Scream VI

"Liposuction for everyone!", or looking at Courteney Cox here, I wonder if this wasn't originally made as a sequel to The Mummy. Man, why can’t Hollywood actresses age naturally? And the film itself? Well, it actually it needs a heavy dose of botox, a dose of botox of invention, because this is nothing but a compilation of what we've seen many times before and even breaking the fourth wall in one scene doesn't help. (05/06/2023)

Perhaps no horror franchise has made it to a sixth installment without material fatigue, but here the fatigue is so minimal and hardly noticeable that it still feels fresh, fun and exciting. The horror sequences are a treat, the whole is laughable, but intentionally so. No Scream has ever really disappointed, not even this one. (03/15/2023)

I was quite surprised, and as a fan of the franchise, pleased that the sixth Scream would be screaming in theaters just fourteen months after the release of the fifth, which came eleven long years after the fourth (Wes Craven's last "slash"). As I've said before, I have a soft spot for Ghostface, so I'm willing to overlook the fact that it's pretty much a recycled version of the previous films. But as a fan, it's that connection between the first and fifth films that I appreciate and (along with the many pop culture references) downright enjoyed. The intro alone, which slyly plays with the rules of horror and stands them on their head, proves that the "screaming franchise" still has a lot to offer. I welcomed the film's setting in New York, where the they managed to take advantage of other locations to offer some truly good scenes – whether it was a chilling sequence from a convenience store or an apartment, or the atmospheric scene in a flashing subway. (Spoiler alert!) The identity of Ghotsface is clear from the first mention of the deceased family member, and then later from the attack in the apartment, but the film isn’t that concerned with a plot twist as it plays with audience expectations and horror rules, creating a hide-and-seek game. The viewer (ideally a fan) then calmly overlooks the immortality of certain characters and just watches the uncompromising destruction of the bad guys with a satisfying smile. (End: Spoiler alert!) In the end, Scream VI certainly didn't feel boring or dull, but if there is to be a sequel, which I wouldn't be opposed to, at least a three-year hiatus would be preferable. (03/27/2023)

I’m a moron for always expecting any kind of basic logic in these movies. That's as naive as believing in Santa Claus at 24 or that vaccines cause autism. In terms of the slasher genre, it's certainly a good piece – the murders, the blood and the body-count, which by no means essential, innovative or devastating, are all pretty much okay and not offensive. Likewise, the occasionally built-up atmosphere (subway...), the attempted twists and turns, or the on-again, off-again "guess who the killer is" game can keep the viewer entertained, and the New York setting is a decent change. But for God's sake the rest is one big mess and shitfest. I'm literally amazed that any sane person puts this out into the world and no one is surprised at the overall stupidity. The characters? Total idiots over and over again. Logic? The director left that in his living room before coming on set. In short, nothing outside of the slasher genre works here at all, everyone does one f*ck up after another, running around like confused chickens and charging at Ghostface with open arms, and if anyone counters me with the "you're being an asshole again and not enjoying a slasher flick" argument then sorry, but even this has its limits and to have all the characters running around with 20 (yes, 20) stab wounds, smiling at each other like they're on a moonlit walk and pouring their hearts out with adorable dialogue, that's just odd and it’s unfortunately becoming more common in this franchise and getting worse from generation to generation until I'm actually curious where this will eventually end up. From a purely entertaining slasher standpoint, it’s a passable 4*, but everything surrounding it drastically spoils the experience, and when you laugh at the comical aura around the murders, something is wrong. Purely on the basis that it's thankfully a good popcorn movie for the cinema, I give it a merciful 3*, but objectively I won't remember the film tomorrow and it's just stupidly below average. Now go on, go to the cinema and pour your biased five stars here, so the sheep have something to cheer about (03/09/2023)

Ghostface takes Manhattan. The final revelation is again pulled out of the filmmaker’s ass and this time it’s also a bit ridiculous. But the setting in New York City is nicely refreshing. There are a few surprising scenes, e.g. the store (the killer brazenly carries out his attacks in the public space), scenes with great but insufficiently exploited potential (the subway) and more multiple stabs to the gut after which the characters continue to function as if nothing had happened. The successfully revitalized franchise is becoming a strong but not very clever ditto machine for teenage audiences that could run forever. Scream VI is half a star weaker than the preceding instalment. The coolest scene is after the closing credits. (03/19/2023)