I Loved Scream 6

 It's easy to say with 20/20 hindsight that the original "Scream" film predicted the state of horror in the 2020s. Our two extremes now are the intellectual exercises popularized by A24 and the aggressively ironic horror-comedies produced mostly by Blumhouse. "Scream" saw these sides as complements to each other. Why can't you use knowledge of the horror genre seeped in irony to make some sort of intellectual point about the horror genre? The most recent reboot did not totally nail that balance for me. The script felt a bit too invested in meta-commentary to the point where none of the characters felt interesting or meaningful. "Scream 5" feigns having something to say about horror reboots (or legacy-quels, or whatever word you want to use here), but the main thing it satirizes is the reddit nerds who lost their minds when Rian Johnson subverted expectations with his Star Wars flick. It wasn't for me. Worst of all, none of the set pieces after the initial opener compelled me in that movie. What a step down from the directors ("Radio Silence) of "Ready or Not", which managed to be the goriest great time at the movies in 2019 and make fun of old money families at the same time. When it was time for the masked killer to do some slashing, Wes Craven's "Scream" was played straight. Neither the intellectual exercises nor the ironic comedies tend to deliver on the horror murder aspects these days.

 I am extremely pleased to say that "Scream 6" corrects all of my issues. For one thing, we spend a lot less time worrying about the rules of horror franchises (the one scene which runs down the rules feels perfunctory) and a lot more time to learn the names of the characters. The most important ones are Samantha (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega, the obvious breakout star of the new cast for reasons that have nothing to do with this franchise). They are sisters, and importantly, they feel like sisters. There's an actual bond that comes through the screen. The actors have fantastic chemistry, and I can feel as invested in them as they are in each other. It's easy to say that this should be the bare minimum for any movie that takes itself seriously, but "Scream 5" got so bogged down in its older characters and its commentary that nobody in the new cast had an opportunity to make a good impression. The characters here are even allowed the space to feel sincerely sad when their friends die, which is probably the greatest modern contribution to the 90s slasher formula. A tough note: while on principle the Paramount corporation should just pay Neve Campbell whatever she wants to do these movies, the last one couldn't thing of anything to do with her, and her presence doesn't feel missed in this one. The only returning actor from the original trilogy here is Courtney Cox. She doesn't have a ton to do outside of her one big set piece facing the killer, and that suits the movie just fine. The set piece is fantastic, primarily because it's directed so well, but on some level you believe she might die, in a way that you don't believe Neve Campbell can.

 Most importantly for a horror movie, the horror works. Staging horror set pieces can feel like a lost art these days. "Scream 6" isn't reinventing the wheel, but it is doing the best of the stuff that was commonplace in Craven's day. Every kill is built up to make you clench so that you truly feel the release, the use of music is restrained, and the gore effects are properly brutal. As a straight up slasher, this had my heart pumping more than anything else I've seen in recent memory. While I understand reviews that feel the NYC setting went to waste, the use of space in the bodega and subway sequences justify the decision all on their own. This being a Scream film, the most important kill to get right is the first one, and the Radio Silence team nails it. A faux twist that had me puzzled gets followed up by the funniest kill that this franchise has ever seen, and Tony Revolori's greatest comedic performance since "The Grand Budapest Hotel". 

 I understand that people watch this franchise for different reasons. Anyone who wants to engage with it as a gruesome slasher will surely consider it the best since the original. I could be using words to dig into the various script choices that really do not work (the mystery behind the kills, for one, and the ongoing "Riverdale"-esque subplot about serial killer genes, for two). But I don't see any need for that, not when I was simultaneously giggling and squirming in my seat. I loved, loved, loved, the sixth "Scream" film. Bring on number seven.