![]() ![]() And even more than horror movies, it’s event films that make up so much of the cinematic language for Gen Z. This new Scream asks its teenage characters if they like scary movies and then plays a rousing game of fuck around and find out to remind them those films they thought were corny and outdated can still cut deep.Īt the same time as reminding us of the punch slasher films can offer, Scream must also navigate a territory that, now more than ever, is dominated by blockbusters. As a result, a significant part of Scream‘s efforts is spent reminding the characters and younger audiences of the power of slasher movies, the fear and emotion that come with them. Rather than growing up with Shaun of the Dead (2004), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), Halloween (2007), and Paranormal Activity (2007) as major touchstones, these teenagers found their way into the dark with the Green Room (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019). There is a clear difference between the characters in this latest installment, and those of Scream 4 (2011), a decade ago. ![]() Suddenly, horror movies are no longer an experience built around the deaths of characters of color, and mental illness isn’t something only found in villains, two aspects that make their way into Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet’s new film. Of course, there have always been films like this, released alongside splatter sleaze, but they’ve hit mainstream, become more progressive, and emerged as many a young horror fan’s intro into the genre. Although Craven and Williamson are no longer the minds behind the latest sequel, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, alongside writers, James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, manage to honor Craven’s legacy by upholding what fans have loved about the series for two and half decades, and push the franchise forward in exciting ways that once again offer sharp meta-commentary about where the horror genre is at the moment, and how the current generation of movie lovers (and haters) fit into that moment. Despite all of that, or perhaps because of it, Scream is back and better than ever with its fifth theatrical installment, simply titled Scream. Scream, the iconic slasher series created by Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson has seen its share of changes over the years: script leaks, new faces, navigating around a successful parody franchise, a TV series, the waning popularity of slasher films, and the death of the dream weaver himself, Wes Craven. Twenty-five years later and audiences still have something to scream about. ![]()
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