Twenty-five years following Scream's release, the fifth installment (also called Scream, the reason for which is referenced in the film) gets into full slasher mode — here’s how scary, violent, and gory Scream 2022 is. The fifth film is different from its predecessors in a one big way: it's the first in the franchise that isn’t directed by Wes Craven, who sadly passed away in 2015. The horror film series has been defined by its suspenseful phone calls, its meta commentary, and the excessive stab wounds inflicted on the victims of Ghostface. Does Scream 2022 follow in the same vein in terms of its horror?

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, Scream 5 sees the return of the nefarious Ghostface, whose killings are connected to a dark secret plaguing Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera). The Woodsboro murders greatly affect Sam and her younger sister, Tara (Jenna Ortega), who is attacked by the mask-wearing killer. As they work to discover who the killer is behind the iconic mask and why he’s back after a decade of absence, Sam and Tara are aided by Dewey Riley (David Arquette), Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), and Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), who are well-versed with the killer at this point.

Related: Scream Timeline Recap: All Ghostface Killers, Survivors & What To Remember

Scream is rated R primarily for strong bloody violence throughout the film and it certainly lives up to that rating. Scream 2022 is a slasher film through and through. In the fifth installment, the deaths are gruesome and plenty bloody. Ghostface particularly enjoys aiming for the neck and finds new and unique ways to get the job done, with each kill detailed and horrendous. As such, the horror sequel lingers on each victim’s wounds and their gushing blood, which squirts out more often than not. Considering the excessive stabbing, slicing, and gun injuries (at least three people are shot), it's safe to say Scream 5 is a pretty violent and grisly film. When it comes to the killings, there’s an abundance of brutality, with Ghostface not only stabbing people, but ruthlessly breaking several characters' bones. There is also an incident involving fire that is fairly horrifying as someone’s body is chillingly burned.

Scream 5 2022 Ghostface with knife

But, there is far more gore and violence throughout Scream than actual scary moments. Audiences shouldn’t expect to be too scared while watching since the majority of the film’s horrific incidents stem directly from the murders. To be sure, the self-referential  Scream has suspenseful moments throughout, but the jump scares are few and far between. And even when they do happen, they’re only slightly startling. The fact that many of them take place in broad daylight or in brightly lit rooms makes the film slightly less terrifying and easier to stomach. However, the opening sequence is probably the scariest because it’s somewhat more chilling than the others.

2022’s Scream hinges many of its death and scare tactics on the audience’s expectations of what will happen. To that end, viewers will likely shudder during every killing, but be fine with the minor moments that are meant to make one jump. Ultimately, Scream is far more violent and bloody than it is scary and that’s more or less in line with the rest of the franchise. For fans who are familiar with what to expect, Scream 5’s levels of blood and violence aren’t drastically different from the previous four movies.

Next: Every Scream Movie & TV Show Ranked, From Worst To Best

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