Death and the city: Entertaining if mildly stale 'Scream VI' moves deadly action to the Big Apple | Movie review

Mar. 8—"In space no one can hear you scream."

That was the tagline for the 1979 horror-science-fiction classic "Alien."

Well, in New York City, lots of people are around to hear you scream, but, rest assured, that won't stop a wacko in a Ghostface mask from trying to slice you up all the same.

Such is the hard lesson learned in "Scream VI," the highly violent, frequently funny and generally entertaining latest installment in the long-running "Scream" horror movie franchise.

"Scream VI" is the quickly greenlit sequel to last year's "Scream," a "requel" (reboot-sequel) to the 1996 original, which bears the same name. The second "Scream" and — try to stay with us here — the fifth movie in the series pumped new blood into the genre-aware formula and hauled in $140 million at theaters around the world.

Last year's "Scream" saw co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett take over for the late horror master Wes Craven, working from the strong screenplay by writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. The formula — explained in the film by one of its characters, a genre-movie junky — saw "legacy" characters paired with a new generation of potential killers and victims.

Happily, the filmmakers are back for "VI," as are young stars Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding. The only key legacy player returning is Courteney Cox, with David Arquette Neve Campbell nowhere to be seen for decidedly different reasons. (Hayden Panettiere, who has played Kirby Reed since 2011's "Scream 4," also joins the bloody fray.)

Taking place shortly after the events of last year's affair, the new flick sees Sam, her half-sister, Tara (Ortega), and twins Mindy (Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Gooding) having left sleepy-but-deadly Woodsboro for the Big Apple. While the latter three attend college (alert: this parallels 1997's "Scream 2"), Sam works two jobs to help pay the rent on the apartment the girls share with "sex-positive" newcomer Quinn (Liana Liberato). Chad, meanwhile, rooms with another fresh face, the dorky Ethan (Jack Champion).

While Tara is trying to live a normal college life and put her traumatic past behind her, Sam continues to be haunted by their experience with multiple Ghostfaces, as well as the family lineage established in "Scream." Sam's in counseling but isn't exactly sharing a lot.

"I have trust issues," she tells her therapist.

We get it.

Before we catch up with the gang at a frat party, "VI" puts a new twisty spin on the traditional "Scream" phone-call opening. This one features Samara Weaving — star of Bettinelli-Olpin's and Gillett's very solid 2019 effort, "Ready or Not" — and Tony Revolori ("Spider-Man: No Way Home," TV's "Willow").

The tale that follows also brings into the fold Quinn's cop father, Detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney of TV's "Hanna"); the "cute boy" neighbor Sam's been exchanging glances with, Danny (Josh Segarra); Anika (Devyn Nekoda), Mindy's girlfriend; and, of course, TV reporter Gale Weathers (Cox). It holds your interest but doesn't feel as fresh as that of its predecessor.

Nonetheless, there's perilous fun to be had as Mindy walks the gang — and us — through the situation's genre implications, namely that they're now existing in a franchise. Anyone could be killed or be the killer, she insists, as stakes must be raised and expectations must be subverted, she says.

The writers and directors seemingly have upped the gore quotient, if not necessarily the body count, with "VI," and they succeed at keeping you guessing — mostly, kinda, sorta — as to who is behind the Ghostface mask

They also make the most of the big-city setting, especially with a lengthy sequence involving several characters riding packed and intermittently darkened subway cars. It's about as nerve-wracking as a "Scream" movie gets.

The big climactic sequence is much harder to take seriously, but it certainly fits into this regularly ridiculous world and ties heavily to the series fictional "Stab" movie franchise.

If nothing else, it's a relative pleasure to hang out with the "Core Four" — as Chad has dubbed Sam, Tara, Mindy and himself — again. Brown ("Yellowjackets") brings the most to the mix, but we also enjoy seeing Ortega, who's fresh off her titular turn in the Netflix hit series "Wednesday" and a likewise well-received horror flick, "X," yet again playing a character in constant danger.

It's easy to understand the rush to make this latest "Scream," but a little more time between it and the inevitable seventh installment might just help the horror heart grow just a little fonder. And it wouldn't hurt if the franchise and Campbell could find a way to stab and make up.

So maybe put away the knife for a little while, Ghostface. But, you know, don't stay away too long.

'Scream VI'

Where: Theaters.

When: March 10.

Rated: R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, and brief drug use.

Runtime: 2 hours, 3 minutes.

Stars (of four): 2.5.