Scream (2022) is a worthy successor to the popular horror franchise but does fail to grasp some of the best parts of the original. The fifth installment sought to reflect on its origins with a modern retelling, but its singular focus leaves out crucial elements of the franchise. The self-proclaimed 'requel' leans heavily on satire and meta-commentary and less on the horror-comedy aspects that drew audiences to the original.

2022's Scream repeats a Force Awakens reboot mistake of merging a new cast with the original trio in order to serve fans of 1996's Scream. While Sidney, Gale, and Dewey sharing a moment together on screen would have pulled all the nostalgic heartstrings, the real magic was in the trio's relationship dynamic along with the supporting cast. The series' new protagonist, Sam, isolated herself from Woodsboro, so her connection to the characters being killed is indirect. Therefore, many of the socially comedic scenes, character development, and meaning behind the killings are absent. The Scream 'requel' is not bad, but it serves as a reminder of how iconic the original was.

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Scream 2022 Isn't Funny Enough For A Scream Movie

Stu with a gun in Scream

The comedic element of the previous films seems to be all but left out. They do incorporate characters like Richie (Jack Quaid), Chad (Mason Gooding), and Dewey (David Arquette), who serve as comic relief, but their moments are few and far in between. A scene like Randy's rules of survival was as comedic as it was an allegory for living through a slasher. Scream (2022) does recreate this scene in a similar party setting as an homage, though it doesn't have the same staying power. Comedy mainstays like Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, and Henry Winkler added a light-heartedness to the original film that is sorely missed in the 2022 version.

Scream 2022's Ghostface Kills Lack Inventiveness

Drew Barrymore on the phone in Scream

The garage scene immediately comes to mind when referencing the inventiveness of the original Scream's kills. After Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) hilariously battles the killer before being crushed by the garage after failing to get through the cat flap. Albeit an unrealistic kill, the creativity is there. Not to mention one of the killers Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) was seemingly killed by a TV dropping on his head. On the contrary, newcomer Richie might be the least effective Ghostface as he doesn't have any confirmed kills on-screen.

Richie (Jack Quaid) is an homage to Billy Loomis, with the boyfriend being revealed as the killer, but he possesses way less brutality and creep factor. He left Amber (Mikey Madison) to do most of the dirty work. Overall, the kills in Scream (2022) were pretty straightforward and lacked inventiveness. There were no cartoon-like deaths or seeing the kill happen in the reflection of Henry Winkler's eyes.

Scream 2022's High School Story Is An AfterthoughtSidney, Billy, Stu, Tatum, and Randy at school in Scream

Contrary to the Scream (1996), the focus in the 2022 version is shifted away from the high school story despite the fact that most of the characters are high schoolers. The shift is mainly due to the fact that the new Scream protagonist Sam (Melissa Barrera), is a little older. Sam's sister Tara, played by Jenna Ortega, and her friends are attacked in an effort to lure Sam back to Woodsboro. The perspective is now skewed from the audience investing in the teenage drama because Sam has a distant relationship with many of the main characters. Not to mention the awkwardness of Richie, a grown man who refers to the teens as zoomers, teaming with a teen in Amber to kill other teens.

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The original Scream focused on Sidney and her group of friends, with the high school drama at the film's center. Even the principal gets killed in his own office. The media attention from the kills even draws Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) and a host of other fanfare to the school. Scream's Billy and Stu, the two killers, are a part of Sydney's inner circle, so it makes their villainy feel more personal. The high school story was in line with many of the teenage dramas of the era and the classic horror trope of teenagers getting picked off one by one. While the high school element does appear in the 2022 Scream, it is underutilized.

Scream 2022 Is A Reminder Of How Great Scream 1996 Is

Richie, Sam and Dewey sitting on a couch together in Scream (2022)

Scream (2022) is a good addition to the series and keeps many of the plot devices that make the franchise so popular. The fact that it still works today is a testament to how great the original Scream is. Under the guidance of horror-genre master Wes Craven, Scream revitalized a down decade for horror and introduced meta-commentary into the slasher genre. Wes Craven had gambled with meta-horror before with New Nightmare, which, while clever and creative, didn't connect with mainstream audiences as much at that time. Before the original Scream, it was taboo for horror films to be self-aware. Characters in horror movies never knew they were following classic tropes and stereotypes, as this distinction was left to the audience.

Horror is currently in a renaissance era of 'elevated' horror led by Ari Aster and Jordan Peele, which blends metaphor and arthouse-style sequencing into the genre. The 2022 Scream nods to these new films while acknowledging how the original Scream paved the way for smarter, wittier horror. Scream (2022)uses clever easter eggs and horror references to pay homage to past films as the original Scream did before it. Wes Craven's original popularly used Psycho's plot device of killing the star early in the film to signify anything is fair game. Like Janet Leigh, in some ways, Drew Barrymore was a major part of the film's marketing and press run, only for her to be killed in what is now an iconic first scene.

Scream's lasting effects are seen in films like Nope and Get Out. Both of these record-breaking films feature characters who are self-aware of their predicaments and seek to avoid falling into the common traps that plague horror movie characters. This is evident when OJ looks at the mysterious creature wreaking havoc on his farm and plainly states, "Nope." While Scream (2022) omits some of the original's best parts, it proves that the franchise can still connect with audiences. With Scream 6 on the horizon, the franchise will continue its evolution and the evolution of the meta-horror genre.

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