Scream VI
Paramount PicturesScream VI is the epitome of what works in this decades-spanning franchise, and what doesn't. The film is rolling in clichés and meta references to an almost absurd degree, but also delivers some of the finest kills and twists of the entire saga. While most of the twists do work in favor of the film's intentions, as well as in favor of keeping the audience on their toes, the climactic killer reveal was ultimately underwhelming and would've made for a weak 3rd act if not for the strong cast of characters and some absurdly brutal kills.
Jenna Ortega and Melissa Berrara do an excellent job carrying this movie on their shoulders and helping bring some real life to the insane premise of Ghostface taking on Manhattan. But, that isn't to say things don't feel a little stale. There's a reliance on the past films that sways between a negative as well as a positive frequently due to the constant mentioning of past people and events, but very few of those characters actually make appearances or have a real impact. A heavy reliance on telling, not showing, can hurt a film and this is one of them.
The movie itself follows the pretty basic Scream three-act structure of opening with a killer, then involving our protagonists in the kills, and ending with the unmasking of the killers. The familiarity is comforting, but you really can't help but wonder how long they can get away with it. This is by far the most consistent slasher franchise in terms of quality, which is ultimately a low bar to clear, but this is a strong contender for being one of the best, most brutal of all six films.
The rest of the cast does a really solid job of carrying the scenes necessary for them to show the proper emotion during, with our very few legacy characters bringing some nostalgic weight necessary for the premise of this film. It is a nice addition to have Hayden Panettiere back as Kirby. Scream 4 had its fair share of issues, but she was not one of them.
Overall, Scream VI is a solid, brutal addition to the Scream franchise and a welcome return to the decades-spanning world of Ghostface. A 7th film is all but guaranteed after the massive return from this film, but ultimately a rest may be necessary for the next person to don the mask and have it carry the necessary gratitude this wonderful series deserves.