Scream VI Review

The Ghostface saga continues in Scream VI, as the franchise carves a bloody path through New York City. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, this instalment trades Woodsboro’s suburban sprawl for the chaos of the Big Apple, where sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) try to rebuild their lives after the events of the previous film. But true to form, their peace is short-lived, as a new Ghostface emerges, targeting the “Core Four” and forcing them into another deadly game of survival.

The film opens with a gruesome and clever sequence that reaffirms the franchise’s reputation for iconic introductions. Ghostface quickly establishes a menacing presence, embodying a chaotic, almost feral energy that sets this killer apart from previous incarnations. A convenience store standoff and a nerve-wracking scene involving a ladder are standout moments, delivering tension and terror that rank among the series’ best.

Yet, Scream VI often feels like a double-edged knife. While the change of setting and innovative kills inject fresh energy, the script struggles to fully explore the ideas it introduces. Themes like victim-blaming and the isolating effects of viral misinformation are touched on but never meaningfully developed. Similarly, the promise that “anyone can die” in a franchise — legacy characters included — feels more like a narrative bluff than a genuine threat.

Despite these shortcomings, the cast breathes life into the film. Jenna Ortega once again proves she’s a rising star, delivering sharp one-liners and commanding every scene she’s in. Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy Meeks-Martin brings a self-aware humor reminiscent of Randy Meeks, while Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers gets her long-overdue showdown with Ghostface. The absence of Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott is deeply felt, though, and while her reasoning for stepping away is commendable, it leaves the story with a notable gap in its emotional core.

New York City itself, unfortunately, feels underutilized. While the film makes use of its urban setting in certain sequences, the city’s essence is largely absent. Montreal’s stand-in for NYC lacks the grit and grandeur expected from such an iconic location, leaving even out-of-towners to notice the illusion.

Scream VI delivers the blood-soaked thrills fans expect, but its narrative remains a bit hollow. The franchise’s trademark meta-commentary is beginning to feel less insightful and more like a crutch, with the “rules” speeches veering toward redundancy. Yet, for all its flaws, the film retains enough charm, scares, and inventive kills to entertain fans and newcomers alike.

In a franchise built on subverting expectations, Scream VI walks a familiar line between nostalgia and reinvention. While it may not slice as deep as its predecessors, it manages to keep the Ghostface legacy alive — and that’s worth a scream or two.