“Scream,” Yawn
By Declan Bunch
On Jan. 14, 2022, the fifth film in the “Scream” franchise hit theaters. The series is considered a horror classic, commonly ranked among other staples including the “Halloween” and “Scary Movie” film series. Due to this, the fifth installment had a large expectation to fulfill. Currently, the 2022 version of “Scream” has surpassed the previous installment “Scream 4” in total box office profits. But does that bear any indication to the quality of the film itself?
The plot takes place 25 years after the original and centers around a new killer terrorizing a group of teens. This new Ghostface begins attacking the group, many of which are tied in some way to the original crew. The movie begins with the attack of high school student Tara Carpenter, leaving her hospitalized. The killings continue from here and the lives of those being attacked are revealed to be intertwined and hold significance related to the original movie. As usual for films in the “Scream” franchise, the movie plays with off-beat humor and the classic “whodunit” scenario. It also utilizes meta references and an almost satirical approach to something of the horror genre.
The movie was fairly successful with a $30 million box office opening weekend. However, critical reception was mediocre and many have dismissed it as nothing special. A major flaw in the film was the scattered plotline. There are many characters and scenes that don’t flow with each other. Another complaint of the film was the far fetched and unrealistic scenes, however this is common for a film of the meta-horror genre. One additional note from unsatisfied fans is about the cursing in the movie. Many viewed the profanity as forced and unnecessary at many times throughout the film.
Photo of the Official Scream Theatrical Release Poster
One major impediment from the start is the absence of long-time “Scream” director Wes Craven. In 2015, the famed horror director tragically passed away due to a battle with brain cancer. Craven was skeptical about another “Scream” movie after the reception of the fourth in the series. Yet after his death, the franchise rights were acquired by Spyglass Media Group, who quickly announced their intentions for a reboot. The closing credits to the 2022 “Scream” contained a dedication to the late director. The legacy of the series and the absence of Wes Craven proved a large challenge for those working on the new movie. While they did well to follow his original creative direction, there were obvious shortcomings.
While “Scream” might have left some fans underwhelmed, there is still an optimistic future for the franchise. On Feb. 3, 2022, a sixth installment in the series was green-lit for the same directors and creative team of the most recent release. The production is set to begin in the summer of this year. It seems new and old fans of “Scream” have been somewhat dissatisfied with the new film, however, there were some enjoyable aspects. Many still have hope and are excited to see what comes next. Only time will tell the direction and success of this rebooted legendary franchise.