Early reactions to latest 'Scream' film tease a bloody good time

A little over 25 years after Ghostface killer first terrorized the town of Woodsboro with his deadly games in Wes Craven’s self-aware 1996 horror film Scream, a new entry in the franchise is hitting theaters. The fifth film in the franchise, simply called Scream (and not Scream 5 or 5cream as we here at SYFY WIRE were hoping), arrives next week, and based on the initial reactions cutting through the internet, the early consensus is that the latest entry is a bloody good time that lives up to its previous entries and would do original director Wes Craven proud.

In his “first, non-spoilery #Scream reaction,” Eric Goldman from Fandom tweeted that he “really dug it,” before calling the film a “worthy new addition to the franchise.”

“What a welcome return to Woodsboro #Scream is!” tweeted Bloody Disgusting’s head critic and chief content creator Meagan Navarro. “A razor sharp, bloody introspection on the genre and Wes Craven's legacy. All the feels and one hell of a genre start to 2022. My horror heart is so full.”

Collider’s editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub described the new Scream film as “the real deal,” adding: “Such a well written script that keeps you guessing and wades into the treacherous waters of fandom in 2022. ‘Scream’ fans are going to love it.”

Also from Collider, Perri Nemiroff offered her endorsement, tweeting: “I have seen the new #Scream and it’s a winner! Yes it’s bloody, but also feels loaded with love and reverence for the original and the fandom it amassed … and felt like it was talking to me (to a degree).”

Rotten Tomatoes’ former editor-in-chief Joel Mears was blown away, admitting that the latest Scream film “delivers... and then some” and is “scary (and funny) as hell” before adding in a follow-up tweet that “Wes would be proud.”

Wes Craven helmed all four previous Scream films before passing away in 2015. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett directed this entry in the series.

Meanwhile, Erik Davis from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango says that the new Scream film “is a BLAST” and his “favorite since the original,” before declaring himself “a fan!”

Critic Simon Thompson is also a fan, writing that “Scream freakin' slays! It's a textbook example of how to revive and reinvigorate a franchise and do it in killer style. Brutal genius, it has the razor-sharp smarts of the finest entries in the series with a third act that absolutely nails it.”

“WOW,” writes Grace Randolph, creator and host of Beyond the Trailer. “#ScreamMovie has TEETH Hollywood came out to PLAY.” 

Scream 2022 sees original stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette return to battle a new masked killer with newbies Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sonia Ammar, Jack Quaid, and Melissa Barrera. 

Scream (not 5cream) slashes its way into our eyes, ears, and hearts on Jan. 14.