The tireless Ghostface killer is back in action, but now in New York. New victims, old scream queens, and the ever-present Courteney Cox with a TV report. All this is about 'Scream 6', the continuation of the popular horror franchise. We tell you wha...

A year has passed since the events in Woodsboro, when a new generation of heroes led by Samantha Carpenter (with support from the old guard) was forced to fight back against the Ghostface killer. The survivors of that bloodbath try to start life anew, fleeing the horrific memories to New York. But Ghostface doesn't care where you are; he'll come for you in the Big Apple too.

Since the announcement of the previous, fifth 'Scream' film, many fans of Wes Craven's work expressed doubts about the need to revive the franchise. Some, predictably, accused the directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and Paramount Pictures of a banal attempt to cash in on audience nostalgia. And while it's hard to argue with that, in the end everyone was pleasantly surprised to get not just another film exploiting the horror master's legacy, but a decent requel (sequel+reboot+remake) with a good cast and fresh ideas. And the sixth part continued this glorious path, proving that you can, as they say, have your cake and eat it too.

The new 'Scream' is another product in the meta-horror style, which thrives on self-reflection and mocking genre clichés. Only now the creators have allowed themselves to step beyond the boundaries of a single genre, covering the overall modern film trend of creating franchises and universes that largely rely on fan nostalgia. So you can be ironic not only about slashers, but also, for example, about space operas or adventure action films, whose ideas originated back in the '90s, or even earlier.

The authors also didn't forget to add a few social subtexts and subtly poked fun at those who can't live without true crime shows. Oh, and they threw another stone at online dating, sending warm regards to 'Scream'.

Roman Kovalev

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Open material

'Scream 6' is still a product based on and fueled by references to genre classics, not to mention the scene in the subway train. But besides that, the sixth film is one big reference to everything that was shot earlier in this universe. Moreover, it's done very beautifully and with love, so that 'Scream' fans might shed tears of tenderness.

So what new things did Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett come up with this time? First, the heroes finally got out of the too-tight Woodsboro. And it seems New York suited Ghostface, allowing him to stage a real survival race for the heroes. The film feels more dynamic and tense than the fifth part. The movie successfully breeds doubts in the minds of both characters and viewers. This is certainly due to several twists with the killer, and also, probably, helped by the change of location and the scale of events.

Thanks to the move into a new space, the killer got more opportunities to spread out. A direct proof of this was the opening part — the technique shown there is used for the first time in this franchise. And personally, I enjoyed how the authors tried to refresh the usual approach at the beginning of the films.

After Neve Campbell refused to film due to what she considered a low fee, the authors were left with only the ever-present Gale Weathers, played by Courteney Cox. This time, they invited Hayden Panettiere — Kirby from the fourth part — to pair with her from the old guard. Or rather, Hayden volunteered herself. In one interview, the actress admitted she was thrilled with the work the directors did in the fifth film and wanted to be part of the sequel.

But it must be said that the participation of the old guard in the fight of Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and company (joined by Dermot Mulroney) against Ghostface in this part is even more limited. Essentially, the creators carefully built a bridge from the past to the present, treating each character with dignity, while hinting that it's time to build something new. With more brutal and inventive killings. While continuing to modify the concept of the final girl and develop the idea of the 'inheritance' of evil.

The only thing that smudged the overall impression of joy was the very, very ending. The directors either lacked the courage, or they considered it necessary to do so for the future, since, most likely, a seventh part awaits us, given the good box office and critical reception of the sixth film.

'Scream 6' is a coherent horror film that continues the traditions of postmodernism and meta-component (with excellent marketing). The legacy of maestro Wes Craven lives and thrives, delighting fans and fighting their justified skepticism and doubts. And on one hand, there is a strong desire to watch Ghostface's adventures endlessly, but on the other, the thought persists that it's time to send him to rest. While he's at his peak. After all, the world has enough killer images to exploit.