Wes Craven’s Scream is one of the most beloved horror classics out there, and the latest addition to the franchise is already raking in positive feedback. Although the official release date for Scream (or Scream 5, if you’re so inclined) is January 14, early reviews suggest moviegoers are in for an entertaining ride, one that properly pays homage to all that came before.
The new Scream movie is debuting with a critic score of 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. And while it’s nowhere near Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s near-perfect rating during its opening weekend, it’s a solid number, especially during an era of reboots that tend to be hit or miss.
Of course, with Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette all returning for the franchise’s latest outing, it’s probably no surprise that Scream is appealing to longtime fans. Only time will tell if Ghostface can draw a new generation of followers as well.
So, what do early reviews of Scream tell us about the latest movie?
What critics are saying about Scream
When news of another Scream movie first surfaced, the main concern that plagued fans was whether it would live up to Wes Craven’s legacy. The director had always been involved in the franchise’s sequels. However, following his passing in 2015, this film would go on without him.
Fortunately, it seems the newest installment manages to capture the heart of the original Scream without feeling too repetitive.
IGN’s Amelia Emberwing says the slasher “expertly blends reverence for the source material while creating something that feels almost completely new.”
Joshua Rothkopf at Entertainment Weekly expressed a similar sentiment, writing: “While the new movie is laced with Easter eggs and homages to the late master, it doesn’t build its sequences with the same meat-and-potatoes solidity as Craven did.”
One element of the film that several reviewers pointed out is its own self-awareness. The original Scream was well known for poking fun at the slasher genre, and it sounds like this reboot is on the same page.
Overall, most reviews agreed with Bleeding Cool’s description of Scream as a “love letter” to the franchise. With that in mind, it seems the newest Scream movie is likely to capture the hearts of anyone already enamored with the iconic series. With any luck, it’ll create some new slasher fans as well.
Scream hits theaters on January 14, 2022. Check out Rotten Tomatoes’ round-up of early reviews here.
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