After Wes Craven’s unfortunate passing, the “Scream” franchise went in to a limbo where its fate seemed uncertain. It was still a hot property with a lot of ideas to bring forth but without the engineer Craven behind it, there didn’t seem much point. And with the MTV series and horrendous follow up mini-series, it definitely felt like there wasn’t a point in continuing the movie series. Thankfully, “Scream” (or “Scream 5”) doesn’t just do a bang up job of carrying on the legacy of meta-humor, movie commentary, and subverting movie tropes, but it brings a powerful statement about legacy.
The legacies we build, and the legacies we leave behind.
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, Calif., the infamous murders are now urban legends for a new generation. But when a new killer dons the Ghostface mask, and nearly murders Tara, the younger sister of local townie Samantha Carpenter, she must figure out who (or whom) is committing these vicious murders, and what it means about her enigmatic childhood. When the new Ghostface begins targeting Samantha and her friends, secrets inevitably begin to surface, as it always seems to do in Woodsboro.
“Scream” (from hereon in known as “5cream”) is a problematic movie that does a great job of fixing whatever concerns hardcore fans might have with its inherent existence. It’s simultaneously a sequel and a reboot, a recharge, and a movie for a whole new generation. It’s delightfully misleading, almost giddy to play games with the audience, subverting their expectations, and sometimes meeting them mid-way, It’s also a film about passing the torch in the narrative details that I was oddly comfortable with. I don’t know what the modern fandom will think about “Scream,” (as some thematic twists are questionable at best) but it’s sure to keep them talking until the next film arrives.
And that’s pretty much the goal, isn’t it? As a reboot/sequel, “5cream” is a beautifully made revisit to the dreaded Woodsboro town that excels are delivering some great suspense and tension, along with a new Ghostface that delivers on the brutality. For fans worried about the return being toned down, this Ghostface is a tad sadistic, allowing for slew of painful murders from top to bottom. “5cream” bases its script mainly on a cast of new characters, including Samantha Carpenter, a young girl who is forced back to Woodsboro after her sister barely survives a confrontation with the mysterious new Ghostface.
This, of course, becomes an opportunity for her to confront a lot of demons from her own past, while also struggling to figure out the culprit behind the white mask. The script does a great job of re-introducing the legacy characters while bringing in newer compelling characters, all with their own contributions to the narrative. This isn’t the same old slashers with girls running and screaming, as a lot of script builds powerful yet vulnerable heroines, taking on a vicious villain with a decidedly masculine energy. The performances are top notch, as Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega build great tension as sisters stuck in a scenario that signals no escape.
Surviving stars David Arquette, Courtney Cox, and Neve Campbell are given supporting turns, and they are as stellar as ever. As for the general flavor of “5cream” tackling the modern movie climate, the writers do a solid job with meta-humor and movie commentary that’s often clever, and sometimes way too on the nose. The ultimate climax is also so much in line with what Craven was leading toward in “Scream 4,” and it’s a sharp bit of commentary toward the audience that I hope many will take home with them. That said, without giving much away, “5cream” is a great slasher, a taut mystery, and a solid continuation of the movie series. It pays great respect to the original “Scream” while carving out a new destiny for itself.