Directed By:
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Written By:
James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick, Kevin Williamson
Starring:
Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette
Genre:
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Rated: R for strong bloody violence, language throughout and some sexual references
All media used courtesy of Lantern Entertainment, Outerbanks Entertainment, Paramount Pictures
Ghostface is back in the first Scream film to sadly not be helmed by the great Wes Craven. I’m fairly new to this franchise, having only seen the first on back in October. The next week I went straight to Scream 2, and knew that this meta whodunnit was quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Over the weekend I had watched 3 and 4 which sealed that prophecy, but led me to seriously worry about this new film. How could the integrity and singular vision be translated by directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett? Where could they possibly go in the story after Scream 4? What I’m so happy to report is that not only does Scream FEEL like Wes Craven directed it, but is one of the best installments to the Scream franchise!
Don’t get me wrong, there are some points in the story that feel forced– and the third act can feel a little clunky, but for a 5th installment this has no right to be as good as it is. I loved the commentary not only on how the genre has evolved into nuanced horror, but also the state of movies that more and more are controlled by the fans rather than the studios.
The acting all worked for me. I love the new characters as well as seeing our returning heroes. This may be one of the best attempts at blending the old and new characters together since ‘The Force Awakens’ and never feels forced. You can feel the love each actor has for their roles.
Overall, I screamed for joy with Scream. It does feel like a love letter to Wes Craven, his filmography, as well as these characters he created that have been honored in the horror genre for decades. See it in a theater safely and don’t spoil the ending!
