have fun. Much like comic book movies.

MarkCassidy - 3/8/2023, 8:44 AM

@MahN166A - I realise that, and I'm not asking for the slasher wheel to be reinvented here... I'd be happy with even some attempt to surprise or innovate. Say what you will about Halloween Ends, but at least it took a swing.

MahN166A - 3/8/2023, 9:21 AM

@RorMachine -

I hear what you're saying.
Regarding Halloween Ends though?
Swing and a Miss.
That pitch was high as hell and they swung at it coming down like it was a battle ax.

braunermegda - 3/8/2023, 8:30 AM

wow, shocking an amount of zero people

JayLemle - 3/8/2023, 8:32 AM

I didn't care for #5. But, I will give this one a chance. It might be fun now that they've somewhat moved on from the Neve Campbell chapters.

TheWalkingCuban - 3/8/2023, 9:07 AM

And that’s why I prefer Terrifier. A movie with some (bad, bad) teeth

Santanaonfire - 3/8/2023, 10:02 AM

I was considering catching this in the theater after watching 5 at home and enjoying it. Then I read this review and was second guessing… then I read the 17 comments thus far and changed my mind and am back to wanting to catch it on the big screen. Lol

MarvelZombie616 - 3/8/2023, 10:37 AM

I saw every Scream movie in theaters on opening day.
The original one and Scream 2 are like Alien and Aliens - both are great but different.
Scream 3 was not good with the Ghostface reveal.
Scream 4 - it was cool to revisit these characters 15 years after the original movie.

Scream 5 - i hated everything about the movie: The new actors were cringeworthy, the jokes unfunny, the amount of damage they could take and still survive was out of a scary movie comedy and the death of Dewey.

I will watch Scream 6 tomorrow, but i expect that everything that @RorMachine wrote will be true: good opening, but boring rest.

I expect more of 65, which i'll watch tomorrow after Scream 6.

TheLobster - 3/8/2023, 11:49 AM

I don’t care - I’m seeing this Friday and I’m stoked as hell!!

NegativeNerd - 3/8/2023, 1:34 PM

Well, I still am looking forward to seeing this. They better not hurt my girl, Gale!!

Shmokey20 - 3/8/2023, 5:40 PM

It's been getting amazing reviews almost everywhere else. Hopefully, those reviews turn out right!

SorceresSupreme - 3/8/2023, 5:41 PM

the movie IS trying to become ridiculous. something alone the lines of their own Stab franchise inside the Scream movies. its just about liking camp or not and how much. i absolutely loved it because i love exaggerated camp

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SCREAM VI Review: Ghostface Returns In Tediously Tame Horror Sequel

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