Movie Review: Scream VI

I am a massive fan of the "Scream" franchise. It has been one of cinema's most consistently entertaining film series. Last year, the fifth movie was released, and now the sixth and the first not to have Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in it. None of the sequels has lived up to the original, but that movie set the bar so high that I don't think it's possible to out "Scream" "Scream." 

Set one year after the latest Woodsboro murders, Sam (Melissa Barrera) and her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega) have moved to New York City, but they can't seem to escape what happened. Someone new has taken up the mantle of Ghostface and is trying to finish off the survivors of the previous massacre. 

I did enjoy this more than the first two sequels (see the definitive rating below), but it didn't live up to the original. If I have one nit to pick, the end had too many "surprises." The motives of this "Ghostface" got too messy, and the ultimate plan was too complicated. 

All that being said, I was never bored. There were some thrilling sequences of our heroes trying to escape Ghostface and some brutal kills. I do wish that the movie took advantage of the NYC setting more. There is only one sequence on a subway that utilizes the city setting to feel different than the previous movies. 

"Scream" is a series that has a special place in my movie-loving heart. It was one of my early forays into the horror genre and one I appreciate more now that I am a more educated horror fan. In some ways, I will always be a "Scream" apologist, so take this all with a grain of salt. 

Now I present my ranking of the "Scream" series. 

Scream: The original still holds up all these years later.

Scream 4: It has one of the best endings in the franchise. 

Scream 5: I like how this one commented on the reboot/sequel craze.

Scream 2: An excellent sequel than comments on horror sequels. 

Scream 6: See the above review.

Scream 3: If I had to skip one, this would be it (not that I would skip one of these).