**The good:**

* Love the new setting, it's a breath of fresh air (feels nothing like New York though).
* Peak brutal slasher kills.
* Easter egg gold mine, once again they really fed the fandom.
* Amazing fight scene choreography.
* Entertaining and fun throughout.
* Unexpected opening, it really surprised me.
* Most epic moments were Gale vs. Ghostface and the metro scene.
* The multiple twists in the third act were clever.

**The bad:**

* People get stabbed and then act like nothing happened more times than I could count.
* Cheesy *Riverdale* teen drama: Never in a million years did I think I would gag watching a scene with Jenna Ortega in it.
* Melissa Barrera's acting didn't get any better, it's all in the eyes girl you gotta control them. Can't take her seriously.
* Gale and Kirby didn't add much to the story which is sad.
* Awful music choices.
* Mindy got stabbed by Ghostface but is then rescued by the other Ghostface. Why not just leave her there, people were ignoring her she would have died.
* Nobody really died except a few extras, what's up with that?

I thought they would make Sam the official Ghostface at the end, just felt like the perfect origin story. They unfortunately opted to make her a Disney princess for the moment. Seeing her against Sydney in a future installment would be awesome.

[spoiler]Pros:
* Different format of the opening scene was refreshing
* The New York setting; the change of scenery was definitely a benefit
* The new Core Four from the last movie are likeable and enjoyable
* Ghostface was relentless and gave some absolutely brutal kills
* Credit for the movie trying to slightly switch up the formula a bit[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Cons
* Some of the scenes were so corny / cringeworthy - the whole Tara and Chad thing, especially, had me squirming in my seat more than some of the gore
* Plot armour - stab wounds in this movie are pretty trivial, on par with getting a splinter. Something the characters are pretty much able to just dust off with ease. Most, if not all, of the main cast are fatally stabbed (some multiple times) at some point in the third act, yet are able to dodge roll, parkour/climb, perform takedowns from above, etc. You'd think they were just playing tag. And sorry, but there was no way Chad would have survived being stabbed that many times
* Kirby was underused - felt like she was just brought back so that she could be a red herring for 5 minutes towards the end
* Dumb decisions - these characters should be pros at shit this by now, but they'll be good and god damned before they learn[/spoiler]

[spoiler]The series usually handles the balance between horror and comedy well, but I felt it was 50 / 50 with this entry. Not everything landed for me, and for every scene that made me laugh there was another that made me roll my eyes.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Overall though, Scream VI had me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. It was definitely one of the better entries. Looking forward to Scream VII :laughing: although, I'd be happy if they leave the legacy characters out now, unless they plan on killing them off. At this point, they just seem to be around for the sake of it, but I think the Core Four can take it from here.[/spoiler]

Those who didn't like the previous films in the "Scream" series won't warm up to the sixth installment either. And those who were already fatigued with the previous sequels won't be cured here. But those who had fun with the last movie will probably have as much fun with this one.

"Scream VI" is a straightforward continuation of the series. Following the trailers, one could have believed that the relocation of the plot to New York would provide many new approaches, but this is not really the case. All the elements that have made up the series so far are still present. Perhaps one of the few innovations is that Ghostface is a bit more vicious in his kills this time. The New York setting, on the other hand, is hardly used except for a really intense subway sequence.

Among the actors, the new core quartet, consisting of Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, is particularly strong. However, I had my problems with the so-called legacy characters. Courteney Cox may have had a little too much done to her face to still be able to act effectively. Furthermore, the writers devised a really stupid twist for her character, Gale Weathers, which renders the entire ending of the fifth film absurd. Hayden Panettiere's Kirby, despite being my favorite character in the fourth film, also failed to impress me.

I'm mixed about the plot. The opening sequence is superb and plays with the established tropes of the series. The rest of the introduction is also enjoyable, and you quickly get a good overview of what the situation of each character is right now. When the action starts, it also kicks off nicely. I wouldn't call it incredibly gory, but Ghostface doesn't exactly act with restraint either. So far, so good. Unfortunately, I didn't like the last act at all. The killer reveal is one of the worst in the series for me. The final confrontation also left me feeling indifferent.

Overall, however, I am moderately pleased with the film. Especially in view of the fact that the turnaround for this sequel was very quick, I can't complain. Of course, the next part will end up on my watchlist once again.

**Scream VI cranks up the violence, paranoia, and chaos but also enhances the character development and story, making the new directors' second entry even better than I had hoped!**

I have been hyped and anxiously anticipating this movie since the final moments of finishing Scream (2022) in theaters - and it did not disappoint! The Radio Silence team (Bettinnelli-Olpin and Gillett) prove they are the perfect new shepherds of the franchise. The four young survivors take giant leaps in character development as they grapple with the trauma, fallout, and spotlight of the last film's events. Their loyalty and care for each other draw immediate similarities to Sidney, Dewey, and Gale, which quickly endear the "Core Four" as beloved characters you desperately want to survive. The danger, kills, and gore all have been cranked up a notch, and for the first time in the franchise, even the survivors are possible Ghostfaces. I doubt and suspect everyone while simultaneously caring for them - that is masterful writing right there! On top of all that, having another legacy character back with Kirby Reed returning was fantastic. I loved this movie, but I really missed Dewey and Sidney. I also think the main Ghostface killer is a little too over the top when revealed, which keeps Scream (1996) and Scream (2022) ahead on my list. But those are incredibly minor complaints! Scream VI is another exceptional entry in the Scream franchise, and I hope we get another one soon!

3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Scream VI’:

1. I’m not thrilled with what they did to Gale. You take away a franchise-worth of character growth by having her write that book. Gale was the opportunistic b:asterisk_symbol:tch who grew a soul, and you back-peddle this right after Dewey’s death? Bad timing. And now, every time I watch _Scream 6_, that poignant ending where Gale promises to let the killers die in anonymity, and to write a book about Dewey instead, that ending will now lose its luster. This didn’t necessarily _ruin_ the new film for me, because you can just say that “some people never change,” but it doesn’t feel right after ALL this time. Rant over.

2. What did I love? That opening scene showing us the burgeoning killer’s POV for the first time. Gale vs. Ghostface. That [spoiler]Kirby[/spoiler] wasn’t the killer _(I was very prepared to be very annoyed)_. And Melissa Barrera’s vastly-improved performance. Homegirl gave us PRESENCE here finally. Was very refreshing to see.

3. I’ll never forget watching _Scream 2_ and feeling that absolute shock and heartbreak when Randy was pulled into that van. Drew Barrymore’s immediate kill in the original was iconically shocking. Tatum’s death was a jaw-dropper. Dewey’s death would’ve been shocking if it weren’t so predictable. My point, especially with this installment, is that _Scream_ is getting a little too safe. If I’m counting correctly, not counting the killers, only one person in the main cast died. One. I’m happy we get to see more of these characters, but it’s at the detriment of one of this series’ greatest strengths: shock.

Bonus Thought: I still adore this franchise. And Neve was truly missed.