Scream VI arrives as the sixth film in a franchise that has spent decades teaching audiences how to spot a killer. The 2022 reboot reset the series, and now the directors of that film, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, along with writers Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, have brought the Ghostface to New York City. The result is a film that mostly works, but one that struggles to find fresh ground beyond its own rules.
The setup is simple. One year after the killings in Woodsboro, a new Ghostface emerges in New York, targeting the surviving members of the original group. Sam Carpenter and Tara Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, move to the city with their friends Chad Meeks-Martin, Mindy Meeks-Martin, Quinn Bailey, Anika Kayoko, Ethan Landry, and Detective Wayne Bailey’s son, Danny Brackett. The new killer follows the same logic as the old ones: victims are picked based on their knowledge of the films, their connections to past events, and their willingness to play along with the game.
Trailer, via Paramount Pictures.
The New Ghostface
The villain of Scream VI is a catfish named Jason Carvey, a student who murders his professor, Laura Crane, and then teams up with his roommate, Greg Bruckner, to finish the “movie” that Richie Kirsch and Amber Freeman wanted to make. That plan falls apart when Jason gets a call from a different Ghostface, who kills Greg and stabs Jason to death. The new killer then starts hunting the survivors directly, leaving behind masks from the 2011 Woodsboro killings and the Hollywood killings as calling cards.
The twist is that this Ghostface is not a new player. He is a survivor of the earlier films, someone who knows the rules better than anyone else. The film spends its runtime building toward a reveal that ties back to the franchise’s history, and it lands with a sense of finality that the previous entries lacked. This is a clever way to keep the mythology alive without simply repeating the same formula.
The Rules of the Game
One of the central ideas of Scream VI is the concept of franchise continuity. Mindy Meeks-Martin theorizes that the killer is following the rules of film franchises, specifically the idea that anyone can die while the franchise will still continue. This is a direct nod to the structure of the series itself, and it gives the film a meta-commentary that feels earned rather than forced.
The problem is that the film leans on this idea too heavily. The rules of the game are established early, and once they are set, the film rarely surprises the audience. There are twists, but they are all variations on the same theme: someone dies because they knew too much, or because they broke the rules. The film is at its best when it plays with these expectations, and at its worst when it simply repeats them.
The New York Setting
Moving the action to New York is a bold choice, and it pays off visually. The film uses the city as a character, with shots of Times Square, Central Park, and the subway system giving the story a lived-in feel. The bodega attack is particularly well staged, with Ghostface killing multiple bystanders in a chaotic sequence that feels grounded in the chaos of everyday life.
But the setting also creates a problem. The original Scream films were built around small-town paranoia, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. New York is a different beast, and the film struggles to recreate that intimacy. The characters are constantly moving through crowds, and the personal stakes get lost in the shuffle. The film tries to make the city a character, but it never quite succeeds.
The Survivors
The core group of Sam, Tara, Chad, Mindy, Quinn, and Ethan is the heart of the film. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding bring their usual chemistry to Chad and Mindy, and the scenes between them crackle with tension and affection. Jenna Ortega is excellent as Tara, playing her as a college student trying to rebuild her life while being hunted by a killer who knows everything about her. Melissa Barrera is the emotional center of the film as Sam, who has become a public pariah because of an online conspiracy theory that she was the mastermind behind the killings.
The supporting cast is strong too. Dermot Mulroney plays Detective Wayne Bailey with a weary professionalism, and his scenes with Sam are some of the best in the film. Josh Segarra is solid as Danny Brackett, and Devyn Nekoda brings a quiet intensity to Anika Kayoko. Liana Liberato is fun as Quinn Bailey, and her scenes with Paul 2.0, voiced by Tim Robinson, add a layer of humor to the proceedings.
The film also brings back old faces. Jack Quaid appears as Richie Kirsch in an uncredited video cameo, and Skeet Ulrich returns as Gale Weathers. Courteney Cox is back as Kirby Reed, though her scenes are limited. The reunion is warm, but it also highlights the absence of Neve Campbell, whose Sidney Prescott is not included in the film due to a pay dispute. This is the only Scream movie to exclude her, and it leaves a noticeable hole in the narrative.
The Score and Music
Brian Tyler returned to compose and conduct the score, with Sven Faulconer joining as a co-composer. The music is energetic and tense, with the familiar themes of the franchise woven throughout. The film also uses licensed songs, including a track that plays during a key scene. The score is a constant presence, and it does a good job of underscoring the dread.
The licensed song placement is a smart move. It gives the film a moment of nostalgia while also grounding it in the present. The track is used well, and it adds to the emotional weight of the scene without overwhelming it. The score and the licensed music work together to create a soundscape that feels both familiar and fresh.
The Director’s Return
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett direct with the same energy they brought to the 2022 reboot. The film is fast-paced, with quick cuts and a kinetic style that keeps the tension high. The subway scene is a standout, with the directors appearing themselves as passengers. It is a playful touch that shows how confident they are in their vision.
Busick and Vanderbilt’s script is mostly serviceable. It sets up the rules, executes the twists, and delivers the payoff, but it never goes beyond the expected. The dialogue is sharp, but it often feels like it is reciting lines from the previous films rather than inventing new ones. The film is at its best when it is being subversive, and at its worst when it is being repetitive.
The Audience Response
Scream VI premiered at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in Manhattan on March 6, 2023, and was released in the United States on March 10 by Paramount Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its energy and its commitment to the franchise’s rules. The audience response was positive as well, with fans of the series enjoying the callbacks and the new direction.
The film’s IMDb score reflects that reception, landing somewhere in the middle of the franchise’s history. It is a solid entry in a long-running series, but it does not elevate the franchise to new heights.
Comparing the Films
| Film | Year | Setting | Main Villain | Key Twist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scream (1996) | 1996 | Woodsboro | Ghostface | The killer is Stu, not Billy |
| Scream 2 (1997) | 1997 | Woodsboro | Ghostface | The killer is Debbie, not Phil |
| Scream 3 (1999) | 1999 | Woodsboro | Ghostface | The killer is Cotton, not Maureen |
| Scream 4 (2000) | 2000 | Woodsboro | Ghostface | The killer is Debbie, not Cole |
| Scream (2022) | 2022 | Woodsboro | Ghostface | The killer is Richie Kirsch |
| Scream VI (2023) | 2023 | New York | Ghostface | The killer is a survivor from the 2011 killings |
The table shows the pattern that has defined the franchise. Each film introduces a new killer who follows the rules of the game, and each film reveals that the killer is someone from the past. Scream VI continues this tradition, but it does not break it. The film is a solid entry in a long-running series, but it does not elevate the franchise to new heights.
The Verdict
Scream VI is a good Scream movie. It is not a great one, and it is not a bad one. It is a film that knows what it wants to be and delivers on that promise, even if that promise is modest. The new setting is a welcome change, the cast is excellent, and the score is effective. The film is at its best when it is being subversive, and at its worst when it is being repetitive.
The absence of Neve Campbell is a notable gap, and the film never fully explains why she is not there. It is a strange omission for a franchise that has always been about bringing everyone back, and it leaves the audience wondering what might have been. The film is better for having a strong group of survivors, but it is weaker for missing its anchor.
The film’s biggest strength is its commitment to the rules of the franchise. It respects the legacy of the series while also pushing it forward. The new killer is a survivor from the past, which is a clever twist that ties back to the history of the franchise. The film is at its best when it is playing with these expectations, and at its worst when it is simply repeating them.
The film is a solid entry in a long-running series, but it does not elevate the franchise to new heights. It is a good Scream movie, and that is enough for most fans. For those looking for something more, the film may disappoint. For those who love the series, it is a welcome addition to the canon.
Scream VI is a good Scream movie, and it earns a score that reflects its place in the franchise.
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