By taking a big bloody bite out of Big Apple in its sixth outing, Scream VI managed to keep its horror thrill ride going and slash up more than $167 million at the box office. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and written by James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick, and Kevin Williamson, the film found our favorite foursome — Tara (Jenna Ortega), Sam (Melissa Barerra), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), and Chad (Mason Gooding) — out of Woodsboro and enjoying college life in New York City. But Ghostface never quite rests, does he? A new killer/killers dons the ominous mask for the bloodiest slasher of the franchise yet.
Fans were stoked when Scream VI was released earlier this year, perhaps even more so when it was made available for digital on April 25. However, fans should look for the high-class 4K UHD release with a collector’s edition SteelBook on July 11, along with the film’s 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD release. Good news: there is plenty of bonus material to enjoy. Special features include scene breakdowns and insider production information about the overall creative process. There’s even a gag reel — fun! Fans can expect reflections about previous Scream films and compelling commentary from the filmmakers.
In the meantime, Jasmin Savoy Brown, who’s also killing it on Showtime’s phenomenal Yellowjackets, took time to share more about her Scream VI experience in this MovieWeb interview.
We All Scream for Scream VI
By all accounts, Jasmin Savoy Brown was stoked to play Mindy Meeks-Martin in Scream V and return for Scream VI. Mindy is a force of nature — strong-willed, direct, and empowered. She’s also hunky Chad’s (Mason Gooding) sister and the two share a deep bond. When asked what she appreciates most about playing Mindy, Savoy Brown shared: “I'm really proud to play the first openly queer character in the franchise and really grateful that she also happens to be, I think, the smartest. That feels very true to me, that the gay person is the smartest person in the room [...] So, yes, I’m truly proud to play Mindy.”
Surely, playing any character in the Scream franchise proves to be challenging. All that running. And screaming. And blood. Interesting to note: The “blood” audiences see isn’t made of a sugary substance. She added that, “It's really sticky — just sticky and gross once it's dried, but when it's wet, it feels more real. And you're like, ‘Oh my god, there's blood on me. I need to take a shower.’ Fortunately, it comes off pretty easily.”
Bloodbath in every sense of the word, then? Diving deeper and waxing philosophical about Scream’s huge popularity, it’s fitting to inquire why audiences love the franchise so much.
“People love Scream because it does such a brilliant job of really keeping you guessing,” Savoy Brown said. “These films are so good at the twist. The kills are brutal. It's bloody, it's scary, and you genuinely don't know who the killer is until they take off their mask. And that’s what makes it so much fun.”
Scream VII: Ghostface in Paradise?
With so much bonus content, we asked Savoy-Brown about a few things that stood out for her during the shoot. She shared a few golden moments, including when Mason Gooding's Chad slams Jack Champion’s character (Ethan) against a car. Apparently, the car window shattered. “Then Jenna and I, and the whole film cast would do just random improv,” she added, “and Dermot Mulroney is really funny. I think he said a lot of weird stuff that made people break character.”
As for the possibility of Scream VII, it’s a no-brainer for the actor. “I would love to do another one,” she said. “And I think people will be really excited to know there's an hour of bonus content. If you download the film, there's a great gag reel and commentary with the filmmakers, and sit-down interviews with me and the rest of the core. I need to download the movie myself. I always love hearing a director's commentary about things that were cut or added or, you know, there were a few last-minute things where everything went wrong, and they had to scramble and fix it. Which is why — and this is totally an aside — but it’s why I really am standing with the WGA and the Writers’ Strike, because things happen on set and a writer needs to quickly rewrite a scene. And they did that a few times in this movie.”
Savoy Brown said she already has an idea in mind for writers to consider post-strike. “I would love to see Ghostface on an island. Maybe Hawaii or at a resort somewhere tropical," said Savoy Brown with a smile. "You know, for the first bit of the movie, we're just relaxing and drinking in the pool. It would be a White Lotus and Scream crossover. That would be fun. I should pitch that. I'm going to make some calls.”
Beyond Scream, the actor is finding her celebrity rise higher thanks to a starring role in Showtime’s hit Yellowjackets, which delves into the extreme survival efforts of a group of high school teens lost in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash.
“We didn't expect Yellowjackets to be a hit,” shared Savoy Brown. “I don't think anyone was prepared for that. So that's still a bit surprising and catches me off guard when someone is like, ‘Oh, my God, YELLOWJACKETS!’ Also, because I've barely been in L.A. since we started filming. I'm traveling a lot. But I'm really grateful. The timing has worked out for me that both projects keep coming out at the same time, and they are both well received and have great fans. It's been a wild ride.” She chuckled. “But I'm ready to do some comedy.”
Scream VI is now available on Digital platforms and Paramount+, and arrives on 4K Ultra HD SteelBook, on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on July 11.