Scream VI

Changing things up from the previous installments' suburban small town settings to the cramped, large, and loudness of New York City, Scream VI also alters its typical slasher genre by adding pulpy and more violent kills associated with Italian Giallo. A year after the last entry, Sam and Tara Carpenter have moved to Manhattan with their friends trying to move on from what happened, but due to online conspiracies Sam is often harassed about her being behind the killings. Soon after the new Core Four, as well as Gale and now FBI agent Kirby Reed, have to deal with another Ghostface killer that acts more brutally and leaved behind masks from the previous slashers. While it sucks that this is the first one in the series to not have Sidney due to Neve Campbell feeling the pay wasn't worth it, it's a nice change of pace as it helps the new cast, in particular Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, shine and Courtney Cox is back and is still wonderful. Another return from Scream 2022 are writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick and directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett who work incredible well together. The writing gives us good character beats, has wonderful mysteries, and manages to come up with new ideas as well as how it pays homage to the legacy of the rest of the franchise. While the direction continues its unique style and managing to make New York City claustrophobic and terrifying with heart pounding kills and chase sequences. Without Brett Jutkiewicz's cinematography, a lot of the tension, griminess, and uniqueness wouldn't be as effective. Scream VI may have lost out on its biggest star and character, but it still managed to be such an effective sequel. Over all: 100%

2023 top list so far:

1. Creed III

2. Scream VI

3. M3GAN

4. Cocaine Bear

5. Knock at the Cabin

6. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania