Scream VI

8/10

In this new entry in the horror series, the Carpenter sisters and friends have moved to New York City, only to become the targets of a new Ghostface killer.

The trailers are completely accurate in that this may be one of the most intense Scream films. The last film had already escalated things, but this one goes even further with some unforgettably brutal kills. This Ghostface is a lot gutsier and eyes-on-the prize than some of the others, even going as far as attacking in public. This also has one of the best openers and really invigorates the concept.

I won't lie, I wasn't loving the move to New York (I guess I prefer the films to happen in less crowded areas), but I was wrong. The filmmakers do a wonderful job of making use of the big city and how threatening it can be.

However, I'd rank this as second-to-last in the films. Don't think of this as a dislike of film, it's just that there's tough competition as the franchise has been surprisingly strong for a horror series, and I 'd consider 3 the only bad one.

Love the beginning, but I felt this had the weakest killer reveal. This is also the only film where I figured things out, at least partially, before the end of the film. The writers really show their hand in this. This may also be the Scream movie with the biggest plot holes (why don't the characters get a police escort?)

This movie carries the last film's slow break from the feel of the previous films. Like the current Jurassic Park trilogy when compared to the original, the tone and dialog never 100% feel like they're in the same world. Also, this movie has more of a grainier style of filming to it, and I miss the brighter camerawork of the first two movies.

The return of Kirby Reed (played by Hayden Panetierre) from Scream IV, who I and most people liked, lacked the punch she had before. Dialogue wasn't as fun. I understand she's now at a different place in her life than many years ago, but I didn't buy her as an FBI agent, and if they were trying to show change in her, it wasn't working.

Recommended, despite my complaints, I was still drawn in with the tension and what was going on (this flows pretty well) and will definitely watch this again.