Scream VI  (18) Close-Up Film Review

As the first Scream movie was made in 1996, the franchise is now older than some of its most devoted fans.   And indeed some of its stars.  Melisa Barrera was but six years old when the first film came out while Jenna Ortaga wasn’t even born. 

In this latest slasher saga Sam (Barrera) and her little sister Tara (Ortega), having survived Scream V have relocated to New York City with some old and new friends and some new psychos hiding behind the creepy Ghostface mask.   Tara does her best to protect her little sister from the horrors to come, but hang on, this is a slasher movie.  Fat chance.

Journalist Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox, who has managed to survive the whole franchise so far) is on hand once more to help or hinder.   So is Detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney), who aspires to catch the latest Ghostface and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) who nearly copped it in Scream IV and is now 30 years old, she tells us and an FBI Cop.  A born survivor – remember her as the teenager who cannot be killed in the tv series Heroes? 

The film begins as it means to go on with an effective opening scene, which sets the tone with Ghostface striking down a young woman on a blind date before the title has  even been on screen. But that Ghostface is just a novice compared with what is to come. 

The franchise must have got gorier and more violent over the years as tastes have got tougher and this one is knee deep in the red stuff, with some pretty nasty and imaginatively graphic ways of slicing up its victims. 

Its directors are though very skillful at their job.  The film has its trademark self referencing humour and they build the edge of the seat tension well.   There’s a particularly effective Halloween sequence on a New York subway train, where everyone’s in costume, including a number of revellers wearing Ghostface get ups.  Is the current killer among them?  

The film also makes it well worth Cox’s while to come back for the sixth time.  She gets a particularly strong slice of the action.  And there’s a spectacularly bloody and action packed finale leading up to the final reveal.

Slasher movie is frankly not a genre I am personally very keen on but for those who like that sort of thing, this definitely does what it says on the tin.

SCREAM VI. Available to Download & Keep, 9^th May and arriving on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ SteelBook®, 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD from 10^th July from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Bonus content is detailed below: Commentary by Filmmakers—Hear from the directors, writers, and executive producer as they dive into the making of the new film. Death Comes to the City—From Woodsboro to the five boroughs, the filmmakers and cast discuss Ghostface’s reign of terror in the big city. The Faces of Death—Join the core four—Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding—and the rest of the cast and crew as they discuss their return to the beloved horror franchise. More Meta than Meta—Go inside the sequel to the requel with new and legacy characters.  Includes a look back at the franchise, hidden easter eggs, and more. Bloodbath at a Bodega—Nowhere in New York is safe from Ghostface. An Apartment to Die For—Witness the staging of the elaborate apartment attack and ladder escape, as well as the stunts and practical effects used to bring Ghostface’s kills to a whole new level. The Night Train to Terror—Immerse yourself in this behind-the-scenes look at the terrifying NYC subway sequence on Halloween night. Theater of Blood—Dive into the nostalgia of the Scream movies that came before.

Digital ExclusiveGag Reel—This gag reel will have you in stitches! DVD Special Features includeDeath Comes to the City—From Woodsboro to the five boroughs, the filmmakers and cast discuss Ghostface’s reign of terror in the big city. Bloodbath at a Bodega—Nowhere in New York is safe from Ghostface.*Availability of bonus content varies by Digital retailer.

SCREAM VI – 4K ULTRA HD™ + BLU-RAY™ STEELBOOK®, 4K ULTRA HD™, BLU-RAY™ and DVD are presented in widescreen format.   Both the 4K ULTRA HD™ disc and the BLU-RAY™ disc include English Dolby Atmos, French – Canadian, French – Parisian, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish – Castilian, and Spanish – Latin American Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. It also includes an Audio Descriptive Track in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. It offers the following subtitles English, English SDH†, Dutch, French – Canadian, French – Parisian, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish – Castilian, and Spanish – Latin American.   The DVD disc includes English and French – Parisian Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio along with an Audio Descriptive Track in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. It offers the following subtitles English, English SDH†, Dutch, and French – Parisian.