By Ava Nicols
Online Editor
Released on January 14th, “Scream” hit theaters, featuring an intelligent plot, which received a pleasant response.
Viewers and critics were impressed by the new approach to the Scream franchises’ fifth film. After almost a decade, new director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin brought a new perspective, as well as iconic and new faces to defeat the notorious Ghostface.
The last Scream film left off with the revealing of the 2 killers behind the mask. Jill and Charlie were discovered to be behind the murders in Woodsboro.
New actors and characters were introduced which contributed to the success of the storyline. Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, and Melissa Barrera all played teenagers who become destined to uncover the mystery of who resides behind the mysterious mask throughout the new movie.
Scream “heritage characters” such as Courtney Cox as Gale Weathers, Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, and David Arquette as Dewey Riley all return to help investigate the events going on in the town.
Aspects of previous movies were included in the film to create a sense of continuity for the plot. For example, the classic phone call where Ghostface asks questions about scary movies is included at the beginning.
After the first act of violence, the 3 main Scream actors find themselves back in Woodsboro to use their prior knowledge and experience to assist the kids in helping figure out the culprits behind Ghostface, for what they all hope is their final time.
The previous director Wes Craven is known for his balancing of humor and horror, which often enhanced the suspense factor. Some say this is lacking in the new film and was replaced with unrealistic teen dialogue between the characters.
However, the main aspect that contributes to the success of the film is the camera work and intentional settings. The camera work allows for a more intense feel and almost another perspective while watching.
Scenes featuring dimmed lighting and creepy shots of closets and closed doors are included intentionally to build suspense. These contributions follow those of the classic Scream franchise and fulfilled fans’ hopes of a decent fifth film.
The lack of a straightforward ending left room for another movie to follow. Some dislike the idea of this as it would be film number 6 and many are getting sick of the dragged-out story. “Scream” is rated R and was released on January 14th. It is out in theaters and soon to be streamed on various platforms.
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