Ghostface is back in a Scream reboot that is on par with the original masterpiece.
Being the enthusiastic Scream fan I am, when I heard a reboot was being launched this year of the iconic slasher series my first thought was, please don’t butcher this.
Given it’s near impossible to perfect any sequel, reboot or requel these days to truly do a series justice, fair to say I was nervous upon arrival.
But, thank the horror movie gods, they’ve absolutely nailed it.
A bloody reboot worth the wait, turns out fifth times the charm for Scream with this movie being undoubtedly the best since Wes Craven’s 1996 masterpiece- and those are pretty big shoes to fill.
It’s both a love letter to the original and entirely fresh, carried by a stellar cast new and old with a whodunnit full of excitement and laughs right through to the end.
But don’t just take my word for it, here are 5 reasons it’s a must-watch:
1. It Goes Back To Its Roots
If you’re any kind of Scream fan, you’re well aware that the return of legacy characters Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette) was the absolute hype behind this whole movie, and it’s a return worth waiting for.
The movie has many similarities to the original Scream of 1996, bringing us back to the roots of the horror slasher we so love. It ties into the past on more than one occasion, giving all the nostalgic feels including a certain third act in a certain house that really draws some parallels (if you know, you know).
2. You Can Actually Expect The Unexpected
I’d consider myself a certified expert at picking out the killer in any movie by this point, so any sort of surprise twist is welcome.
Put it this way (without any spoilers), I thought I knew off the bat who it was, but second-guessed myself the entire way through. Am I losing my touch? Or was it just so magnificently scripted that I played right into it- I’m going to go with the latter.
They’ve also kicked it up a notch in the surprise department this time by killing off a legacy character…you’ll just have to watch.
3. It’s A Bloody Good Time
The gore factor is high in this one- special effects sure have come a long way.
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett don’t rush any death this time around, they make sure we see all the grizzly details and inventive ways Ghostface gets his victims, reminding us all that this isn’t just some run of the mill boogeyman- and earning some loud gagging noises from the audience. But, despite the brutality of it all, it’s an absolute blast- beats me how they made gore like this fun, but it works.
4. The New Crew Is On Point
Fans are particularly harsh critics of any newbies stepping onto the scene of their favourite film, especially here, since the bar from the original Scream cast was set so high- but boy does the new cast impress.
Charismatic from the get-go, the set of teens make for a thrilling and entertaining bunch with lead girl Sam (Melissa Barrera) putting on a strikingly similar performance to our very own Prescott, and doing it very well.
5. It’s Funny As Hell
Of course, what originally set Scream apart from the rest was its self-awareness and ability to shamelessly follow every horror movie cliche it aimed to mock in hilarious fashion.
The new movie definitely turns up the laugh factor in many moments of jabs at horror movies and their fandoms, mainly channeled through a completely loveable new face Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) who knows every rule there is to surviving a horror flick.
One scene in particular pokes at the typical ‘killer is standing behind the door after you open it’ cliche in a few tantalising minutes of suspense brought to a head in brutal fashion – hilariously self-aware of our horror movie expectations, totally brilliant in every sense.
Watch The Trailer
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