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.