In Scream (2022) Dewey said, “This one just feels different,” and that’s exactly how I feel after watching the Scream 6 trailer.

A New Scream Movie Set In A Whole New Backdrop

Setting a horror movie (or any movie for that matter) in NYC isn’t exactly a brand new idea—but somehow, it feels that way in a Scream movie. This trailer has it all: bodegas, dusty elevators, chase scenes, a Freddy Krueger Halloween costume, a Ghostface museum, and Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby freaking Reed. The amount of times I said, “Oh my God,” while watching this trailer—well, it was a lot.

The highlights of the trailer are the bodega attack scene, the Ghostface shrine scene, Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers getting her first-ever Ghostface call. The bodega scene and Gale’s phone call feel like they could be the openings, especially since they changed up the formula with the last one having Jenna Ortega’s Tara Carpenter be the opening kill but surviving to kill her attacker at the end of the movie. The Ghostface shrine scene looks incredibly epic—fans online are already dissecting all the Easter eggs (do we even call those Easter eggs?) shown in that scene. We see Stu’s red robe from the first film, Tatum’s outfit she dies in, Mrs. Loomis’s white blazer, the plaid shirt Jill Roberts dies in from Scream 4, Billy’s bloodied white Tshirt, a mask from the play in Scream 2, guns, knives, and more. It’s going to be a scene that has us Scream stans drooling in theaters. As to who is the owner of said shrine—well, as of now, that’s the unknown part.

The bodega scene also feels both intense and brutal. We see Tara and Melissa Barrera’s Sam running in for help, followed by Ghostface who tears through the customers and owner to get to the sisters. This feels unlike anything the franchise has done before. Usually, if Ghostface is doing a public murder, it’s like Jada Pinkett’s iconic opening death scene from Scream 2—in plain sight, but no one but the two intended victims are killed. There’s something about a kill happening so publicly that’s terrifying.

Say a Prayer for Mother™

We also get gay icon Gale’s first-ever Ghostface call—and a chase scene to go along with it. We know Gale gives good chase scene, the one in Scream 2 being one of the best of the franchise, so I’m quite excited for her to get her own extended scene. But, as with every new Scream movie, I’m now incredibly worried for Mother ™. Killing Gale feels both like a no-go of the franchise but also like the most shocking thing they could do? But, please don’t kill Gale—or I’ll become The Joker/one of those toxic fans (jk…but maybe not).

Kirby Makes Her Return to the Scream Franchise

Also, Kirby is used sparingly in the trailer—I expected Gale to be featured less and Kirby more heavily. But boy, is it so nice to see her back. The fandom can sometimes be torn on Scream 4, but the character Kirby Reed tends to be universally beloved. The idea of her and Jasmin Savoy-Brown’s Mindy being on screen together has me hyped. Could Kirby die? Could Kirby be the killer? I don’t know, but the one thing I am sure of is that she will be a delight to see again.

Mason Gooding’s Chad is also there looking as hot as always—and probably most likely to be the one to bite it. I will mourn the loss of him and his beautiful chest if he is the one to die. We also barely focus on the newer newbies in the trailer, as I imagine, not unlike in Scream 2; all of these new characters will die. But maybe they won’t! The most fun thing about these new additions to the franchise is that they don’t fully follow the rules. I mean, Ghostface has a shotgun at one point—anything could happen! Maybe Samara Weaving’s character becomes our new Final Girl!

We Miss Sidney Prescott

I am sad the reason Neve Campbell isn’t coming back as Sidney Prescott is due to not being paid her worth and not just for the fact that our girl Sidney deserves a break. But I do think Sidney Prescott deserves a break. I am curious though, as to how they’ll tie it back to her as it usually ties back to Sidney but, again, maybe this one won’t! The most fun thing about this newest movie is it feels even less likely that they’re following the previous rules of the franchise, which automatically makes this one feel fresh.

If Sex and the City can spend years saying New York City is a main character, then so can one Scream movie. So, let’s rejoice that in the year 2023 we’re still getting new Scream movies and make sure to light some prayer candles for my favorite final girl, Gale Weathers.