Hello. Here's an unhinged semi play-by-play notes on a 3rd viewing. All of these notes were slanted UP in my notebook. Edited for clarity and girth (it's LONG, sorry!):
Whew. Okay, I just got back from seeing this a 3rd time and I have thoughts.
Do you wanna see me go off? Cuz I'm about to go off.
In short, I think this is a masterpiece.
Practically on par with the original, which I wouldn't say about any of the other films in this franchise, regardless of my love for them. A brilliant example of two things I love dearly and one thing that makes so many of groan: Camp, slashers, and sequels. Oh, and I think it has wafts of Almodovar to boot! I took extensive notes, because it's really the more minute details that elevated this to something more than just a technically proficient horror entry. I don't have much to add on the big set pieces (Ladder, Gale, Bodega, Subway, or finale), which I think are all among the franchise's most thrilling moments, but here goes!
NOTES (from the top)
-I've already commented on the opening, but yeah--the subversions and easter eggs work for me during the first part, and then it just completely nails me with the "Who gives a fuck about movies?" TITLE CARD (especially in comparison to the dumbass "Now I see something red!!" fakeout) I laugh out loud every time. Just brilliant.
-Every needle drop in this one is a banger. It honestly might have the best soundtrack. Fully support a campaign for Demi's "Still Alive" for Best Original Song.
-Melissa Barrera instantly wins me over in the post-title scene with the "I stabbed him 22 times and slit his throat...but that's not why I'm here" bit. Again, I love the being-blamed-as-the-mastermind part of her arch. More on this later. Also, fuck this therapist!
-After the therapy session, this quickly escalates to, excuse the hyperbole, something like ecstasy. The combination of filmmaking--from the score, sound design, direction, and most importantly this effing script, in coordination with these incredible performances...
---->It starts with the Fort Knox locks on the apartment door. Yup. Check. Yes.
---->The fake out scare from Quinn's whoopie session reintroduces this excellent score and some great framing.
-Then, we meet Quinn and I just...wow. That whole exchange between Sam and Quinn with the guy in the background was *chef's kiss*.
+
Everything just instantly felt warm and cozy. I felt at home with these characters and the universe we were stepping into. It was very apparent (and I do think this showed in 5cream, too, just to lesser effect for me) how much this team care about this franchise. Fans are very lucky to have this crew working on this. I'm emotional about it, to be honest! [SPOIL]but I'm a SAP[/SPOIL]
Then we go back to Jenna Ortega's Tara, who, category fraud or NOT will most likely remain my Supporting Actress winner or runner up this year. Her looks and glances throughout the film were on par with what Hoss was doing in TÁR. She just has the perfect face for this genre.
Love the frat party. Again, just establishing a great rapport with the characters and the overall vibe was just...perfect. And flex with that Bille Eilish track!
More cute lines w/
And Chad is the perfect Chad. Undeniably charismatic and charming and disarmingly douchey (and hot). Love, love love Mason Gooding in this role.
Ortega's reaction to the ball-tasing, and the Mean Girls-esque line of the random party goer who quips "Hey isn't that that psycho girl?" Yes. Great party scene.
So much of the success of the film hinges on Ortega and Barrera's chemistry and the relationship between Sam and Tara and both actors and the writers ace it. They are so, so good together.
Appreciated showing Tara use her inhaler without it showing up later as a recycled plot device.
Totally on board with the shipping of Chad and Tara. Felt so natural, and something I wasn't expecting but as soon as it started happening had me all excited. Another great needle drop when they go in for the kiss. Ortega's delivery of "I'm not messed up anymore, just so you know".
Chad freaking out at Quinn's over use of "cock" was so on point. "Stop saying the word cock!"
Then the directors ~murder~ me with the Sam + Cute Boy first encounter.
It is shot like a got damn telenovela and I live. Absolutely hilarious. And "What brand of soda did Sam have on her shirt?" is future horror trivia. It's the sensual, aromatic scent of Diet Cherry Coke, btw. Cute Boy's favorite.
-Sam wanting to pack and "leave in 10" was another great beat, and a nice contrast to our characters in contrast to the opening girl.
-Hayden/Kirby. <3 Love the music cue they gave her entrance (and also that she's eating fast food/grab-n-go items in two of her scenes?).
-I like the punch bit w/Gale and the sisters. I'm not gonna argue that it isn't cheap nostalgia, but I'll take it!
-I've seen some people annoyed that Gale seems to have regressed from her ending in 5cream by writing a book (and making life hell for Sam, it seems!), but I actually buy it. She's alone after Dewey and probably doesnt have many friends. I'm not surprised she went back to writing a book, but yeah the making Sam look worse was not great! But again, not really surprising. This is Gale Weathers! She's grown, but she's still Gale. I do hope we get a Lana Winters esque interview moment from her in Scream 7.
-Little line: Ethan's "I don't like this" during Mindy's Rule Monologue (an improvement on 5, and certainly better than 2-- her uncle would be proud).
-Oh, and Chad's "Beheadings?!" Which had me nervous the rest of the film until I remembered Jason's roommate's head was def not on his body in that fridge.
-The Core Four slumber party! Again, great direction here--You want to be hanging out with these characters. Just really good filmmaking. And another intelligent move from our characters right off the bat, which thankfully isn't undermined by turning one of them into GF.
-I skipped over the bodega, which I thought was excellent and very scary--along with the attack outside the apartment right before they run inside the bodega, it does a great job of making things feel dangerous before we head into...
-The ladder scene. Iconic. One thing I'd like to point out is this small sandwich of comedic gold with a center of terror: As Anika starts to head over the ladder and GF shows up behind her and the three of them notice, Anika delivers this "What?" that does a wonderful job of cutting the tension ever so slightly before things get genuinely hard to watch. She falls, which is maybe the most graphic thing I've seen in a Scream, and immediately cuts to Sam smoking a cigarette. 10/10
-Did Cheetos sponsor this? I caught two bags. And things are niiiicee and campy by the time Ethan offers some to Chad in the van during the phone-tracing scene (another great homage to S2). I loled. "Want some?"
-Sam's delivery of "You're gonna die you know?" in the park was another moment where I felt she was in total control of the material.
-THEY STEAL A COP CAR. And yes, of course they're gonna use the sirens.<--This was when I was certain they knew they were serving full camp.
There's a lot to be said about the last act. Mainly, my thoughts: Who gives a fuck about reveals?
What comes before and after are legit series-best stuff--it's hard to have a legitimate problem with anything. Though I completely understand people's issues with Dermot, just not issues I have personally, cause, ya know, this is a Scream film and it's kinda exactly what I wanted.
I realize I didn't say much about Mindy. Big fan of the character and performance. Her being stand-offish to Ethan the whole film was great, especially when they're waiting for the next subway together. Can't wait to start Yellowjackets.
I'd like to talk more about the last act, as I think that's when it really cements itself as high camp for me...there's a LOT going on in those last 30 minutes but I decided to just watch. I think they say "fuck about 25 times in the last 15 minutes or something. I lost count and was getting wrapped up in it all. I liked the bits about assassinating character and the ease at which we can make others believe the worst in people.
Oh, I guess the other thing was the Dewey theme when Gale is talking to Sam (or is it Sam and Tara?). I choke up, easily.That cue, and the other OG cue when they first meet Gale at the press swarm made me very happy. And BOTH "Red Right Hand" drops. Get it? Cuz it's the SEQUEL?
Like all Scream films, I hope those who may have been slightly underwhelmed give it another go. I think knowing what happens helps these films, actually.
Blessed be this film. Long live Scream. They can make 6 more or none at all. I don't give a fuck.
A+
I love all of this so much and so much truth! This movie did feel like a nice warm blanket for me compared to 5. It just felt so natural just from the jump. I also loved the flow of the movie how the Samara scene leads into the Tony scene which leads directly into Sam's therapy session.
So many little details/lines that make this so re-watchable. Also shout out to this bop which is put perfectly at the title card.
