Review: Scream (2022)

Some very light spoilers follow…

The horror genre is at its weirdest and most divisive form currently. While it is nice to see original creations from up-and-coming filmmakers as well as from respected auteurs, many filmmakers think it is best to continue a story from a long running franchise. Some have worked; the 2018 David Gordon Green directed Halloween reboot/sequel proved that there is still a story to tell within the confines of John Carpenter’s 1978 classic, and some have not, like 2015’s remake of Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist. Many studios do this simply for financial gain, while some filmmakers seem to have a strong passion for the source material and would like to try their own spin on the story. Scream is the latest franchise to follow suit. The 2022 entry stars Jenna Ortega, Dylan Minnette, Jack Quaid as well as series veterans Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox. And like every Scream film before, it tells the story of mysterious murders connected to the original events of the original Scream in 1996 and this time it is up to a group of Woodsboro high schoolers to solve the mystery with the help of some old friends. 

If someone went up to me asking what is a definition of “movie magic,” Wes Craven’s original Scream would certainly be up there. Craven created an accessible horror film for newcomers of the genre while also poking fun at the familiar tropes and nuances shown throughout the genre’s lifespan. Its commentary on how horror movies play out still feels fresh in today’s age. And the Craven-directed sequels continue deeper down the rabbit hole, discussing concepts of film sequels not capturing the lightning in the bottle like its predecessor, the disturbing nature of abusive film producers, as well as contributing to the idea of horror reboots/remakes. The reason this works so well is because Wes Craven is the grandfather of the genre, he helped form what the genre was throughout the years and noticed trends happening within it. Craven’s four Scream films never fail at being both scary, funny, and heartfelt due to this. 

Unfortunately, making a new Scream film nowadays feels impossible because of Craven’s passing, and it feels disrespectful and too challenging to pull off. After the success of the indie hit Ready or Not, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett were tasked to do just that. While I understand what the duo was trying to achieve, Scream ‘22 falls flat and ends up being a contradictory and shallow mess of a sequel that feels more of an extension to the ideas shared in Scream 4. This film is not all bad; David Arquette brings the best performance in the film as Dewey Riley, reviving his bubbling nature and being a mainstay within the film. And newcomers Jenna Ortega and Jack Quaid are serviceable. However, the film’s writing does not make me feel empathy towards their characters and unlike the previous films I ended up not caring for them at all. 

The kills and scares are fun and felt like a Scream film. However, Scream  ‘22 looks like a Paramount+ original film or something seen on other streaming platforms, visually less pleasing than Craven’s films. The film’s attempt at humor feels less funny than in the original and feels on-the-nose and cringe-worthy at times. While Scream has never been a franchise built around themes, instead focusing on empowerment of mental health and physical embodiment, this new film loses that and every thematic attempt feels lost within contradictory moves.

I think it is best to bring up the big elephant in the room, the film’s meta-commentary—though I do appreciate the attempt of addressing toxic fandom within mainstream media, Scream ‘22 does this in a very antithetical fashion. Sure, they address what makes fandom so toxic and how it is taken to an extreme, but it feels weird when there is a CGI version of the killer from the first film signifying impending doom throughout the film. Online fandom sites such as “Reddit” and “4Chan” are mentioned, too, in an attempt to address the film’s themes, and keep in mind, Scream ‘22 also feels like an attempt to pass the torch to a new generation like in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. It is so strange seeing this type of story done after Lana Wachowski presented the angriest microphone drop when it comes to franchise reboots just a little over a month ago with The Matrix Resurrections. 

I had no expectations going into Scream ‘22 but I still think horror filmmakers fans of classic films from the genre should not be given an automatic greenlight for a sequel or reboot because the original vision will fade and the heart and soul of the previous films will seem non-existent. If the duo have been doing horror for longer than one movie, I would give them the benefit of the doubt. However, the two came off of one indie hit and are creating a sequel to a pre-existing IP, which seems like a recent trend nowadays.