Let it be known that one of my favourite Halloween films is the 1996, widely acclaimed slasher, Scream. However, before yesterday, I had never successfully completed a Scream marathon, or even the series as a whole. Part of it was due to my adoration for the original film and its ability to balance humour with horror, the other was through fear that the sequels would destroy my love for the original if they were… below-par.
So, are they worth it? Let me give you, on behalf of Brig, a definitive ranking of the Scream films.
6. Scream (2022)
Unsurprisingly for most, I would say the weakest film of the Scream hexalogy is the 2022 addition. Though being self-referential as a legacy sequel, the film’s attempt to maintain the original film’s metatextual nature seems overdone and, dare I say, cringeworthy. The misdirects are obvious and lack the ingenuity of the previous films.
The first film without the direction of Wes Craven after his death in 2015, the film falls short in creating the tension that the previous films achieve. I would say that this is more of a filler film, making space for the introduction of the new characters which would go on to appear in Scream VI. That being said, it has some incredible performances and absolutely devastating deaths,
5. Scre4m
I loved Scre4m. That was until it came to the big Ghostface reveal, where the killers’ motives seemed frankly unconvincing and poorly revealed with terrible acting (sorry!). Although the tension builds incredibly throughout the film, with some deaths being genuinely terrifying, I feel as though the final half an hour of the film destroys this and makes it seem almost like a satire.
I will say though, the scene where Sidney runs to save Olivia from Ghostface and enters her room to see the blood-soaked walls was genuinely incredible. If there is one thing that Craven manages to do in his four contributions, it is increase the gore. Watching as someone murders your best friend through the parallel windows of your houses, knowing that you cannot save them? Incredibly terrifying, incredibly ingenious.
4. Scream VI
Taking the story to New York City, the legacy characters are faced with new challenges as the city brings a new kind of anger and brutality to Ghostface as he takes on the city. The films change in pacing was very enjoyable to watch, particularly in the opening sequence – much love to my favourite modern scream queen Samara Weaving.
The film is quite refreshing in its character development, having Sam constantly battling with her mental health and urges to be violent. However, it would have been nice to flesh out the characters backstories and motivations a bit more and move away from the self-referential aspect, we get it now.
3. Scream 2
The first of the sequels, Scream 2 successfully managed to maintain the themes of the original film and explore further the consequences of consuming violent media, with the introduction of the Stab series within the film, based off the Woodsboro murders. It once again manages to balance the humorous aspects with the darker ones, with a compelling storyline and heightened stakes.
It is overall a very strong film, which some argue is better than the original, though I have to say that some of the attempts to appear ‘smart’ left me unimpressed, and there seem to be random plot points which are never explored further. The killer reveal however, is absolutely brilliant, and what an all-star cast to continue the story.
2. Scream 3
Taking place mainly in a film studio for the Stab films, I was bound to love Scream 3. The film, while not necessarily as intent on creating the same horror that appears in the previous films, is a reminder of the psychological effects caused by the Woodsboro murders. It’s for this reason this film may be the only in this series that I would characterise as a psychological thriller, more than a horror.
Being unable to link the killer to Sidney before the final reveal of their relation was an interesting direction to take, though still enjoyable. It was also nice to see the characters finally have some peace at the end of the film, however short-lived it may have been. Although, I can’t help but wonder what happened to Patrick Dempsey.
1. Scream
Of course, nothing can top the original. My love for this film is unmatched mainly due to its originality. True, it plays with tropes from all its horror predecessors, but its acknowledgement of being ‘like a horror film’ adds to its originality and success. Perhaps that is why every film after it tries to replicate its metatextuality.
The film acts like a time capsule of 90s nostalgia. There is a reason why every Ghostface wants to be like Billy Loomis and Stu Macher, they are the originals, and they are brilliant. Sidney Prescott, however, is even better. Sidney is the ultimate final girl and her power throughout the sequels prevails. You can’t outdo the doer!
Feature image credit: Paramount Pictures.
