You do the same concept six times before and fans like me love it every single time… you think seven is the time to try something new?
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the worst Scream movie, it’s just the most different, this is the first film in the franchise directed by Kevin Williamson, the writer of the original (and most of the series), which on paper sounds like a great idea, let the guy who created it take the reins.
And there is strong writing here, some moments feel like they would have been fantastic on the page, but the directing and execution feels rushed, it’s almost as if what was written down is exactly what we see on screen, and that doesn’t always translate, Wes Craven had a clear understanding of tension and pacing, and even the later films managed to capture that rhythm, here, outside of the Ghostface attacks (which are genuinely well done), the build up and editing don’t hit the same way.
Without going into spoilers, the twists, especially the ending, aren’t built up properly, when it came time for the reveal, I was going through the usual “Who could it be?” in my head… then when it happened, it just felt empty, it wasn’t shocking. It wasn’t clever, wasn’t built up very well, it just… happened.
That said, there are some genuinely great moments, the opening is fantastic, there’s one Ghostface attack in particular that left me speechless, it was gory, shocking and easily my favourite scene in the film and one of my favourites in the entire franchise, and while I wasn’t a fan of some of the FaceTime style calls, whenever we hear Roger L. Jackson’s voice properly over the phone, it’s magic, that voice will never not be exciting and terrifying at the same time.
One moment I absolutely loved was the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney, as much as I enjoyed the previous film, her absence was noticeable, she’s as important to this franchise as the mask itself, she slips right back into the role effortlessly, she’ll always be my favourite horror final girl, and Scream just isn’t the same without her.
I also liked Isabel May as Tatum, she’s a strong new addition, raises the stakes, and gives a performance that feels genuinely fearful and grounded. Another saving grace was Mckenna Grace, she’s already proven herself as a great actress in other franchises, and she delivers here too, plus she’s part of one of my favourite moments in the film.
So no, this isn’t the best film in the series, but it’s not the worst either, I’m glad I saw it, and honestly, give me Sidney, Ghostface, and that voice on the phone, and I’ll be there day one, every time.
