Scream 6 (2023)

Scream 6 (2023) is a horror/slasher and the final installment of the Scream Franchise, so far!

Another movie reviewer who is called “Rafi” said this, “Every Scream gets better and better in some ways… but gets more and more ridiculous in others.”

It’s true that I’m starting to have trouble with the ultra-violence, the jerky stabbing of modern cinema. It used to be one or two stabbings. Nowadays, you make a dozen or so frantic, ultra-fast stabs, and then you flay, slide the blade to open up the body or turn it to make the hole bigger. There are also stab wounds in the eyes, in the throat, in the nose… It’s pretty gruesome, I think!

I think that Scary Movie style parodies make people laugh more or less, but also help to play down the shocking scenes in the cinema.

I also admit that I saw this film more because I had to see it than because I wanted to see it.

It’s like all those other films like Wrong Turn, Human Centipede, Saw, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend: as soon as there are sequels, I watch like a madman, hoping for enlightenment, but it’s often with ultra-disappointment that I come out.

Frankly, apart from these details, which I mentioned above, I liked it. Always a good suspense, good dialogues, an interesting plot, always humor of all kinds, but mostly black, so always this mix of slasher, black comedy and this new common term called whodunit (who did it?).

As far as the actors are concerned, everyone is OK, but let’s admit that Jenna Ortega stands out from the crowd!

Melissa Barrera, rather disturbing, because we feel she can lean one way or the other.

Samara Weaving‘s daughter is in the opening scene this time. No, it wasn’t Margot Robbie for those who still have a doubt!!!

Really glad to see Courteney Cox back, so different here from her Monica in Friends. What an actress! She plays Gale Weathers for the 6th time. She becomes the person having appeared the most times in the franchise. The others all appear for the second time. Yes, because no Neve Campbell this time. Sadly, for the first time in the saga, no more Sidney Prescott heroine, due to a salary dispute with the actress.

Hayden Panettiere is back!

She went from 4 to 6, skipping 5.

Jasmin Savoy Brown is the one who gives the explanations in this film. Those famous explanations of horror films, the rules to follow or not to follow. All the while taking into account the times, the new developments… and finally the fact that we still don’t know anything, in the end! No matter how much we discuss it, it’s no use at all!

We also get little clues/info for those who missed films like the first Freddy, Psycho 2, Friday the 13th and Candyman. The publicity here makes you want to catch up on your horror film culture, once again.

As for Skeet Ulrich, I don’t know if he’s using the Deepfake or if this actor isn’t getting old, but it’s again the same wink as in the previous film and we see it, but not for more than two minutes.

As in the previous five films, Roger L. Jackson plays the voice of Ghostface. This actor remains one of the most secretive figures in Hollywood. Apparently he also does the voice of Mojo Jojo in Super Nanas! ^_^

And I think he’s also often behind the mask in chases and other stunts. I’d be surprised if the actor who takes off the mask at the end is really still in the role.

The moment when the villains make their hysterical speeches is always a jubilant moment in these films.

Scream 6 (called Frissons VI in Quebec!) makes fun of the previous films, while winking at them and being a faithful sequel at the same time. It’s a rather successful feat. We rediscover that in Scream 3, it was the only time there was only one criminal. All the other killers are reviewed in this film. There’s a sort of tribute to all of them.

I’m glad that the very end cuts off the desire to make another sequel. I’m glad that the little wink is deliberately dropped.

Otherwise, by dint of making sequels, sooner or later, Wes Craven will really turn in his grave.

Even if the 2nd one remains, and is likely to remain, the worst opus of the franchise.

That’s it for me.