It is always good to start a movie review with a joke and get a quick chuckle out of the reader right off the bat. But unfortunately, “Scream” (2022) has robbed me of this opportunity. Every quip that could be written mocking the idea of this film, or what this film represents, has already been made, by “Scream” (2022).
Do not let this fifth entry into the “Scream” franchise fool you with its numberless name—“Scream” (2022) remains in the world of all its predecessors. It must be noted that, unlike most long-running slasher films where you can jump in anywhere, this film necessitates a prior viewing of “Scream” (1996), if not the whole series. The first “Scream” has a sense of humor and a satirical nature that should be understood before jumping headfirst into number five. While any casual horror fan could appreciate the meta-humor of the film, having watched this accompanied by a first-time entrant into the series, I can say with certainty, it will not be enjoyable without some context.
While the film’s eight new characters are varying amounts of interesting, all fleshed out with just the amount of tragic backstory a teen slasher requires and based largely on characters from the older movies, the returning characters entirely fall flat.
When the story follows the newly introduced characters, the world around them can be built up. “Scream” (2022) takes place in a familiar setting, the same town as the original movie, but everything has changed. The world became modernized, the high schoolers are suddenly diverse and gay. They use cell phones and enjoy psychological horror movies released after 2010. The core of this film is these new characters, with their unique relationships to each other and the town tragedies that preceded them, experiencing the “Scream” (1996) story. While these new characters may not be the most compelling horror movie ensemble ever created, they effectively tell an interesting story with a great arc.
But when Sidney (Neve Campbell), Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale (Courteney Cox) show up, the world-building and the story arc suddenly stop. These three returning characters have already experienced “Scream” (1996). They were in it; they were the only survivors. There is no need to have them experience it again. Their appearances in this film add nothing to the story other than a few excuses to get new characters out of harm’s way and to provide boring exposition. They do not form meaningful relationships with the new characters, and they do not tie up loose ends or provide quality emotional baggage. They just exist as reminders that they have been in every movie, so they will be in this one as well.
The first “Scream”’s claim to fame was its self-awareness. It was one of the first wide-release horrors to poke fun at the genre it resided in. This new movie takes that genre mockery to another level by not just mocking the genre but poking fun at the series itself. The ongoing trope of directly referencing the older movies through the guise of an in-world movie based on the events of “Scream” (1996) never gets old. It is consistently funny while also being the basis for a fascinating plot point.
Never has a slasher movie played on tropes and predictability with as much grace and imagination as “Scream” (2022). It will tease a tropey jump scare four times only for nothing to happen. It will convince you every individual character is guilty, and then call you stupid for even thinking someone so obvious could be the killer. I came into this movie with 100% certainty that one character was going to be the killer, but “Scream” (2022) threw me for such a loop, that by the time the movie revealed I was right, I had convinced myself I was wrong. It handles the “Scream” series, its fanbase, as well as the state of modern-day horror brilliantly and hilariously.
Despite “Scream”’s basis in comedy, it is important to note that these are horror films. While not all of them live up to the original’s darkness and depravity, “Scream” (2022) comes pretty close. Few people actually die in this film but dozens are stabbed or shot, and those who do die, die bloody deaths. The creativity between kills is not exactly top tier, but there is only so much that can be done with a butcher knife and a pistol. What sticks out more when judging this film from a perspective of horror is how realistic the scenes with Ghostface, the series’ costumed killer whose identity changes every movie, are. Ghostface acts like a person. They can be thrown around, incapacitated, confused. They do not just show up out of nowhere, they travel at the speed a human can, which makes any successful attacks that much scarier. Ghostface is just a person in a mask, and yet they do real damage, constantly, with no supernatural assistance or breaking of the laws of physics.
“Scream” (2022) is a movie unapologetically made for the fans, but that does mean it cannot be enjoyed by everyone. Its wit, constant breaking of the fourth wall and complete embrace of its slasher designation make it one of the best horror comedies in a long time. Any remote horror fan could enjoy this movie, but please, watch “Scream” (1996) first, it will make the whole movie that much more fun.
