Reviews
The Good, the Bad, and the Chase Scenes of ‘Scream VI’: A Spoiler-y Review
A horror movie set in New York City during Halloween might not seem like a new idea, but it is for the Scream franchise – and it’s exactly where and when the latest installment takes place. It feels fresh and new – even if there are too many trees for it to be NYC.
Screaming from the Beginning
I first saw Scream when I rented it on VHS from Blockbuster and watched it in my childhood friend’s bedroom. It was love at first watch. To say these movies are vital to me is an understatement. They are the reason I got into horror and the reason I want to write about it. They are why I’m here, over 25 years later, to review Scream VI.
The sixth installment of Scream has me feeling lots of things. It has some of the franchise’s best chase scenes, but some plot points felt slightly phoned in. So, let’s dig in…
Spoilers ahead!
For a spoiler-free review, click here.
Scream VI Opening Scene
The opening didn’t work for me. I know a lot of people love it, but for me, it wasted Samara Weaving. God, can she scream, though. Plus, it cut all tension once it became Ghostface stalking Ghostface.
So what? Who cares if this new Ghostface gets stabbed and killed by another, different Ghostface? This reveal should’ve happened later in the movie – delivering a twist that multiple Ghostfaces are stalking our beloved Core Four.
This opening undercut the tension almost as much as Scream 4’s did—but that movie, my third favorite of the series, proves I can dislike the opening scene and still love the movie.
Action-Packed Ghostface Chase Scenes
The biggest thing this newest installment has going for it is the pace. The movie never feels dull or slow and earns its more-than two-hour run time. It rarely ever slows down, with chase scene after chase scene.
Fairly quickly after learning Ghostface is back, our new final girls Tara (Jenna Ortega) and Sam (Melissa Barrera) get attacked by Ghostface, who chases them into a bodega, murdering everyone who gets in his way. Ortega’s crying face is unbeatable—she’s so tiny and looks so young, and how she was shivering and crying had me terrified for her.
We also got to see Ghostface brandish a shotgun. While most Ghostfaces wait for their reveal to pull out a gun, this one pulls it out right at the beginning. It’s intense; it’s brutal—a perfect first big chase scene for the sisters.
Another entertaining chase scene took place in the apartment. Having Ghostface in a small (albeit big for NYC) apartment attacking such a large group really worked. The whole scene had me panicked. Everyone should’ve fought back but was too scared to think clearly.
The apartment massacre leads to an incredibly tense moment involving a ladder with a cruel and brutal end.
Once we were shown our characters entering the subway, the scene still felt tense, even though it was nearly fully shown in the trailer. The film got to have fun with everyone in their Halloween costumes, putting a zillion wannabe Ghostfaces on the train; it was all A++.
Does Gale Weathers Die in Scream VI?
Gale’s moment in her colossal apartment rivals Sarah Michelle Gellar’s in I Know What You Did Last Summer —and I genuinely don’t know a better chase scene. Courteney Cox can sell the terror and cunning of a final girl like no other.
Gale’s new boyfriend gets killed, and she doesn’t skip a beat, jumping into action to hit Ghostface with a frying pan and grab her gun. Gale is smart; she isn’t going to pause to grieve her new man’s death, knowing Ghostface could get her at any moment. It is a scene that could be a short, standalone horror film.
The “That’s why I’m gonna shoot you in the fucking head” line from the Scream VI trailer is so iconic, but the absolute best part was what came next. Gale calmly, politely said, “Can you hold, please?” Then, she *69-ed his ass to find out where Ghostface was hiding. It was a moment of pure Scream greatness.
Once Gale got stabbed a second time, I had tears in my eyes, positive she was done for. I’m embarrassed at what the friends beside me witnessed (me acting foolish in my reclining seat).
Thankfully, Gale survives.
How Does Scream VI End?
The final act of every Scream movie is where shit goes down, and this one was no different. Our group is chased around the shrine (more on that later), stabbed, and shot. Our three Ghostfaces stalk the last three standing and “kill” Chad (Mason Gooding). They also shoot and stab returning fan-favorite Kirby (Hayden Panettiere). It was some top-tier action.
It all leads up to the sisters having an incredibly badass final fight with their three attackers, and it’s very satisfying to watch Sam running out of bullets and not skipping a beat before charging the last Ghostface standing.
The Scream Legacy
Scream VI made me realize we are ready to move on from the original characters and storylines. Without the legacy stuff and characters, it still would’ve worked. The shrine was such an excellent idea and looked fantastic, but it was underwhelming. The way it’s shown in the trailer is about as much as it’s featured in the movie. It’s, unfortunately, just a setting with no fundamental importance.
On the bright side, Kirby was a delight to see again! Her scene with Mindy (Jasmine Savoy-Brown) discussing horror movies was fun. But she was used as more of a red herring than anything else. It was still a joy to see her, though, and while she probably should’ve died from her wounds, I’m glad she lived.
Gale is where I want to scream (get it?). As our final girls leave the precinct post-bodega attack, they encounter my beloved.
The Return of Gale Weathers in Scream VI
Gale has gone through some significant character development since the first movie. In a lesser-written series, she would’ve been killed in the first film, punished for her ambition and sharp wit. But Scream is no lesser horror franchise, so here she is, all these years later.
We learn that the Carpenter sisters hate Gale because she wrote another Ghostface book, contrary to what she said at the end of the last movie. She even called Sam “unstable” in her newest book. She also, for some reason, stopped being a morning show host and now is back to being a reporter chasing stories.
One moment saw Sam going to punch her, and Gale jumping out of the way, referencing the first two films, only for Tara to land her punch. This is a funny bit that leads to a funnier bit later when Tara apologizes, and Gale smiles, telling her she’s not actually sorry.
But why are we backpedaling on Gale’s character development? Gale is dynamic, Gale is brilliant, Gale is witty, and Gale is ambitious—after all, she is the only one trying actively to solve these crimes in the first three films! Sure, Gale can be read as “bitch,” but that’s the lamest, most basic reading on the character.
We needed one or two lines of dialogue explaining that this is because she’s grieving over her loss from the previous movie. (RIP Dewey)
I think it’s time to officially pass the torch and stop putting Sidney (who wasn’t in this one for shitty pay reasons) and Gale in danger. They don’t deserve to keep getting stabbed. I want my favorite final girls to get their happy endings.
Who Dies in Scream VI?
Don’t ask me to pick a favorite kill because I couldn’t possibly – but shouldn’t more people have died? The only character from the core group that died at the hands of Ghostface was Mindy’s wonderful new girlfriend, Anika (Devyn Nekoda).
Gale, Kirby, and Chad all had death scenes. Chad more than anyone—the sisters watched him die, then ran off. The movie was a wild ride, but you realize how few people died once it’s over. Sam’s shitty therapist? Okay, sure. The nice man working in the bodega who tries to save Sam and Tara? Yeah, he died too.
I also am giving them the benefit of the doubt here because I am a big proponent of having random characters survive so their kill can mean more in the next film (hello, Joo-dee), so maybe Scream 7 will be an absolute bloodbath.
Overall
There are no bad Scream movies, and this one is no different. It’s an action-packed, fast-paced thrill ride from start to finish. It may have flaws, but it’s worth the price of admission. I know that the moment it goes up on streaming, I’ll rewatch Gale’s chase scene every night before bed for at least a week.
Are you craving more Scream content? Check out my Ghostface ranking, or find out which character from the Scream universe you are based on your horoscope.
If you have a favorite Ghostface chase scene, let us know in the comments below! See Scream VI in theaters now.
Most people find that stretching their dollar still barely gets them by in today’s economy. I am very particular about what I spend my spare money on regarding extracurriculars. And no one likes to feel like their money is wasted. Madame Morbid Trolley Tours wasn’t an experience I had been familiar with. Maybe that’s because I’m chronically offline for most of my life. So this leads to the perfect question: in today’s turbulent economy, is Madame Morbid Trolley Tours worth the price? The short answer is unquestionably, yes. But it’s more than just a simple yes.
My wife and I arrived at the designated meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. A handful of minutes later, a gorgeous, e-candle-lit trolley pulled up to the side of the road. We were greeted by impeccably on-brand Allison Chase, our tour guide, and trolley driver ‘Mad’ Matt Zaller. The wonderfully cheery duo invited us on the trolley, and the tour was set to begin.
400 Years of Death, Destruction, and Infrastructure
After a welcoming video intro from someone who knows a thing or two about busting ghosts, we set off on the inaugural Madame Morbid Trolley Tour in its ninth year of operation. From the Brooklyn Naval Yard all the way to Dumbo, and more, this tour magnificently chronicles 400 years of history, the good and the bad, expertly. No matter how much you think you may know about Brooklyn history, I can bet there will be something new learned within the first 15 minutes of the tour. From the first-ever plane crash to one of the worst theater fires in history, this tour covers tragedies that the greatest horror writers couldn’t conceive.
The Deadly [Charming] Docent
Allison Chase led the fascinating tour in character from the moment we stepped on the trolley until our departure. But Allison’s character was not forced or fake; you could feel Allison’s passion for not just morbid history, but the accuracy of it. Some of the stories we heard were steeped in historical context, and it was not boring for a single second. The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour is not your standard full-talking tour. It’s a mixed-media adventure of some of Brooklyn’s darkest moments.
During “downtime” (the times between locations), we were edutained by mini documentaries (that were quite funny). Some of the “downtime” was filled with traffic trivia (I won a needle pen!). And other times were show-and-tell-like, with objects passed around for us to examine. But there was never a moment of silence that wasn’t purposeful. All in all, Allison’s knowledge and passion shone like the luminosity of a full moon.
Is Madame Morbid Trolley Tours Worth It?
The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour was not just a fun night out for my wife and me, but it was a delightfully dark night of edutainment. It should also be noted that ‘Mad’ Matt’s driving skills were fantastic. There was a time when I had become enamored with how Matt handled the narrow streets of Brooklyn before realizing that I needed to refocus my attention on Allison. The Madame Morbid Trolley Tour is an exceptionally fun evening of horror and history that will make you think twice next time you walk down the streets of Brooklyn. It is worth the money, and then some. There’s no better activity for a cold, dark October night than the Madame Morbid Trolley Tour.
For more information on Madame Morbid Trolley Tours, and to get your tickets, click here!
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I should have watched the Stephen King adaptation Cujo a million years ago. First of all, I was a voracious King reader in middle school. The other thing I was obsessed with during those years was Friends. You know, the show that hinges a major episode’s subplot on Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) watching Cujo for the first time. Whatever the reason was, I never got around to it, but I’m rectifying that oversight now.
What is Cujo About?
Cujo tells a relatively simple story. Donna Trenton’s (Dee Wallace) a housewife who’s cheating on her husband Vic (Daniel Hugh-Kelly) with local handyman Steve (Christopher Stone). There’s no accounting for taste, because Vic is 10 times hotter and Steve doesn’t own a bed frame. Look, Donna. I know Vic has that awful David Hasselhoff hair, but I promise the 1980s will end sooner or later. It’ll be OK.
Donna’s attempted termination of this affair ultimately leads to its discovery. Amid this drama, her car breaks down at a mechanic’s isolated farmhouse, trapping her and her son, Tad (Danny Pintauro). You see, the mechanic’s dog, Cujo, freshly christened with rabies, is patrolling the area and attacking everything in sight.
Dee Wallace Is Cujo’s Not-So-Secret Weapon
It would be impossible to start a worthwhile review of Cujo without praising Dee Wallace. The woman is a genre icon, naturally. Think about this: She had only appeared in seven theatrical movies before starring in Cujo. Four of those movies are The Stepford Wives, The Hills Have Eyes, E.T., and The Howling. But this woman didn’t become an icon simply by accidentally stumbling into some iconic titles. She is simply terrific as Donna, using her darting eyes and taut expression to deliver oodles of subtext. You instantly get the sense of how trapped she feels by marriage and motherhood without her uttering a single word.
A good performance is vital, here. Because there’s a hell of a lot of drama to get through before she’s trapped in that damn car. But Wallace instantly shoves you into Donna’s perspective, whether you like it or not. This makes it all the more potent when she is menaced by Cujo. Her desperate attempts for survival, also impeccably performed, have true weight because she seems like a real person. She is also given an incredible scene partner in Danny Pintauro. The future Who’s the Boss? star, who was only six when shooting Cujo, has a perfect everychild quality. His innocence heightens the peril. But so does that fact that he is just as irritating as every six-year-old you’ve ever met.
This movie truly captures how annoying it must be to be stuck in a life-and-death situation with a child. This is a compliment, I swear! Donna is worn down by every aspect of the situation, including her own son’s inability to cope with it. And this ratchets up the tension even further, to an almost unbearable degree.
Cujo Is a Mixed Bag, But Worthwhile Overall
The movie doesn’t work if Cujo himself doesn’t work, and at first I was real worried that he wouldn’t. In the first half, the St. Bernards that play Cujo onscreen are often shown to be wagging their tails in delight. Which kind of undercuts the reality of the situation, I’d say. But the editing and the special effects step in to fix what animal training couldn’t. The attack scenes in the second half are constructed with quick cuts that never let you get too much purchase. It’s a good approach for keeping viewers off-kilter.
Also, Cujo becomes less and less recognizable as a cuddly canine the further the movie gets. It’s a simple trick, really. He ends up getting coated with more and more slime. Saliva, pus, blood, and what have you. This is good for making him feel like a true movie monster. Plus, it’s a good mirror for the sliminess inside the car as it gets covered in sweat, blood, and grime.
The second half of the movie ultimately works like gangbusters. It’s a shame that Cujo is too cowardly to get Donna and Tad in the car before the halfway point. This decision is somewhat faithful to the book’s structure as I remember it. However, it diminishes the weight of the long days that they spend in the car. We really need to feel that crushing stretch of time, and we don’t. When Tad is suffering from dehydration, it’s not a gut punch. Honestly, I just found myself asking, “Already?” It’s good that they gave the movie a happier ending, because the classic grimdark Stephen King finale wouldn’t have landed.
Is Cujo Worth Watching in 2026?
At the end of the day, Cujo is a solid movie and I’m glad I finally watched it. However, it’s not such a stone-cold classic that I’m not at least a little intrigued by that upcoming Netflix remake…
