The first big release of 2022, and it’s a January horror film. More than that, it’s also a modern reboot of a popular long running film franchise that has the same name as the original film. Oh boy, thing’s don’t look very good here. With all things considered, I actually enjoyed Scream more than expected. Is it a good movie? No. Does it at the very least respect the legacy of the original film and stay true to its roots? Yes, and the filmmakers ensure that the audience knows this.
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Of course, the original Scream film benefits most from its internal deconstruction of the slasher subgenre, while also being an effective slasher in its own right. This version of Scream with a cast of newcomers and returning alumni (Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette) runs through the same motions, all while identifying the most prominent horror and film conventions seen today.
There is differentiation over the typical slasher versus “elevated horror” (i.e. The Witch and Hereditary), and a dissection over the rabid fandom reactions to modern remakes that effectively ridicule the legacy of the original films. The latter ties directly into the core of the plot, which feels proper for a true “Scream” film.
Compared to the never-ending stupidity of the Saw films, or the uninspired slog of the latest Halloween films, Scream does accomplish more, but not without its faults. I enjoy the old cast in their return, along with a few of the newcomers (except for Dylan Minnette and his stupid face). Despite being so “Self-aware”, the film can’t help itself by allowing characters to get blindsided by random crap and cheap fake-out jump-scares.
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The final minutes of the film kind of lost me as well in what they were trying to do with the characters. That said, the rest of the film was pretty entertaining, capturing the spectacle of the “Scream” films in a new light. Scream (2022) stands above most of the modern long-running film reboots and remakes, and even if it isn’t necessarily a good film, it’s one that the fans of the films before it can at least enjoy for its commitment to the franchise.
Follow Zach (the Author) on Instagram – @pretentiousfilmcritic
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I was 11 when the first film came out, 26 years later I’m still super excited to see a new film. Scream is my generations’ Halloween. I really hope to see Neve and the gang still messing up ghostface in a few decades like Jamie Lee with Michael Myers.