Ghostface is back with vengeance in Scream with new and old faces. Is it worth a watch?

It’s been 26 years since Scream changed mainstream horror. It kick started a way to view horror films and make them more intriguing and ravishing. Not only is it hard to please horror fans nowadays with reboots, sequels, or “requels”, but they are hard to execute, even with special cameos or favorite characters to spotlight the movie from previous chapters of the film. Scream 5 is the ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ of horror. Yes, that’s what I said.

Scream 5 or as titled Scream is a new chapter of the franchise that brings back the nostalgia of the past films into a new plot that is very clever. With Wes Craven passing away in 2015, how could a new chapter to the beloved franchise rise to its popularity? Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick understood the assignment. Their clever directing and writing brings 2 hours of creative kills, twists, and funny dialogue that is fun and will be quoted by fanatics of the franchise. Scream continues the 2011 Scream 4 plotline. Protagonist, Sam played by Melissa Barrera (Extremely happy to see a Latina in the franchise) is now the new target in Woodsboro and Ghostface is after her. For what? That’s for you to find out and for me not to tell you.

What is always special about the Scream films is the opening scene. Is the opening scene memorable? Its not. It is forgettable? Yes. It’s not special, but it’s done purposely for story-line purpose. Perhaps, fans will be disappointed, but that’s okay because the surprises happen as soon as that ends. At one point, It felt like a spoof, but it makes sense why it happens. It moves the story on a direction that is unexpected. As for cast, their will never be a main role like Sidney Prescott played by Neve Campbell, but Melissa Barrerra, is a stand-out. She is wickedly good. You are rooting for her. She is the “It” girl! Miley Madison and Jasmin Savoy Brown are stand-outs as well. Brown brings something that has never been seen in a Scream film. She’s part of the LQTBQ+ community. She has the same humor as Randy Meeks from the first film. I can’t wait to see more of her in Hollywood. Miley Madison is that one character in a movie that is mysterious and adds fun to each scene she is in.

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Dewey Riley (David Arquette) ,and Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox), are used more as supportive characters than anything else, but fans will be excited to see them back on the screen. Although, their screen time is a total of 15 minutes throughout the film.

Scream is a thrill. Fans can find easter eggs that honor Wes Craven’s legacy and all previous films. Watch carefully because they are at every corner. What makes this movie special is that you can rewatch it as many times and you will be able to analyze the film differently each time. The source material is there! Scream is an adrenaline which nowadays is a feeling that most Horror films don’t have. I can say that Wes Craven would be very proud. Scream is iconic, unique, and reverent. Do not miss it!!

Scream is now playing exclusively in theaters.