Scream (2022) — Movie Review
by KJ Proulx
The first Scream film from 1996 is one of my favourite films in the horror genre by far. I’ve enjoyed all of the sequels to varying degrees for the most part, but none of them have ever captured the full essence of what made the original so special, at least to me. 2022’s Scream is now playing in theatres and I can easily say that this is the most fun I’ve had with this franchise since the original. To me, this franchise fires on all cylinders when the cleverness works really well and I would absolutely say that Scream (2022) does just that. Here’s why, especially if you’re a fan of this franchise, Scream (2022) is a must-see.
It has been 25 years since the events of the original film. Sidney Prescott has moved out of the town of Woodsboro, as well as the rest of the main cast (for the most part). A new group of characters lead this film and once again, it’s all about figuring out which one of them is the killer. This premise has now been done five times, but I have to admit that the dialogue throughout this film had me laughing on multiple occasions. It just felt very fresh in terms of entertainment today. I was skeptical that this would feel like just another Scream sequel with no purpose, but there is a specific scene that pretty much explains why this movie was made and I loved every second of it.
Without giving anything away, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) is the character who is focused on the most, along with her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega). Their connection to the franchise is what really made me enjoy this film as much as I did. The clever twists, returning characters, and quippy dialogue all sold me, but it really came down to the fact that this film brought the franchise full circle. These films have always been about poking fun at the horror genre, sequels, trilogies, remakes, etc., and where they go with this one had me in stitches. I honestly didn’t think a movie like this would work as well as it did, but I’m so happy they pulled it off.
The return of Sidney (Neve Campbell), Gale (Courteney Cox), and Dewey (David Arquette) was nice to see, but I’m happy they weren’t just there to be there. They all had a purpose and none of them wanted to get back into it at first. The way this film plays out is something you’ve seen a lot in franchises lately, but that’s the point, so it worked very well. In many ways, I’d compare this film to Doctor Sleep, in the way that it felt like a sequel to The Shining, but also shared a lot of similarities to its predecessor. For fans, this film delivers the goods, plain and simple.
Overall, Scream (2022) is an absolute blast to watch. From the bloody kills to the extremely clever dialogue, I was laughing and on the edge of my seat the whole time. This is a film I didn’t really want and didn’t think would be any good, but I’m so happy it was made. They proved me wrong, but I also felt like this film put a bow on the franchise, which is why I’m confused why they’re diving back in so soon, having recently greenlit a Scream 6. Regardless, Scream (2022) is well worth seeing.
Rating: 4/5
Check out the trailer below:
