Having seen the first two films a few years
back, I watched all Scream films and then went to see the new Scream
6 that just came out. Yes, these are slasher films with varying degrees of
gore. But it’s also the most meta horror franchise that rose to incredible
success with the original’s classic surprise twist at the end. The films both
follow horror movie “rules” as well as try to put their own spin and keep
things fresh to keep their fans guessing. These are my picks on how I’m ranking
them all going down worst to best.
#6: Scream 3
Score: 5/10
Two films in the series have a
consensus on where they land in their rankings, and I fall in line with
those—the first being that Scream 3 is the worst in the series. And I do
agree with this assessment; however, considering I had already heard it was the
worst, I feel like my score reflects that it’s not terrible, more like it’s
simply mediocre. After the OG and a very competent sequel, the studio knew they
had to switch up the formula more than before. This meant that our classic
Ghostface killer(s) is now targeting the cast of Stab 3, the in-universe
movie franchise based on the events from the first films. And where the first
two films I’d describe as horror films first with comedy mixed in, I’d flip it
here to say the comedy was more of a focus. This is front and center during one
of the death scenes that takes place in a studio office and our soon-to-be
victim keeps trying to defend herself, but every weapon she grabs is a prop
weapon. And to be fair, this really made me laugh and was my favorite scene
from the film.
Scream 3 does a decent enough
job of moving the characters’ lives forward, but as far as the main additions
destined for their own deaths, character decisions feel more idiotic than before.
The jump scares also don’t land. This film clearly has the highest budget of
the trilogy, and it’s a prime example of bigger not equating to better. The
film leans completely into its Hollywood nature and even includes a couple of
cameos that mostly fall flat (the Carrie Fisher one isn’t bad). There’s a big
scene that ends in a giant explosion, and it’s just way over-the-top and feels a little removed from the slight sensibility that this franchise stays in the realm of realism.
They also really stretch the red
herrings. The reveal at the end is easily the worst in the franchise, but there
is a popular fan theory that would bring this movie from a 5 to a 6, but that
doesn’t seem to hold too much weight. Outside of Patrick Dempsey, this is
possibly the weakest cast. I’m sorry, but I also have to mention that Courtney
Cox’s hair is truly criminal here. And most unfortunately, there’s plenty of
jokes about actors being sleazy with producers to get roles… and Harvey
Weinstein is a producer. This still isn’t a terrible movie, but it clearly remains
the worst.
#5: Scream 4
Score: 7/10
Again, the jump in score here is quite
intentional. And I want to mention that the margin between Scream 4 and
the next two picks is minimal and I wouldn’t blame people for disagreeing with
my order here. After over a decade’s absence, Scream 4 came along as a
soft reboot with Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott still front and center. Where
the first 3 films actually followed Courtney Cox and David Arquette’s
relationship surprisingly close to real life including their marriage for 3,
the same applies with this film taking place right around when they split.
The idea of the in-universe Stab
movies still hold a strong place, and they keep up with the times by having
characters obsessed with the ability to live stream events and how this could
possibly connect with Ghostface’s motive. The series returns to the city of
Woodsboro where Sidney Prescott is now marketing her book based on the events
from the original movie. Couple that with her cousin played by Emma Roberts,
and you have a ripe setting for a new series of killings. The great Alison Brie
plays Sidney’s manager, David Arquette’s Dewey is now sheriff and has a
by-the-books deputy, and Hayden Panettiere rounds out this fun cast. Oh, and
Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell play our women at the beginning that receive an
unannounced call from Ghostface.
The reveal at the end is arguably the best
outside the original, the film suitably has a more serious tone akin to the first
two films while keeping its self-aware nature, and it’s overall a fun return to
form. The kills are overall unspectacular, but for the last Scream film
to be directed by Wes Craven, it’s too bad in a way that this film wasn’t too
successful and once again put things on ice.
#4: Scream 6
Score: 7/10
When it was announced that Neve
Campbell wouldn’t return over a pay dispute, that didn’t seem like the best
sign when your franchise star is finally out. The only returner here is now
Courtney Cox (as well as Roger Jackson continuing to be the voice of Ghostface
on the phone). But all successful franchises need to evolve, and it actually
goes into a concept I think a lot about. Cox delivers just a few lines of how
Sydney and her family have taken shelter, but she also says a very important
line about how everyone deserves their happy ending. If we’re truly rooting for
our main character to come out on top, at some point you don’t want anymore
sequels if it means endangering our hero again. This also provided an opportunity
to let Cox shine a bit more as well as turn the spotlight on our returning
characters from the fifth installment.
This might feel like an odd
comparison, but some of the best Mission Impossible films have been the most
recent that have seen Tom Cruise continue to team up with both characters in
the past as well as keeping with writer/director Christopher McQuarrie. Since
many of those introductions are already in place, now you get to hone more on
the story as well as character arcs. Such is the case here when co-directors
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett took over with Scream 5 since
Wes Craven had passed away due to cancer. We continue to follow the high
schooler survivors from the previous film as they now cautiously attend college
in New York. This helps expand our characters’ lives as well as the sense of
scope.
The directors previously made the highly underrated Ready
or Not, and they brought the star of that film Samara Weaving to be the girl
that receives a call from Ghostface at the beginning of the film. Weaving
absolutely kills it, pun slightly intended, and is the case with the previous
film, right from the start we’re honoring traditions of the franchise as well
as taking things in new directions, and it’s a very strong start. In fact, I
enjoyed this opening so much, I’d even say it’s my favorite of the franchise.
I believe this
film has the most deaths, and there’s a suitable amount of gore to fit, but as
a very slight spoiler, the vast majority of deaths are from bit roles. The
death scenes also don’t quite live up to the amazing kills in 5, but
there is a really tense scene that takes place on a New York subway on
Halloween. Which makes me wonder why this film received a mid-March release
which doesn’t feel like peak horror season, but the box office returns have
basically been the strongest in the series, and I’m happy to see it.
This film
features the most frightening Ghostface with the biggest deviation to his look
too with a worn looking mask instead of the pristine white look. Ghostface
wields a shotgun for one scene, and where you can tell in previous films that
Ghostface is able to be kicked and smacked around a bit and let some of the
characters escape (at least until the climax), you feel that Ghostface moves
with more agility here and truly feels like the biggest threat the characters
have ever faced.
This movie by
no means will bring you to tears, but since Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega
have taken over as the new stars of the franchise, this movie is actually the
most thematic of the bunch. Also, near the end they basically rip off Indiana
Jones and the Last Crusade, and I’m not upset by that. Honestly, despite
the most kills here, again minor spoiler, but there’s a lot of stabbing that
happens, but not enough true deaths. Including Hayden Panattiere in this next
statement, there should’ve been at least one more returning character to
receive a fatal blow (not gonna say here
who lives and who doesn’t). I enjoyed this movie a lot and how it honored the
series while keeping fans on their toes as to who’s behind the mask. This film
is not #4 because it’s bad, but because the films ranked above are truly good
horror movies that slightly edges this one out.
#3: Scream 2
Score: 7/10
This might sound a little familiar,
but we follow our surviving characters from the original as they navigate life
in college. I love that Liev Schreiber returns from his blink and you miss it
role as Cotton, where Sydney accused him in the first film of murdering her
mom, and now he plays a prominent role here trying to do everything he can
publicly to show that he’s an innocent man—but there’s still a sense of
uneasiness surrounding him. Sydney, Dewey, and Cox’s Gale Weathers all return,
along with Randy too. And this is one of the best casts of the franchise with
Jada Pinkett (not yet adding Smith to her last name here) and Omar Epps as our
opening scene victims which takes place at a screening of Stab showcasing
the fictionalized version of the opening scene from the first film. Gale has a
new cameraman, Sydney has a new boyfriend, and Sarah Michelle Gellar and
Timothy Olyphant add their names to the cast as possible victims or suspects.
Despite the fact that there were
script changes, I believe even who the killers would end up being, because of
script leaks on the internet, I thought Scream 2 did a great job of not
just rehashing the original and throwing in some good red herrings. This one
felt more like a true horror film rather than the comedic elements, but it of
course contains meta dialogue about being a sequel. It doesn’t surpass the original,
but there’s a few standout sequences including the suspenseful car crash and a
knocked out Ghostface inside the cop car. Honestly, I might be adding some
extra points here, but following up on the success of the original was a really
tall task, and I’m impressed on how they pulled it off.
#2: Scream 5 (technically just Scream 2022)
Score: 8/10
This was easily the biggest shock for
me, but after Scream 4 didn’t perform amazing, there was a TV show that
maybe lasted a couple seasons, and Wes Craven passed away, it didn’t seem like
there was too much of a point in continuing the franchise. But not only did
they bring back the three legacy characters, but they bring in fresh new faces
(like Jenna Ortega) in what is self-proclaimed as a requel—a reboot sequel. It’s
one of the most meta of the franchise, but I actually found it quite funny how
they talked about the rules of a requel and kept the film itself fresh—the easiest
comparison to make would be the sequel franchise of Star Wars.
I’ll hold my claim that Scream 6
has the best opening, but after the original, I’d put this opening as the best.
I'll go ahead and say it, I jumped multiple times during the opening scene. But points have to be taken off because it
involves Jenna Ortega and she calls The Babadook her favorite horror
movie which I simply can’t support.
Having the connections to Sydney
wearing thin, the true new star here is Melissa Barrera who plays Sam—the daughter
of the original killer. And they bring back the original killer using to me
what appears to be deep fake technology; it actually looks pretty good, but
it is still a deep fake. Instead of Sam being a clone of Sydney, her deep fake
father (a description I’d like to see used more, I think it sounds funny)
speaks to her periodically in her subconscious to have her embrace the serial
killer blood inside her. Questioning her own motives, she returns to
Woodsboro to protect her sister played by Ortega, and this brings our legacy
characters back as well. Jack Quaid of The Boys fame plays Sam’s
boyfriend, Dylan Minnete plays the son of Deputy Hicks from the previous film,
and there’s plenty more characters (like the niece and nephew of Randy) to add
suspicion and body counts.
Having come out only a year ago, maybe
it’s the fact that I just watched all the movies recently, but this being a
modern movie just looks really good. The kills are well done scenes, the
acting is on par, and this is genuinely just a good movie.
Cox clearly now also has botox going,
and yikes. Not Scream 3 haircut yikes, but it’s still quite noticeable.
There’s one too many meta references, and the ending twist isn’t as strong as Scream
4; however, the motivation felt better this time around keeping up with the
times in how it has to approach its characters and kills—like characters using find
my phone or using their phone flashlights to explore dark rooms.
#1: Scream
Score: 8/10
This isn’t a twist ending selection,
and that’s okay! The original is highly regarded for a reason. Directed by Wes
Craven, the horror scenes are all really well shot, and this film is elevated
above the fatigued slasher genre with its meta references and terrific twist
ending. Along with the aforementioned legacy characters, Drew Barrymore is the
original opening scene kill and has instantly quotable lines on the phone with
Ghostface. Freaking Henry Winkler is here, and it’s hard to live up to Matthew
Lillard’s Stu.
As fond as I am of this movie, an 8/10
is an appropriate score. It’s not a perfect film that lulls a little in the
middle. But not only does its dialogue contain references to horror franchises
of past—including those directed by Craven—there’s also plenty of visual Easter
eggs as well, like the school janitor wearing clothes resembling Freddy from A
Nightmare on Elm Street (or the fact that there’s a literal Elm Street in
Woodsboro). Our Ghostface is targeting Sydney Prescott, and she’s trying to
understand why while also still processing the death of her mother from a year
ago.
Essentially, all these films contain
Ghostface killers trying to seek revenge on Sydney for some reason or another,
and plenty of characters get the knife by association around her. Then, there’s
a highly ill-conceived party during these killings, and that’s where our climax
always takes place, and there’s a dramatic reveal of the Ghostface killer(s) as
they proceed to monologue their motivation(s). This might feel like a spoiler,
but this film came out over 20 year ago, so I feel okay saying that one huge
factor that this franchise has over others is that there’s almost always 2
killers. This instantly provides rewatchability as you try to decipher who is
the Ghostface at what point during the film. I feel like slashers are oft
regarded as some of the lowest form of horror movies, and there’s absolute
validity in that statement. Promiscuous and mostly dumb characters party it up
and get hacked by a masked killer, there’s lots of blood, and usually no reasoning
for it outside of entertainment value. I’m not here to say that the Scream
franchise is the crème de la crème of horror movies, but it’s easily the best
slasher franchise ever, and I’d even argue that all of the films outside of Scream
3 are good movies regardless of genre. This doesn’t mean this franchise is
for everybody, but with 6 films now under its belt, it can be a bloody good
time for those looking for some frights and a bit of humor thrown in.
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