The year was 1994 and horror was in trouble. While theaters and bookstores were swamped with horror mad fans awaiting the next super slasher film and small-town supernatural novels during the glory years of the 1980s, the turn of the decade signaled a severe downtick in the genre. Up stepped iconic director Wes Craven, who attempted to resuscitate the dying heart of horror with a brand-new concept style of film, the meta film, a film within a film. Craven delivered the brilliant “New Nightmare.” Sadly, the concept confused many fans and the film brought in only a modest profit. Two years later, on a script from the then unknown Kevin Williamson, Craven put horror back on the map with the smash hit “Scream.” A satirical self-referencing slasher that became a horror fans beautiful nightmare. Two rushed sequels followed and in 2011 Craven and Williamson gave another first-hand account on the genre with a fourth film. Mr. Craven passed away in 2015 and many believed no one would be fit to take the helm of the popular series again. In 2019, Spyglass Media acquired the rights to Scream and brought in the team behind the successful film, “Ready or Not.” With Williamson taking a producer role this time, and franchise veterans, Cox, Campbell, and Arquette all returning, fans were excited to return to Woodsboro.
When her sister Tara is attacked, Sam Carpenter is forced to return to the town she fled from years ago, the infamous town of Woodsboro. Upon her return, Same reunites with Tara’s group of friends who all have connections to the dark past of the town. When another doomed citizen is killed, Sam and her boyfriend Richie seek out the Ghostface expert, Deputy Dewey Riley. Riley initially declines to help, then contacts Woodsboro legends, his ex-wife Gale Weathers and Sidney Prescott, before deciding to join the fight. The bodies start to pile up while the still inept sheriff’s department scrambles for answers. The past of all those involved comes to light as the remaining survivors head to a slasher showdown.
The new Scream team of directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olphin and Tyler Gillet along with writers, James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, present a very good, yet choppy homage to the series. Top marks go to the amount of creative kills that litter the film. Craven himself had to fight the MPAA over the infamous first kill of the series, tame by today’s standards, but this team does not hold back on the horror. This installment suffers in other capacities though. While the film honors the legacy of being a diabolical diatribe on the current state of the genre, the film itself suffers from the same plot points that plague modern requels (reboots that are sequels.) The effort to combine a new story while bringing back franchise favorites often leads to minimal character development and continuity chaos. Same issue that has fans lambasting the new “Halloween” films from Blumhouse. In essence, there are two films going on at once, with not enough focus on either plot line. While the desire to honor the films and characters of the past, the requel storylines become a jumbled mess, which nullifies the emotional connection with the new characters. “Scream (2022)” will be adored by franchise fans and for those just viewing for fun. For those looking for anything new or highbrow, the new installment will be a mish mashed miss.
With a strong box office opening, the horror nation can probably expect a quick follow up film, which is by far the wrong thing to do. If anything, the original film, part 4, and this entry, all serve as a first-person account on the state of the genre. While the second and third films were mere slasher fun, with zero depth or poignant perception. The original worked as a rule book for horror films. The fourth film delved into the progressing point of view horror films and the remakes that cloak the genre. “Scream (2022)” touches on new high brow artistic horror, as well as the fandom fanatics that are making studios selfishly bring back franchise favorites in favor of making a new and deeper film. Perhaps brilliantly, this is also what the new installment suffers from.
Scream Score: 7.8/10