MOVIE REVIEW – The sixth instalment in the Scream series is not just another slasher film, but an intelligent and thrilling meta-horror that is a worthy continuation of the legendary franchise. Three years after Scream V, the survivors leave Woodsboro and start a new life in New York. But the ghosts of the past won’t let them rest: a new Ghostface killer begins hunting them down one by one. Who is behind the mask? Why is he trying to kill them? And what does Hayden Panettiere have to do with it?

Sikoly VI is not just a remake or reboot, but a standalone film that honours the legacy of the original trilogy and gives the series a fresh impetus. The director duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not) have a great understanding of the rules and clichés of the genre and play by them with skill. The film is full of humour, suspense and surprises that are guaranteed to captivate the viewer, but it also has its fair share of flaws.

Old and new faces return

In Scream VI, we see a few of the franchise’s iconic characters sporadically, with Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers-Riley and Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed, whose fate was in doubt at the end of the previous episode. Kirby works as an FBI agent in New York but is still struggling with his traumas. Panettiere plays a strong female character who will play an important role in the story.

And we can’t miss the new faces: Melissa Barrera (In the Heights) as Sam Carpenter Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter, the leading lady; Jenna Ortega (You) as Tara Carpenter, Sam’s sister; Jasmin Savoy Brown (The Leftovers) as Mindy Meeks-Martin, Randy’s niece; Jack Champion (Avatar 2) as Wes Hicks, Dewey’s son; Henry Czerny (Mission: Impossible) as Arthur Roman, Stu’s father; Mason Gooding (Love, Victor) as Chad Meeks-Martin, Mindy’s twin brother; Liana Liberato (To the Bone) as Liv McKenzie, Sam’s girlfriend; Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding) as Tom Martin

Among the new actors, the performances of Barrera and Ortega stand out. The relationship between the two sisters is a central element of the film, with Sam having left his family and Woodsboro years ago and now returning to help his sister. Tara, however, doesn’t fully trust him. The two actresses do a great job of conveying the mixed emotions of sisterly love and tension.

The other new characters also fit well into the Scream universe: Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin inherit Randy’s humour and film knowledge; Wes Hicks carries on Dewey’s courage and kindness; Arthur Roman evokes Stu’s madness and evil; Liv McKenzie is Sam’s best friend and support; and Tom Martin is Gale’s ex-husband and successful producer.

Who is the new Ghostface???

The most important question in Sikoly VI is of course: who is the new Ghostface? The film cleverly doles out information and suspects. The killer’s motivation is also interesting: he doesn’t just want revenge on someone or something, he wants to make a new horror film with his victims. In this way the film reflects not only on the horror genre, but also on the process of filmmaking and the limits of creative freedom. The identity and unmasking of the killer will also be surprising and exciting.

At the same time, the film relies too much on the previous episodes and the franchise’s hallmarks. Some scenes and dialogue are so similar or even outright copies of the original trilogy that it feels less fresh and original. In addition, some of the new characters are not well developed or sympathetic, and some of them are merely extras or victims who have no role in the story. Others are annoying or clichés with whom we cannot identify or care about.

In addition, the film contains some logical pitfalls. Some situations or turns of events seem too random or forced. And some questions or mysteries are not properly explained or solved, so the film is sometimes rather implausible and confusing.

The nightmare continues

All in all, Sikoly VI is a good slasher horror film that is a worthy continuation of the Sikoly series. The film stays true to the atmosphere and style of the original trilogy, but also introduces new elements. The film is fun, exciting and clever. The old and new characters are generally convincing, and the killer is an interesting and dangerous antagonist. A must for fans of Scream, but also recommended for fans of the horror genre.

However, the film is not perfect. The return of the old faces is welcome, but sometimes it feels like they take up too much space from the new characters. Gale Weathers, for example, is often just an annoying and selfish woman, and Kirby Reed is just a boring and uninteresting character.

Another stylistic weakness of the film is the storytelling. The film is often lost in the balance between meta-humour and horror. Some scenes are too comic or too forced. Towards the end of the film, the pace slows down, and the unmasking of the killer is not as exciting and surprising as in the previous episodes.

So Scream VI is not a flawless film, but it is still an enjoyable and entertaining horror sequence. The film is respectful to the original trilogy and fans of the franchise, but also introduces new elements. The film is humorous, suspenseful and clever. Both the old and new cast are convincing (with a few exceptions). And the killer is an interesting and dangerous antagonist (though not as much as the previous ones). For Scream fans, this is a must-see, but it’s also recommended for fans of the horror genre – even if it doesn’t change the world.

-BadSector-