Scream VI | Double the Fear, Twice the Darkness

"Scream 6" is out and it's my most anticipated horror movie of the year.

The "Scream" series is rare because it doesn't have any terrible sequels. Each movie has a new and creative twist, thanks to the talented people behind it. "Scream 6" is living up to the franchise's reputation and staying true to what makes it unique, but it's not as funny as the others. This might have been on purpose, but it takes away from the movie's criticism of how Hollywood tells stories. It's not a huge problem, but it feels like something is missing.

The story of "Scream 6" continues from the ending of "Scream 5" in 2022, where the two sisters, Sam and Tara, along with Chad and Mindy, decide to leave the small town and move to the bustling metropolis of New York. However, the shadow of the Ghostface killer seems to linger, as a series of murders begin to happen around Sam and Tara.

Tara is determined not to let the tragedy of their past in the small town ruin her life, so she actively develops new relationships. Meanwhile, Sam is still haunted by the emotional scars of her past, as visions of her deceased father continue to plague her. She feels the pull of her family's history of killing and must balance her desire to protect her sister and friends with the pressure of being accused as the killer.

Unfortunately, New York proves to be just as unfriendly as the small town, as the killer's presence is harder to detect in the bustling city...

The tradition of mockery

The "Scream" movies are known for making fun of horror movie conventions while also scaring audiences.

"Scream 1" mocked horror movie cliches, "Scream 2" parodied the conventions of sequels, "Scream 3" poked fun at the tendency of trilogies to "reconnect with the story's origins," and "Scream 4" ridiculed failed attempts to adapt original works. "Scream 5" targeted the trend of rebooting franchises with new characters and the obsession of fans with popular culture.

The first five movies each had a specific theme to mock, but the sixth movie struggles to find a good target. Instead, it focuses on the idea of a sequel to a reboot, which doesn't leave much room for satire. As a result, "Scream 6" feels more like a regular slasher movie without the usual humor and sarcasm.

Even though "Scream 6" is less satirical, it spends more time developing its characters and relationships. It still has some moments where it teases horror movie cliches, but they're not as prominent as in previous movies. The humor is also not as effective because the dialogue is more random and less clever.

Massive Reinforcement of Bloody Violence

Luckily, 'Scream 6' is good at the traditional slasher genre, with intense chase scenes that are some of the best in the series. The Ghostface killers are tougher and more vicious than ever, attacking with greater brutality and not stopping until they've stabbed their victims numerous times. The reduced amount of comedy makes the audience more worried about the characters' survival, especially since the filmmakers hinted that both new and old characters might die.

One well-done scene in the movie takes place on a subway in New York City during Halloween. Many passengers are dressed up as classic horror movie killers, including a clown from Warner Bros. holding a red balloon. People with masks are also around, making it hard to tell who the real killer is. The subway is very crowded and noisy, which adds to the excitement compared to previous movies set in small towns.

This series is becoming gorier and gorier, and it's not just about guessing who the killer is anymore. It's now more about using graphic content to shock and amaze the audience.

Bloody violence may be the major trend in future horror films

Currently, the overall trend in the North American film market is that the number of R-rated violent movies is not only increasing but also generating more curiosity among people, while PG-13 and animated movies have become "wait-for-streaming" types. In recent weeks, except for superhero movies like "Ant-Man 3" and "Shazam! 2," the rest are mostly R-rated violent movies, with a majority containing bloody and murderous content. "John Wick" has the highest number of killings, but it is not as bloody, with the focus being on gunfights and action scenes, but still treating killing as a casual and simple matter. "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" and "Scream 6" are typical slasher movies, intentionally creating bloody and disgusting content for entertainment.

it's not a good sign. It appears that horror and violent movies have become more prevalent following the pandemic. This can be attributed to the fact that screenwriters have had ample opportunity to express their innermost pessimism, fear, and anger during the past two years of the pandemic. Additionally, audiences have developed a greater fascination with watching others endure suffering.

The movie is more suitable for the Halloween season as the story takes place during that time. Given that the older actors in the previous version are still alive, there will likely be another sequel. The movie pokes fun at the trend of not only making sequels, but also turning them into a series of movies that include prequels, spin-offs, and reboots. The masked killer has become a popular IP with the potential for new content to be explored. What is most unsettling is the appearance of some ordinary people in the movie who become killers due to their exposure to horror movies. The constant reference to classic horror films makes one wonder if continuing this type of series could eventually create a real-life killer.