Scream 2022 is significantly less rewarding than Wes Craven’s predecessors because it commits the same major legacy character mistake as Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Similar to J.J. Abrams' reboot of George Lucas' popular space opera, Scream 5 attempts to refresh Craven's slasher franchise by merging new cast members with the original trio that viewers know, Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott, Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers, and David Arquette’s Dewey Riley.

Scream 5 is set 25 years after Sidney, Gale, and Dewey survived the first murder spree in Craven’s original classic, and the directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who were hired after Craven’s death in 2015, take the franchise in a different direction. This time, a new generation of teenagers are stalked by Ghostface, led by Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter, the daughter of the original Ghostface Billy Loomis, and Jenna Ortega as Tara, Sam’s half-sister. After Tara survives an attack by a copycat Ghostface in the opening scene, Scream 5 alternates between the teenagers in Woodsboro and Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, whose peaceful lives away from Woodsboro are disrupted by the new wave of murders.

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Sidney, Gale, and Dewey eventually return to Woodsboro, but Scream 5 denies viewers the satisfaction of a legitimate reunion. Much like Luke, Han, and Leia in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Sidney, Gale, and Dewey never actually appear together in the same scene. They don't have much of a chance, since Dewey is killed by Ghostface early in the movie, a surprising twist that functions as a clear nod to a huge event in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the death of Harrison Ford's Han Solo. Dewey's death is a failed attempt to update the Scream franchise for a new era. By killing Dewey to make room for fresh blood, Scream 5 robs viewers of the chance to see the old gang reunite, and forgets, in the process, that the franchise's appeal has always been the original trio.

Will Any Of The Original Trio Return For Scream 6?

white woman attempting to free two bound white people

In one of the many meta moments in Scream 5, Sam and her friends discuss the rules of the remake-sequel, or "requel." Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy explains, “New main characters, yes, but supported by, and related to, legacy characters. Not quite a reboot, not quite a sequel.” The self-aware acknowledgment of the requel, a modern horror trend started by Evil Dead 2 in 1987, doesn’t make the lack of reunion between Sidney, Dewey, and Gale any less frustrating. What elevates the Scream franchise above its imitators are not the witty in-jokes or bloody kills, but how the three interact with each other. Nothing can equal the pleasure of seeing a shy, goofy Dewey flirt with Gale, or the funny passive-aggressive bickering between Gale and Sidney, two three-dimensional women with strong personalities. Dewey’s sudden death and the focus on new characters like Sam and Tara deprive viewers of these special moments.

Scream 2022 works best when it stays with Sidney, Gale, and Dewey. Before Dewey’s death, for example, he has a brief encounter with Gale. Though separated, it’s clear that the two still love and respect each other, and their conversation is touching. Even though Sidney has few scenes in Scream 5, the climax of the movie, when she and Gale take down Ghostface, is thrilling because it brings to mind all the other times they triumphed. Still, these scenes pale in comparison to previous Scream movies, in which Sidney, Gale and Dewey are the stars of the show, rather than supporting players.

Viewers disappointed by Scream 2022 may be more disappointed by Scream 6. With Dewey dead and Campbell not returning as Sidney, Cox will be the only member of the original cast with a part. It’s possible that Gale's role will be reduced as Sam and Tara take the lead. Based on the Scream 6 news already reported, it’s hard to imagine how the sequel can avoid alienating fans who have been with the franchise from the beginning and believe that there is no Woodsboro without its iconic scream queen.