'Scream VI' (2023) Reaction

After Ghostface’s triumphant 2022 return to the big screen last January, the teams at Radio Silence Productions, Spyglass Media Group, and Project X Entertainment got right back to work on its highly anticipated follow-up, Scream VI. Originally slated for release on March 31, the decision was eventually made to premiere earlier, with the new official date being March 10. Marking the second-fastest turnaround in the history of the franchise (the first of which being the 357-day gap between the releases of the first two films), the sixth installment in the series is also expected to be the most financially successful. In early preview screenings alone, Scream VI made $5.7 million at the domestic box office, and is furthermore projected to reach the $35-40 million mark by the conclusion of its opening weekend, resulting in a well-deserved return on investment.

For the sake of not spoiling anything, I won’t delve too much into the plot of the film, but the official logline states plain and simple, “The survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.” 

The fifth Scream film was a great passing of the torch to a new generation, and the new cast steps up to the plate extremely well. The Carpenter sisters (played by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) are great characters to have as the new central focus of the series, with their sibling dynamic being explored further along with their respective processing of the trauma from the events in Woodsboro. The Meeks-Martin twins (played by Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding) are also great to have as supporting survivors, with Mindy’s character amazingly taking after her late horror-obsessed uncle, Randy Meeks, and her brother, Chad, providing the best form of comedic relief at the most appropriate times. After being introduced to these characters in the previous film, it’s easy to feel attached and to root for them in this new one – their performances and interactions come off as genuine and authentic, and there really isn’t a weak link in the “Core Four.” It’s great to have characters like them at the helm of the franchise for the foreseeable future, and it’ll be even better to see what awaits them in the inevitable follow-up.

Returning legacy characters Gale Weathers (played by Courteney Cox) and Kirby Reed (played by Hayden Panettiere) also make appearances throughout Scream VI, and with more important scenes than one may expect. Though they’re not in the film for extensive periods of time, it’s a treat for fans to see their characters on screen in any capacity, and they both make the most of the time they’re given. Additionally, while this marks the first Scream film without Sidney Prescott (played by Neve Campbell) and Dewey Riley (played by David Arquette), their presences are still felt and their absences are handled very well here. The new characters brought in for this film also give impressive performances, with the cast including the likes of Durmot Mulroney, Josh Segarra, Liana Liberato, Jack Champion, and many more.

As far as the Ghostface character goes, there’s never been one more relentless, brutal, and sinister in the entire franchise. Scream VI is arguably one of the most suspenseful and tense films as a whole, due in large part to the chase scenes. With this being an essential element to the franchise that the 2022 requel unfortunately lacked, the chase scenes were back with a vengeance here, bringing some of the most palpable tension and gruesome kills. Of course, none of the setups would be as effective if it wasn’t for the incredible vocal talents of Mr. Roger Jackson, who provides the voice of Ghostface. Jackson’s performances only seem to improve with each film and he delivers some of his most sinister and sadistic work here (a sentiment that was felt with the 2022 film as well, and now to an amplified extent for this new film). Not enough credit can be given to him and his efforts throughout this franchise, and this new film is no exception.

In true Scream fashion, the music selection was fitting and effective – the two standout soundtrack songs, “In My Head” by Mike Shinoda + Kailee Morgue and “Still Alive” by Demi Lovato, do a great job at both setting the tone at the beginning and sonically wrapping things up at the end. Brian Tyler’s score cannot go unnoticed as well, perfectly providing more emotional elements on both extremes and enhancing the film’s visual environment overall.

2022’s franchise revival offered a lot in terms of fan service and easter eggs, and Scream VI found a way to up the ante. From the utilization of excerpts of Marco Beltrami’s music cues from previous films (“Trouble in Woodsboro” from the first and “Dewey’s Theme” from Scream 2, for example) to parallels between scenes in this film to those from a certain sequel (I will not elaborate further, this is a spoiler-free territory) to flawlessly integrating the past and the present, there’s a LOT for the hardcore Scream fan to observe and notice. The attention to detail shows how seriously the new team takes the series in the unfortunate absence of Wes Craven, and their efforts with the fifth and sixth films in the franchise should put them in the good graces of even the most dedicated Scream fans. 

Lastly, if you’re a viewer who enjoys the guessing game and plays into the mystery aspects of the Scream films, it’s important to consider the blueprint – for example, the fifth film took a lot of inspiration from the first, which may have been intentional as a way for the new production team to show the audience that they knew what they were doing, were taking it seriously, and were capable of creating a quality Scream film without Wes Craven at the helm. With Scream VI being a sequel, it’s safe to assume that there will be some influence from Scream 2. As far as what exactly that means, you’re going to have to see for yourself.

All in all, Scream VI is a fun new entry to the franchise – from the character work to the set design to the kills, there’s a lot to enjoy. The film does take a few risks by deviating from what’s become the norm for the franchise and subverts some audience expectations here and there which will ultimately yield some mixed results, but the highs far outweigh the lows with this sequel. Regardless of the minor gripes that may come with individual reactions, the franchise’s new writing duo of James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, along with the directing tag-team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet should be commended for the twists and turns the film takes and for triumphantly reviving the franchise we all hold so dear to our hearts. The series is in good hands with their creative supervision, and it’ll be interesting to see what they do with what may be the conclusion to this new trilogy. 

To learn more about Scream VI and buy tickets, click here.

Thanks for reading! If you liked this article and want to keep up with more from me, feel free to subscribe