Opening Kill
Perhaps the most iconic scene in the “Scream” franchise is the first opener: It depicts Drew Barrymore getting a call from the killer Ghostface: “Wanna play a game?” The “Scream 5” trailer (and most likely the film) opens similarly, starring up-and-coming “You” actress Jenna Ortega getting attacked by Ghostface. It seems that she will be the first one killed in the new entry; which is disappointing, as I think she’s a very talented actress.
More importantly, Ortega’s character rapidly tries to lock her doors from her phone, but Ghostface instantly unlocks them. It definitely is an intense opener. It seems Ghostface will be utilizing technology in this film, which feels a tad redundant. The theme of “Scream 4” seemed to be the dangers of technology, including the killer live streaming her murders. If Ghostface’s primary “murder weapon” is technology, it just seems like a repeat of the previous film. Hopefully, the opening scene, while epic, is thematically a one-off.
Tonal Changes
I was a bit surprised to see that they really took a new direction in this one, tonally. It seems they have ditched the meta aspect that made the franchise so popular. There were no voice-overs about the rules, no references to other horror films, not even hints to how silly it is that this killer would come back for the 5th time. While that seems like a tough blow to the film, I don’t totally mind if it held a little bit back on the comedy. I don’t want them to ditch it completely; but it makes sense if this was one of the more intense entries of the series. The way I see it, this could be the last “Scream” movie for a long time, so it lines up that this one will pull no punches in brutality and horror.
Possible Deaths
The cast is bigger than ever this time around, which means the death count will be at its peak. I would not be surprised if newer cast members such as Dylan Minette or Melissa Barrera’s characters (“13 Reasons Why,” “In the Heights,” respectfully) bite the dust. And judging by the finality of the trailer, it would make sense if one or two of the original trio died as well. Officer Dewey (David Arquette) seems particularly grizzled and tired in this one, and a shot of his wife Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) violently yelling at something behind the camera leads me to think that he will be killed in this entry.
And while I don’t see Neve Campbell’s character Sidney Prescott dying, as she’s been the protagonist for every movie, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gale died as well. Perhaps Dewey dies in the middle of the film while Gale watches, causing her to sacrifice herself to defeat Ghostface? It’s definitely a possibility.
Who Could The Killer(s) Be?
The directors of “Scream 5” said that the trailer was full of misdirection, to keep the answer of who the killer(s) are a secret. Nevertheless, it never hurts to speculate. It says in the trailer that the new Ghostface is killing those related to the people involved in the original massacre in the first “Scream” film.
That being said, could this mean the killer is in a similar boat, a relative of our main characters? Perhaps it’s Randy’s relative, who takes revenge on Sidney for letting their father get killed. Or maybe even a secret child of Gale and Dewey? They’re all pretty far-fetched, but it’s all possible. And as for the second killer, could fan-favorite Matthew Lillard reprise his role as the psycho Stu? We never saw him actually die in the first “Scream” film, and most think he’s the best “Scream” killer. I wouldn’t mind if one of the main three was the killer—after their traumatic experiences, they just went insane. Unfortunately, it’s just too early to tell as of now.
There’s been lots of mystery surrounding the latest “Scream” film, and it’s no secret that the new trailer is only the tip of the iceberg. While fans can wonder what will happen, it seems like the only way to know for sure, is to wait.
Scream 5 arrives on January 14th, 2022. You can watch the trailer below.
