Scream – 2022 aka Scream 5
Ok, so when the original Scream came out in 1996 I was twenty-six years old. That makes me older in 2022 when Scream came out again. I wasn’t too impressed by the original movie but all these years later, would I like this new take on the classic? It’s a really good question. I think that the way I view movies these days are a bit different. Back then I was disappointed that the movie was more of a parody of the slasher genre than a real slasher movie. I later realized that this was the strength of the original. The way it managed to mock the subgenre and pay int homage to it at the same time. I have also realized that Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first movie, and the following three sequels I believe, did a really good job.
A treat for film buffs
It’s a treat for film buffs like myself to figure out which clichées are being used and which are being mocked. It’s all done in a very loving and tasteful way. And, the original became a classic and open up the eyes for a younger audience to embrace the slasher genre. I have very few memories from the original movie though, and even fewer from the sequels, but that’s kinda normal to me. To forget the details of the movies I have watched is kinda normal to me. I don’t do it to that same extent anymore but in my youth, there were at least 2-3 movies every day.
So, what about this new one. Scream 2022. Is this just a cash-in on the previous successes with the other movies? I don’t know, possibly. We recognize everything from the opening scene, which paraphrases the original opening scene in a very good way. It’s the same, but different. The context has been moved to a more modern setting and even if it’s still a phone call to a girl being alone in the house with horror film questions, there’s been a lot of water under the bridges since 1996 so the questions are more modern. Maybe even too modern for me. But it has style and it has some class to be sure.
Ghostface
There are no surprises when it comes to the appearance of the killer. Itäs the same old Ghostface outfit that we’re used to seeing. And I think that is a good thing. The mask is one of the most iconic in modern cinema. I would, without a doubt, argue that it’s synonymous with this franchise as the goalie mask from Friday the 13th that we associate so closely with Jason Voorhees. There are other cool masked killers appearing in movies to be sure, and some of them have really cool masks but this is something out of the ordinary.
Scream 2022 still plays with clichées and I was fooled several times when I thought the killer would jump out or appear behind a door or something like that. If you have seen a few slasher movies, you more or less know what to expect. There are rules that need to be followed. And there is of course an explanation in this film about those rules as well. What you can’t do if you suspect to survive. I like being filed that way but it’s just temporary satisfaction. Most of the time it’s pretty stupid and lame. Some of the murders are really bloody though and that’s always something positive in a movie like Scream.
Whodunnit
Of course, it’s also in the nature in a whodunnit slasher movie that everyone is a suspect. At one time or another, you kinda suspect everybody. This is not typical to the slasher genre of course where we often know who the killer is. At least if it’s a madman or a boogeyman. To suspect everyone is more in the lines of a thriller or an Italian Giallo movie. Watch a couple of Dario Argento’s earlier movies and you will see what I mean. But in the Scream Universe, this is indeed the right way to go.
But was it really effective? Well, to an extent I think it worked. There are very few things at the end that are surprising though. The characters are as wooden as you would suspect, but we also need to remember that this is probably intended. We need to have all the stereotypical characters in there; the nerd, the slut, the clever one, the scream queen, etc. I’m glad I got to see the movie but will it leave a lasting impression on me? well, no! But it’s nice to have some of the classic actors and actresses in the movie; David Arquette, Courteney Cox, and Neve Campbell might not have the biggest parts but I think they contribute the most to the movie. At least for nostalgic reasons. And then finally, this scream movie version is dedicated to Wes Craven, that’s respect!
