I didn’t get a chance to watch Scream, aka Scream 5, last year, but after the teasers and trailersfor Scream 6, which takes place in Manhattan, it not only made me want to go and see thismovie and alsomade me want to go back and watch the last one. With strong Jason takesManhattan vibes from the trailer, the second in what in the universe calls this era of Scream arequel franchise does improve on the last one and does well by this new generation of Scream,and its more recent fans. Here we have sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega)back after the events of the last film, now with Tara in college with survivors and friends, thetwins Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad (Mason Gooding).Sam is still struggling with herpast, her connection to Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), and the fame from surviving a Ghostfaceserial murder event. Still, unlike the previous hero Sidney Prescott, Sam is actually hated by thepublic. People think she’s thekiller instead of the real killers from the last film. An interestingflip as a new Ghostface killer is in NYC chasing after Sam, and Tara now has a new playground ofbeing in a full city instead of the quiet suburbs. It has a pretty hectic pace and is able to buildtension and a new harshness to all the kills, even more than the last one. Not many huge jumpscares, but it’s still engrossing, and you want to see how this group gets picked off, along withtrying to make out who the killer is. The meta-ness of the franchise is back in full force, and thisone reference Scream 2 just as 5 did the first film. It’s good to seeHayden Panettiereback asKirby Reed from 4 and, of course, Courtney Cox as the OG GaleWeathers. All the actors dogreat here, and I think overall, Scream is back for real, and I’m ready for a 7.
B+