Scream VI | Ghostface Takes Manhattan
- Forgotten Cinema
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
We have reached the end of our journey through Woodsboro, college campuses, Hollywood backlots, and beyond. This week on Forgotten Cinema: Lead Up, we wrap up our Scream rewatch with Scream VI, the final stop before diving into Scream 7.
Set in New York City and continuing the story of the new generation introduced in the Scream V, Scream VI moves the franchise into fresh territory. But does the relocation and escalation pay off?
We both still like this entry, but we also place it firmly at the bottom of our franchise rankings...so far.
Scream VI: A Movie Without Sidney Prescott
One of the biggest talking points of this revisit is the absence of Sidney Prescott. For a series so closely tied to her journey, Scream VI feels noticeably different without her presence. Granted this isn't her story. We're continuing the tale of Tara and Sam Carpenter, the new targets of Ghotsface.
The film does give Gale Weathers, the lone legacy character, a larger role in the chaos. However, we agree that Gale’s involvement feels a bit awkward at times, as if she’s being shoehorned into the story rather than organically woven into it. Without Sidney anchoring the emotional core, some of the film’s big moments don’t land with the same impact.
Where the Meta Commentary Falls Short
One of the defining traits of the Scream franchise has always been its sharp meta commentary, on slashers, sequels, trilogies, remakes, and “requels.” In Scream VI, that edge is noticeably duller.
While the film gestures toward commentary on franchises and escalation, it rarely goes as deep or as clever as earlier entries. The rules feel more like a checklist than a thesis this time around, and the finale leans heavily into goofiness rather than tension. The villain reveal, in particular, trades thematic weight for broad theatrics, making it fun in the moment but less satisfying in hindsight.
Set Pieces, Kills, and Standout Moments
Even with those criticisms, Scream VI is far from a failure. But...as a piece of crowd-pleasing horror cinema, it still delivers.
The kills are strong and often brutal. The New York setting allows for inventive, memorable set pieces, and several moments genuinely stand out. The tense Halloween subway sequence, crammed with costumed strangers and potential Ghostfaces, is a highlight, as is the Gale versus Ghostface showdown, which gives Courtney Cox some of her best material in the new era.
Melissa Barrera also continues to grow into the role of Sam, bringing a grounded intensity to the character. Her performance in the movie is one of the stronger elements of this phase of the franchise and a good sign for where the series could've gone from here...if, in fact, it ever did get to end the Sam storyline.
The Weakest Entry… But Still Entertaining
In our rankings, Scream VI lands at the bottom, not because it’s a bad movie, but because the franchise bar is so high. It lacks the razor-sharp commentary of the early films and leans into a finale that feels more cartoonish than chilling. The absence of Sidney is felt, and the attempt to compensate doesn’t always fully work.
That said, the film is never boring. It’s energetic, bloody, fast-paced, and packed with enough strong sequences to keep fans engaged. It’s the kind of movie that plays well in the moment, even if it doesn’t linger as powerfully as the series’ best entries.
Wrapping Up the Scream Lead Up Series
With Scream VI revisited, we close out our Scream Lead Up series and take a step back to look at the franchise as a whole. We rank the films, reflect on how the tone and themes have evolved from the 90s to today, and consider where the story might go next as Scream 7 approaches. (Stay tuned for our Now Showing episode!)
Even if Scream VI doesn’t reach the heights of its predecessors, it proves the franchise still knows how to entertain and that there’s still life (and death) left in the Ghostface mask.
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