Scream 6 is my most anticipated horror film this year because Scream is why I love horror so much. The impact the iconic franchise made on the genre is undeniable. Each entry up to this point deconstructed a unique horror topic using movies as examples of what was trendy at that time. This makes each film a time capsule respectively. So the question remains…after only a year between releases, what will the focus be this time?

Directed by Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, I like how they’re experimental by trying new things. It doesn’t follow the Scream playbook like the other films. The opening truly grabbed my attention. Samara Weaving is Laura, a film school professor who gets the first phone call. It starts with potential. I also like how it takes place on Halloween but it could have used more holiday iconography. Another plus is this has the most brutal kills so far with very impressive practical effects. I like how they play with the claustrophobia of crowded, small quarters to use the environment to their advantage. No Scream film is complete without a good chase scene and this has many well-staged ones. The 3D didn’t enhance the experience. Some of the establishing shots of NYC are impressive but that’s about it.

Written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, I did like how legacy characters have active roles in the plot. I couldn’t predict the killer but the motive was uninspired. Unfortunately, most of the film felt tedious because it was more scattered than the others without feeling cohesive moving from one plot point to the next. It doesn’t give time to let each kill sink in to show how it affects the group. It seems like they’re grabbing at straws. It covers the theme of don’t be afraid of monsters, which makes monsters afraid of you but if they had given it another year to flesh out ideas it could have had more substance. Some of the scenes set up in previews have anticlimactic conclusions. The suspense is practically nonexistent. In true Scream form, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and it’s nice the humor is still there.

The entire cast has amazing chemistry. Courtney Cox plays Gale Weathers. She shows she’s still got it as the survivor on a mission to stop the New Ghostface. Hayden Panettiere plays Kirby Reed. It’s great she’s back with an active role in the plot complete with interactions with the new cast. Jenna Ortega is back as Tara. She’s quickly becoming today’s newest Scream Queen. She’s fantastic here. I’m so glad she returned. Melissa Barrera returns as Sam, she’s better at emoting this time. My issue with her before was her acting. Jasmin Savoy Brown plays Mindy and Mason Gooding plays Chad. The twins are great with their comedic timing. Dermot Mulroney is Wayne Bailey, the detective on the case. He brings a parental perspective with a good grounded performance. Roger L. Jackson voices Ghostface. It wouldn’t be the same without him. This is the angriest, most ruthless Ghostface too. Sadly, Neve Campbell didn’t join in this time but to be fair her role in Part 5 was so minor it could have been cut from the film and it wouldn’t have had any impact on the conclusion. There’s a nice reference to her here to explain her absence. She’s missed but still respected.

Overall, what starts with an interesting premise becomes a borderline parody of itself. The potential for greatness was there but doesn’t pan out. The biggest problem is the film isn’t as fun as the others. Instead of focusing on the investigation most of the time is spent on repetitiously setting up suspects and subverting expectations so much so it forgot the main point. Having fun with the movies. I’d still recommend it to judge for yourself. Scream for me has been the most consistent horror franchise out there. It does have plenty of fun references to the other Screams but it’s sad when horror movies become an afterthought in a franchise about horror movies. And remember, as Billy Loomis says “Movies don’t create psychopaths, they make them more creative.”

Grade: 5/10