The fifth entry of the beloved Scream franchise offers audiences a return to the blood-soaked town of Woodsboro, with the irreplaceable legacy cast and plenty of new faces to tap into two distinctly different genre fan bases. Though the franchise has always been a distinguished property with pure perfection, the recent return to Scream raises the bar for aspiring slashers, once again setting a standard for modern horror - just as it did 25 years ago.
With a new immersive interpretation of timely meta-writing, modernizing ghosts of the past, and upgrading the world of Scream, the fifth film has proven to be the new masterful slasher template.
An Exquisite Depiction Of Horror Legacy
Scream isn't the first slasher franchise that's been brought back to life in recent years, however, unlike many that have come before, the new revival has surpassed others who hoped to strike that balance - including (mostly) rewatchable horror films like Halloween, Black Christmas, Candyman, Wrong Turn, Child's Play, and more.
The new film entirely grounds the film within its extended continuity, choosing to maintain each prior film's events for longtime fans. Whereas others might pick and choose from the "best" chapters of the franchise to follow or even the popular trend to just stick to the first, Scream in 2022 boldly enters a new domain that required care and respect for legacy. Not only did maintaining every film's plot work for this modernization, but it also became a fresh horror film that's unlike anything we've seen before.
Formidable New Characters
One of the most successful defining qualities of horror will forever be tethered to strong characters - villains, heroes, and ideally, the empowering nature of scream queens. This new installment of Scream not only incorporates all of the above but manages to offer a surplus of options to choose from.
On one hand, there are the engaging roles of both Carpenter sisters (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) who absolutely bring the heat as new scream queen worthy candidates, and on the other, the twin siblings of Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin, who are polar opposites with matchless perseverance. Other standouts include Amber (Mikey Madison), and Wes (Dylan Minnette), who contribute so much atmospheric energy that this lineup genuinely exceeds the average character pool for your modern horror film.
Every Role Is Utilized
One timeless horror genre trope is that after the initial watch, you can end up realizing that some characters offered nothing to the plot, or perhaps even felt too forced as a red herring. From its next-gen Scream characters to its returning cast, the new Scream gives everyone purpose that feels both ambitious and few and far between.
Even going back to the film's initial marketing with several cast posters and character tidbits, the earliest stages of the film intended to construct the best roles to recreate similar magic from the original Scream. Conversely, the returning trio feels almost vital to the ongoing story as well, giving the film a strong sense of identity. In mainstream horrors like Halloween and Halloween Kills, we see a remarkable return for the character of Laurie, but other characters added to previous lore, or new to the universe, feel far more contingent on their eventual death scenes. Luckily, the new Scream is able to recognize that struggle and raise the bar for future genre tales.
Easter Eggs That Elevate Continuity
The Scream films have always had a deep respect for meta-commentary and poking fun at the genre, or even its own fandom from time to time. In the fifth entry, there's that clear devotion to following the pre-determined path but in ways that sensationally contribute to the Scream continuity.
Though the film has a few references to concepts like those "Stu Macher lives" conspiracy theorists, one major reveal to come out of the film is the confirmation that Scream 4 character Kirby Reed actually survived. The filmmaker's choice to reference an ambiguous fate that Wes Craven hoped to address in future installments shows that the attention to detail in this revival is immensely gratifying.
Refined Brutality
When the initial Scream was released in 1996, it required a few edits to solidify an "R" rating due to graphic images and blood. Since then, the genre has been allotted more freedom to push the boundaries, and this continuation makes note of those changes while embracing the essence of Scream's classic horror.
Even if fans were to watch both opening scenes of the '96 and '22 films back to back, there's a clear sense of inspiration behind it - but in such a contemporary and revved-up manner that it has the same ability to strike a chord with viewers. Seeing the film magnify the applicable bloodshed and brutality throughout its runtime proved that Scream is a pristine sample of how far slashers can go (and how much cinematic fun can be had) in 2022.
Nostalgia At Its Finest
Large-scale slasher films aren't as prevalent in 2022 as they were several decades ago, which has been a difficult pill to swallow considering that the sub-genre has so much to offer in terms of villains, depictions of trauma, and much more. Seeing Scream stay to its core slasher theme with the drive to inspire generations to come creates some of the most captivating nostalgia imaginable.
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The film operates with a core character who (sort of like Sidney) experienced struggles prior to the film's events and sets the tone for a darker subtext. Even the choice to return to the original Macher house taps into that palpable dedication to respecting what came before - and at the most opportune moments to give each dive into history its deeper meaning for characters and viewers.
End Game Amplification
Aside from scream queen Sidney Prescott, the most vital component to a Scream film is the assurance of a kick-ass endgame revelation. There must be action, a good unmasking, and a lot of blood to really live up to the hype of a perfect slasher film, and this Scream had no reservations about their full-throttle conclusion.
In the new film, all roads lead to the aforementioned Macher house, with one of the most high-stakes finales (if not the most) in 25 years. For those who are passionately invested in the legacy characters, their attachment to the final act is an immaculate narrative choice - with just as much brutality and intensity from the new (remaining) Scream cast members who are able to crawl into the film's end game expertise.
Proper Sequel Set-Up (Without Any Cliffhangers)
Cliffhanger sequel suggestions for slasher films are vastly overrated, often leaving modern viewers more agitated without resolve than interested in what's to come. If Scream earns itself a follow-up (which seems highly likely at this point) there are a few ways to take things that didn't require baiting viewers.
Much like its predecessors, the film has a few hints to surviving characters that bonds a new generation, giving us some meta-potential to follow similar (yet reimagined) traits from other sequels - and how modern sequels are explored as opposed to their dialogue on horror/slasher sequels in the late '90s. Whichever way they take things moving forward, the new Scream operates as a perfect "requel" that leaves viewers wanting more but fortunately presents a resolution with everything they could possibly need.