The Expression

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At The Movies

Review: “Scream VI” explodes onto the big screen with a flick ruthless enough to rival the original

By ELLA YORK

Staff Writer/Film Critic

Editor's note: This review is spoiler-free.

Ghostface is back and more brutal than ever in the latest addition to the “Scream” saga. A whirlwind of murder and mystery, “Scream VI” makes old tropes new again in a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll. The sixth installment gives the 1996 “Scream” a run for its money with its absolutely electric thrills and kills.

“Scream VI” leaves the comfort of Woodsboro behind and takes a risk in New York City. The hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps provides a much more suspenseful and thrilling atmosphere to watch our characters — and killer — navigate. The Empire State Building setting is a breath of fresh air for the franchise, as even after six movies this film still feels original and new.

The scenery wasn’t the only switch up the film pulled off. “Scream VI” boasts a significantly darker tone than any other “Scream” movie before it. While it certainly keeps the franchise’s signature meta humor, it’s more subtle this time around, letting the slow burn suspense shine.

This darker tone allows for the audience to gain a greater emotional attachment to the characters in this film, as the graveness of the situation becomes palpable. “Scream VI” has its fair share of character deaths, no doubt, and the film isn’t afraid to pack on the pain and heartache along with them. While the newer characters may have been introduced in the last film, “Scream VI” serves as their real introduction. The last installment showed the audience how each new face related back to the original characters, but this film lets the new crew sink into their own personalities and archetypes, giving them the necessary space from the 96’ characters to become their own unique persons.

In a stunning move, Jenna Ortega’s character, Tara, the opening kill turned final girl, seems to take up the mantle once filled by Sidney Prescott. Tara proves herself to be a formidable contender against the menacing Ghostface, and her character arc has already begun paralleling that of Sidney’s. Tara’s fiery but good nature is a dead ringer for the original scream queen.

On the other hand, Sam’s character, who was once predicted to be the next Sidney, seems to take a much different, darker path.

Not shying away from her family’s bloody history, Sam displays the same fiery spirit as her sister, Tara, but in a much less merciful way. Having a lead that’s more of an anti-hero is definitely a new concept for the “Scream” franchise, but one that lends itself to much exhilaration, anticipation and allure.

In addition to the integration of the new characters into the series, “Scream VI” also significantly ties all of the previous installments together. The film has a decent amount of familiar faces and callbacks, as the plot centers around a killer who has an obsession with the Ghostfaces of “Scream” past, present and future.

Back for another round, Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers is certainly a highlight of the film, giving some throwback flavor to an otherwise completely new cast. While it’s nice to see the “Scream” franchise experiment with the newbies, watching the return of a beloved '90s character never gets old. With the absence of Neve Campbell’s Sidney in this film, Gale keeps the franchise tied to its roots.

“Scream VI” is not afraid to bring on the blood, as the sixth installment flaunts the highest kill count of any “Scream” movie so far. Stripping away