After celebrating its 25th anniversary in December, the Scream franchise has returned with its fifth entry and a promise to return to the series’ roots while pushing the meta-narrative forward. This unnumbered Scream has a lot of the familiar elements that fans will expect from a sequel, while also blending in characters and circumstances that hearken back to the original film. It’s what the film itself calls a “requel,” a combination of reboot and sequel.

Although returning stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette are certain to be major selling points for Scream, there is a full cast of new characters for viewers to discover and, eventually, watch die in violent ways. There is a new lead girl named Sam (Melissa Barerra) who returns to Woodsboro after her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega) is attacked by a new Ghostface killer. She's not totally unrelated to the larger lore of Scream but Sam is not a retread of old ground either. That being said, a lot of the familiar pieces are still in play, including Tara’s group of high school friends, each of whom makes a strong case for being the killer.

Scream set itself apart by both adhering to and mocking the rules of horror films and that still holds true five films in. This entry is just as self-aware as all the rest but the plot isn’t as convoluted as Scream 4. It also acknowledges that the horror genre has elevated beyond its gory roots thanks to films like Hereditary and The Babadook. Scream 5 imagines a world where a slasher film can flirt with being smart, while delivering on the thrills all the same.

As well, there are key nods to the franchise’s past – and a few unexpected surprises – but it works as a continuation all its own. Where other sequels might continuously wink and nod towards the audience, Scream respects its fan base enough to do the material right. It’s scary, surprisingly bloody for the series, and it builds to a conclusion that is as satisfying as it is revelatory.

Scream is unique in its branding as a meta-slasher-whodunnit, but respecting the property and pushing it forward is no small feat. Acting is arguably the film’s weakest element, a byproduct of juggling so many characters and archetypes. Barrera is a great lead and Ortega plays Tara with a mix of vulnerability and strength, but many of the newer characters are one-note.

They are either explaining the rules of this new film, reacting to potential danger, or bickering about who could be the killer, with little meaningful interactions in between. The biggest standout is arguably Jack Quaid (The Boys) who plays Sam’s boyfriend Richie as an extension of the audience, pointing out the absurdity of it all while trying his best to survive.

As just a fun slasher, Scream works. There are tense moments that are all buildup and no payoff, and jump scares timed just perfectly. The film never feels like it is pulling any punches in terms of who can and can’t die, and it even plays on the predictable formula similar movies have created. More importantly, it’s smart enough to acknowledge how a lifetime spent with horror movies would inform these characters’ decisions. For example, technology comes into play several times throughout the film, both as a tool to help with survival and one that the killer leverages to their advantage.

The most difficult element for Scream to pull off is folding the existing characters (both dead and alive) into the story without it feeling forced or just a cameo. This new film respects the legacy of Sydney, Gale, and Dewey without making the film wholly about them. They are fan-favorite characters that end up caught in Sam’s story, offering important pieces of advice and intervening if necessary.

Mixing both the old and the new together is what makes Scream feel fresh 25 years later. The film is sure to be satisfying to longtime fans of the series, especially those who felt burned by the fourth movie. But on its own, there is still enough of a new narrative to follow that is clever and satisfying. Dialogue might be a little too on the nose/cheesy, and in some cases that feels by design.

Ultimately, any slasher film can be memorable if it sticks the landing, and Scream mostly hits the mark. It follows the blueprint laid out for a successful requel (as explained by one of the characters in the film) to a T. If this is just a one-off then fans will be happy. Or if this is to be the start of something new, fans have a bright future to look forward to.

Scream releases in theaters on July 14, 2022.

Scream (2022)

The 2022 incarnation of Scream is the fifth entry in the franchise, set twenty-five years after the brutal murders caused by Billy Loomis and Stu Macher shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro. Now a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and has begun targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town's deadly past. Following the prior killers' footsteps, a new Ghostface attacks a high school student named Tara Carpenter. When her sister learns of the attack, she returns and meets with Tara's old friend group to check on her. However, Ghostface strikes again when they visit the hospital, forcing them to partner with series regulars Dewey Riley, Sidney Prescott, and Gale Weathers to discover the truth behind the original Woodsboro murders and stop the new copycats.