Film Review: SCREAM (2022): A Very Entertaining Throwback Horror Film

Scream Review

Scream (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Marley Shelton, Jenna Ortega, Dylan Minnette, Jack Quaid, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sonia Ammar, Mikey Madison, Mason Gooding, Kyle Gallner, Chester Tam and Clayton Frank.

“What’s your favorite scary movie?” Is it The Babadook, Hereditary, It Follows, or The Witch? Probably not but what’s so great about the new Scream “requel” is that it points out those movies which have become horror movie fanatics’ discussion topics on modern day social media. A24 (which distributed two of the fairly recent movies I just mentioned-Hereditary and The Witch) keeps putting out horror films that get a lot of group discussions on Facebook, for example. Let’s take it back a notch. You’re probably asking yourself, what is a “requel?” A “requel” is a reboot in some respects because it contains a lot of new characters, but it is also in some ways a sequel because it has enough of the old story line or cast that it is not a completely different work. Confused, yet? I’ve had discussions on social media about movies that some deem reboots while others declare them sequels. The new Scream is a definite “requel” and a fine one at that. I had a blast watching it and I recalled the entertaining experiences watching the 1996 original Wes Craven directed Scream and its 1997 sequel (also directed by Craven).

Melissa Barrera of In the Heights stars in the new “requel.” She plays Sam Carpenter who is the daughter of a serial killer that we saw in one of the earlier Scream films. However, wait. I’m getting ahead of myself. This new film opens with Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) answering a phone call from a new Ghostface. Remember Drew Barrymore in the original 1996 Scream? You’ll love the opening scene here then. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are on a mission with the new picture to keep the movie familiar and also fresh and original at the same time and they pretty much succeed.

David Arquette is back as Dewey Riley who is enlisted by some young people who are afraid that they may be the next targets of Ghostface. There are reasons to suspect some of these younger folks are in danger because Tara is nearly murdered by Ghostface, but she, somehow, miraculously survives. Bodies will pile up at some point in the film and the movie brings back heroines from the original movies, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and Gale Weathers-Riley (Courteney Cox), to help the kids find the murderer before they all end up dead.

What keeps the movie interesting is Melissa Barrera’s Sam who suffers from what seems to be hallucinations about the past history of her murderous dad. We’re never quite sure what to make out of her character and as the movie continues, we get more and more twists and turns about her past and how it has affected her relationship with Tara. Barrera commands the audience’s attention by playing the role in such a way that we’re never quite sure of which way the character will turn next.

Jasmin Savoy Brown all but steals the movie as Mindy Meeks-Martin who gives the audience background on the history of horror movies and the cliches that are featured in them as well as the hints these films provide as to who the actual killer(s) are. Jack Quaid as Richie Kirsch, a key player in Sam’s life and in the movie, is terrific and every scene Quaid is in is absolute fun to watch. Should he go downstairs by himself to get a beer? You know the drill if you’ve seen these types of movies before, or do you?

What can I say about Arquette, Campbell and Cox other than that it’s great to see them reprising their old roles in this entertaining and fun horror movie. They may have gotten a little older, but they are also a bit wiser too. These performers are still so enjoyable to watch throughout the new film. Arquette, in particular, has a great time here while the women acquit themselves admirably in reprising their roles with terrific energy.

While the new Scream doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking to the franchise other than a rundown of some of the latest horror pictures and some decent thrills and chills along the way, Melissa Barrera is one to watch as an actress. She has the ability to play either a good character or a bad character with equally successful results. You’ll never know what to make of her role in Scream until the very end, but you’ll be with her character every step of the way.

Scream is nothing less than a slightly bloody but fun horror picture that will keep you guessing until the very end. Fans of the series will not be disappointed especially by the true identity of Ghostface. See it.

Rating: 7.5/10

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