"Scream VI" is a refreshing homage to its predecessors

The "Scream" franchise is known for its satirization of the horror genre. Its characters claim to be part of a living horror film and are conscious of the "rules," cliches, and standard tropes that accompany these types of movies. Many argue that what started as a clever way for these characters to present themselves as self-aware has become overly meta. However, what the film pokes fun at is what makes it so successful. In spite of being directly told how the plot develops, the audience is glued to the edge of their seats, hoping to figure out who the latest Ghostface proteges are. "Scream VI" carefully balances nostalgia with surprising content. Self-referential moments are enjoyable for lifelong lovers of the series, but there are also quite a few new faces that leave behind a memorable legacy of their own. Patterns are being closely analyzed and parallels to prior films are kept close in mind as fresh and exciting elements are thrown into the mix. It is an interactive, immersive experience.

A technique this franchise executes well is that of misdirection, and its latest entry is no exception. This is also the goriest of the "Scream" films, amping up feelings of disgust. The audience winces and cringes - and that is exactly what they came for. They are not sitting there because they want to feel comfortable and secure. There is just the right amount of wear and tear, reflected through the collection of beat-up Ghostface masks. The suspense is tangible, best exemplified in the opening scene, Anika’s death, and the scenes that take place in the bodega and subway. Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) delivers an especially impressive performance. The chemistry between her and Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) is undeniable. There are moments of expression on the faces of the Carpenter sisters that imply there is more to their killings than self-defense, a sharp contrast to original Final Girl Sidney Prescott. Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, does not appear in the sixth installment of the franchise and is missed; however, Courteney Cox, who portrays Gale Weathers, does a wonderful job and shines in the spotlight as a legacy character.

Another detail worth mentioning is the collection of Ghostface paraphernalia located in the abandoned cinema. That place is not just a shrine created by obsessive characters who idolize the Stab movies - it pays tribute to the actual cinematic universe that has been developed over the years. The entire film is a love letter that highlights the franchise's history. Its ability to mirror its past and manipulate the reflection being shown to the audience is brilliant, and using a movie - or in this case multiple movies - within a movie is the perfect way to achieve that effect.

While the third act of the film was strong and in no way anticlimactic (particularly when three killers are revealed, rather than two), the ending could have been more impactful had characters that were presumed dead actually died. Sam and Tara are complex characters already, but emotional trauma opens up even more room for opportunities that would allow the writers to explore in future films. Plus, scary movies are not about happy endings. While wholesome, near-deaths feel like a letdown - like the producers were not ready to make a bold move by granting mercy on the lives of Gale, Mindy, and Chad. In addition, the movie as a whole, along with its parent movie from 2022, could do without Sam’s hallucinations of her father, Billy Loomis. Her visions feel out of place, similar to the way Sidney’s visions of her mother in "Scream 3" (2000) do, though significantly less disturbing. It distracts from the fact that this is a slasher/whodunit type of film and sprinkles in components of a supernatural/paranormal horror film.

With the series spanning over a period of 25 years (the first having been released in 1996), some are calling for the death of the iconic slasher franchise. Most of the critiques "Scream VI" has received has nothing to do with the film itself - it is simply that some feel as though they have "been there, done that." This may be true, but there is no denying the legacy this franchise has left behind, and it will no doubt continue to grow. What if this were the only "Scream" movie to exist? Seen as a standalone, this film is captivating and thrilling. So why not accept it as a spectacularly entertaining addition to the series? Reboots can often disappoint audiences who have fallen in love with the originals, but "Scream VI" does not conform to this stigma. Fingers crossed, the same will be said of the seventh film.