Paramount Pictures has released the first teaser trailer for “Scream 6” (or “Scream VI,” its alternate title). It is indeed a teaser; we see only a crowded Manhattan subway, a couple of ghostface costumes, and “Scream 5’s” survivor, Tara, played by Jenna Ortega. Actress Jasmine Savoy Brown also appears in the trailer as a would-be victim. Time will tell if she is indeed a victim, a would-be victim, a killer, etc. It’s always hard to know with these films.
“Scream 6,” it seems, yearns to do what “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” promised to do all those years ago. In that movie, Jason barely “took” Manhattan. He took a handful of people in Vancouver, British Columbia, as that’s where the movie was filmed. “Scream 6” is filmed in Montréal, Québec, so those hoping for a true Manhattan adventure may be disappointed. But the burning question is: will “Scream 6” improve upon the by-the-numbers approach of “Scream 5″—especially without David Arquette (whose character Dewey was killed off in the last film) and Neve Campbell, who has opted not to sign on for the project?
The film is bringing back other stars, such as the aforementioned Ortega (who has impressed lately with her “Wednesday” series on Netflix), Courtney Cox, and Hayden Panettiere. The new cast members include: Dermot Mulroney, Samara Weaving, Melissa Barrera, Josh Segarra, Liana Liberato, and more.
A New Landscape; A New Direction?
So what do we expect from “Scream” this time? I, for one, would like to see a return to form in the depiction of the killer(s). One killer would be unique. Or a pair of killers, like in the first film, who had a real motive that added a sense of macabre the sequels have—up until now—been unable to duplicate. “Scream 5” went level 10 on the fan service—which worked, to a degree. But the killers were lacking. With all of New York City at the filmmakers disposal (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet are directing), I’m hoping for a motive that makes sense, good use of the city landscape, and for the series to take a new direction (because, let’s be honest, “Scream” isn’t going away anytime soon). But seeing as star Ortega has promised “Scream 6” to be the “goriest” yet, we’ll have to wait and see.
“Scream 6” releases theatrically on March 10, 2023. You can watch the trailer in the window below, or click to view on YouTube.
