The Stream: It’s like Multiplicity – a clone of a clone of a clone is the dumbest one in the bunch. Talk about diminishing returns.

The Big Screen: An interesting twist on a Scream movie opening sequence.

The Final Bill: Let’s not do this every year.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
Writers: James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick based on characters created by Kevin Williamson
Stars: Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Dermot Mulroney, Hayden Panettiere, Josh Segarra, Courteney Cox
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, and brief drug use
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes
Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Project X Entertainment, Spyglass Entertainment, Radio Silence Productions
Platform: In theaters on March 10, 2023
Notable Trailers: No Hard Feelings, Mafia Mamma, Evil Dead Rise, Transformers: Rise of Beasts

Hey, Streamers, I realize I did not like Scream (2022), but for some reason, I was still extremely hyped for Scream VI, which opened in theaters this weekend. It’s probably the nostalgia I have for the original era of the Scream franchise, but I should have done a quick refresher on this new era. Here we have a sequel to a rebooted franchise or sequel to a “re-quel,” which means there are new horror movie rules, I guess. Here’s whether this Scream sequel is a *wink* scream *wink*.

In Scream (2022), we were introduced to Sam (Melissa Barrera) and her half-sister, Tara (Jenna Ortega). Sam is the daughter of the original Woodsboro murderer, Billy Loomis. After having survived a Ghostface killer in that movie, in Scream VI, Sam and Tara have relocated to New York City for Tara to attend college. Accompanied by their fellow survivors, Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Sam and Tara are dealing with the aftermath of the new Woodsboro murders and how that all ended in very bloody fashion. Of course, Ghostface can never die because some new psychopath takes up the costume and terrorizes Sam and Tara through the streets and buildings of New York City. The sisters have to figure out who is stalking them now before Ghostface catches up to them again. You know the story. Bloody, stab-by hijinks ensue.

Yeah, I was disappointed by Scream VI. I don’t know why I expected this movie to be more fun or clever because Scream (2022) was very lacking in those departments. This movie relies on the same old things that all of the Scream movies have relied upon, but it doesn’t build anything new or interesting in it. In fact, there is a scene that feels like it is pulled out of one of the previous movies. I get so annoyed now when the designated character has to stand in front of the group and explain the movie rules. It is no longer clever, especially since it feels like we done this all before. Just very boring and poorly written. It all feels so obligatory and convoluted. Ugh!

There is one very good, very clever sequence and it is the very first kill-sequence in the movie. As in all of these Scream movies, you know there is going to be a kill in the first few minutes. The filmmakers have come up with a very interesting twist here that’s almost worth the price of admission. The problem is that the set-up is so good that it makes the rest of the movie seem even worse. There could have been some real creativity built into this sixth installment but there just wasn’t.

Lastly, I don’t like this cast of characters. Melissa Barrera is very pretty and that’s it. She brings nothing to the screen and has no charisma. She is not Neve Campbell, and Sam Carpenter is no Sydney Prescott. Likewise, I didn’t watch Wednesday on Netflix; but, if this movie was the first thing I saw Jenna Ortega in, I would not understand the hype. Tara has very little to do, and Ortega feels like a deer in headlights most of the time. Jasmin Savoy Brown has the most annoying dialogue, and she is very annoying when delivering it. What is Hayden Panettiere doing here?!? I’m so confused. I guess she accepted the lowball offer that Neve Campbell rejected. Everyone else barely registers. Thank God for Gale Weathers. At least, Courteney Cox came to play.

(Side note: Why are there a billion people on the poster for this movie?)

Well, this is what you get from the sixth movie in the Scream franchise. It is just more of the same but not as smart as it once was. Yes, the opening sequence is good, but nothing else in the movie really lives up to that. Plus, these new characters are so annoying. Just one popped kernel good for a midnight watch at home. Don’t waste your time or money at the theater.