Scream

My plan for 2022 - at least as of right now - is to likely cut back on films that I don't really need to see.

There's several reasons for that (new puppy, very busy at work, trying to finalize my novel, hopeful travel, etc.) and it's also to avoid burnout on a hobby that I enjoy so much. When I consider the majority of the films I see within a year don't end up in the Rath Awards, I sometimes wonder if I needed to dedicate the 3ish hours to see the film and write the review every time. 

Full disclosure, Scream was a movie that I was planning on skipping. I'm not really a "fan" of the franchise given that I couldn't even tell you which ones I've seen vs. not seen. I know that Ghostface and the cast have a storied history within the slasher genre, but otherwise this was a sequel/reboot that I don't have much stake in (keep that in mind as you read the review). 

But when mostly stellar reviews started coming out, calling it "smart" and "impressive", my interest piqued, leading me to think I should go see it. 

As it relates to my 2022 resolution to cut back on Rath's Reviews somewhat, I'll apparently have to learn/practice better judgement against hype. 

Scream - to a non-educated non-fan of the franchise - is...fine. I found I enjoyed my time with it well enough even if it's too long, but was not experiencing the same high that many critics were. And it's not nearly as smart as it thinks it is.

Scream (aka Scream 5) is a self-dubbed "re-quel" where it's not quite a reboot and not quite a sequel. A segment in the film explains this new trend with great detail of something that's old, made new with legacy characters to combine with the new cast. It's a cute explanation, but again it thinks it's brilliant in the fact that it gave it the "re-quel" name when it's all pretty obvious stuff. Still, as a re-quel, Scream checks the boxes that it lays out by introducing a new cast and bringing back some legacy actors/actresses who have fairly open schedules: David Arquette, Courteney Cox, and Neve Campbell. Again, being uneducated they all slide into their roles again easily, Campbell probably doing the best, and their interactions with the new cast are enjoyable. Eventually the killer behind the Ghostface killer of 2022 is revealed after racking up a body count. 

"Ghostface killah, comin for yo life, 
Better run, better hide cuz I got this big azz knife!"

ZOMG TARA! Like run for your life!

Of those kills, the film is bloody and violent, sure, but nothing is all that incredible as far as slashers go and even the god-awful Halloween Kills ("EVIL DIES TONIGHT ZOMG!!") had better kills in terms of creativity (and quantity). Here, there's a lot of tension built from how self-aware the film is of the tropes in the genre and while it can have some fun here and there, it's also just another example where it's not nearly as smart or witty as it thinks it is. A particular scene with a character opening up a bunch of doors, that thus cover up a doorway or hallway in the camera shot, is so overdone that it's eye-roll inducing. By the end of it all, Scream tries to have a really loud message to say about reboots, sequels, and fandom that by and large are fine and certainly unique. I give it points for that, but it's in the execution of all that smart, witty revelations that it goes about things in a rudimentary, boring manner. So in the end, it speaks like it wants to reinvent itself and provide another classic, but instead we get a "just okay" climax that pans out almost exactly how you think it would.

Scream (2022) is being called the best since the original. That's cool for fans of the franchise and I'm glad that many are enjoying it. I'm assuming my lukewarm response is that I've very much become part of the "elevated horror" camp the film likes to mock (fair shots TBH) and because I have no overall opinion on this franchise. I just didn't find this nearly as smart or innovative as it thinks its meta commentary is. It tries though, and the movie otherwise is a watchable slasher that has its moments, but if you're not very into this franchise in the first place, take my advice: don't believe the hype. 

CONS

• Not as smart as it thinks it is and it tends to beat you over the head with the meta points its trying to make
• For trying to be something so innovative, it sure feels like it's checking "re-quel" boxes and the ending is pretty typical
• Overdoes some of the slasher fake-out tropes. Film could have gotten 10 minutes back from cutting these and been more streamlined
• Technical aspects are just "fine". For example, camera work is just...there and original score is forgettable

PROS

• Gets points for trying to be meta and some of the conversations it has about itself, the genre, and fandom are amusing
• Has moments and scenes with good tension and Ghostface is still a menacing villain
• Old cast and new cast has good chemistry and do a good job. Was particularly impressed with In the Heights' Melissa Barrera

Rath's Review Score | 6/10