Shadows on the Wall

Scream VI

dir Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
scr James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick
prd Paul Neinstein, William Sherak, James Vanderbilt
with Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Courteney Cox, Dermot Mulroney, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Liana Liberato, Hayden Panettiere, Josh Segarra, Jack Champion, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori
release US/UK 10.Mar.23
23/US Paramount 2h03

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Now playing by the rules of an extended franchise, this script ripples with witty meta gags that will keep fans amused. And directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett gleefully offer plenty of grisly nastiness as well, maintaining a driving pace through a series of plot turns and frantic set-pieces. So even if it's thoroughly familiar, there's some proper suspense along the way to send chills down the spine.

Trying to escape from recurring violence in small-town Woodsboro, sisters Sam and Tara (Barrera and Ortega) move cross-country to New York City with friends Chad and Mindy (Gooding and Brown). But now the ghost-face killings are starting up here, investigated by Detective Bailey (Mulroney), who happens to be the father of their flatmate Quinn (Liberato). Of course, journalist Gail (Cox) is also on hand, as is another familiar face, Kirby (Pannetierre), who's now an FBI agent. And this new ghost-face has something to prove, attempting to settle a score with a series of gruesome murders.

Snappy twists on the formula abound, starting with the usual prologue, which this time features a film professor (Samara Weaving) who specialises in slasher-horror. As always, characters continually discuss the formula and structure of the movie they're in, with offers both red herrings and wry surprises. Also as usual, the audience knows not to expect much, and to just hold on and enjoy the snaky ride. So even if it never feels hugely original, it's still good fun, complete with a few solid jolts.

Performances are so knowing that it seems like anyone could be the murderer. And each actor skilfully plays it cool, adding moments of character drama with accompanying emotions to perhaps throw us off the scent. Barrera and Ortega are engaging leads, Cox gets even more in on the action this time, and the surrounding cast is superbly likeable. They all get some extra nuttiness to play in the extended climactic stand-off sequence, during which each revelation gives way to some outrageously shameless scene-chewing.

Because of its self-referential nature, this series continues to evolve its gags with each new episode. And this instalment has some fun with several other franchises too, including a stab at the Manhattan horror sub-genre (cue the Subway train freak out). So while it all might be feeling extremely familiar, there are just enough fresh elements to keep it moving forward. And the filmmakers remind us that they're not afraid to bump off some legacy characters along the way.

themes, language, violence 7.Mar.23

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