The reviews for the sequel to the slasher requel, Scream VI, are now in. So, what do critics make of the latest Ghostface killings? Has the filmmaking duo Radio Silence struck gold twice in a row following 2022’s Scream? Yes, it would certainly seem so.
Beginning with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman, Scream VI is “clever” in all the ways you’d want it to be, and takes wonderfully vicious advantage of its change in scenery from the tiny town of Woodsboro, California to New York City.
“It’s a homicidal shell game that‘s clever in all the right ways, staged and shot more forcefully than the previous film, eager to take advantage of its more sprawling but enclosed cosmopolitan setting.”
Screen Rant’s Graeme Guttmann meanwhile calls the sequel bloodier, scarier and funnier, and cannot wait to see what comes next.
“Scream VI is bloodier, scarier, & funnier, nodding to its past while carving a brutal path forward for Ghostface & the new franchise cast.”
Collider’s Ross Bonaime feels similarly, praising Scream VI for finding new ways to approach the usual slasher trappings.
“Scream VI might be a sequel to a requel, but this franchise still finds new ways to feel original in its approach to this world.”
And these sentiments were echoed by Christian Zilko of indieWire, who feels that the future is bright for both the Scream series and directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
“If they keep making ’em like “Scream VI,” the future is as bright as it is bloody.”
Scream VI Will Slash Its Way into Theaters on Friday
Scream VI takes the serial killer out of the Californian town of Woodsboro and drops them in The Big Apple. The sequel follows the four survivors of the Ghostface killings in last year’s Scream as they leave Woodsboro, hoping to start a fresh chapter in New York. Sadly, their hopes will quickly be dashed when someone new begins sporting the Ghostface mask and tormenting them all once again.
“Returning directors Mat Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett keep the action moving at a swift pace as the bodies pile up and the blood flows. The well-chosen cast helps a lot,” says Deadline’s Pete Hammond, with Amelia Emberwing of IGN adding, “Scream 6 doesn’t achieve perfection, but by highlighting the newly dubbed Core Four, hitting all the right emotional beats, and dialing the brutality up to eleven, it comes dang close.”
Not everyone was as enamored with the horror delights of Scream VI. Slashfilm’s Chris Evangelista was left asking what else the Scream franchise has to say.
“Is there anything left for the bloody, quippy "Scream" franchise to say?”
EW’s Joshua Rothkopf meanwhile ultimately felt that Scream VI “squanders” the good will left by last year’s Scream.
“Scream VI ultimately squanders the goodwill of last year's occasionally satisfying reboot, slackening into a dutiful merry-go-round of returning characters.”
Finally, Frank Scheck of Hollywood Reporter concluded that Scream VI delivers what fans would expect from the return of Ghostface.
“Ultimately, Scream VI delivers exactly what the fans expect, which is more of the same.”
Starring Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Dermot Mulroney, Henry Czerny, Samara Weaving, Tony Revolori, Jack Champion, Devyn Nekoda, Liana Liberato, Josh Segarra, Courtney Cox, and Hayden Panettiere, Scream VI is scheduled to be released on March 10, 2023, by Paramount Pictures.