Paramount Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

I’ve been a fairly loyal fan of the Scream films over the years, having gone to see each and every one of them on the big screen since the release of the original way back in 1996. But if you recall my scathing review of the last (and arguably worst) entry, Scream VI a few years back in 2023, I was convinced that the series had run its course indeed.

But there’s always a chance for redemption, and for the most part, Scream 7 hits the mark that’s been largely missed with the majority of the sequels that have come since. Writer/Director Kevin Williamson, whose imprint on the series has been there going all the way back since the original (this marks his first time directing, and first time returning as a screenwriter to the series since Scream 4 in 2011), invokes the same sort of atmosphere and “whodunit” type quality that Wes Craven gave us way back when that’s been largely missing since 1997’s Scream 2.

It’s no secret that this time around Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott (now Prescott-Evans) after missing in action for that last horrid entry. This time around, she’s in the role of wife and mother as her husband Mark (Joel McHale) and teenaged daughter Tatum (Isabel May) are terrorized by another Ghostface killer (or killers). And for the first time in far too long, we’re actually given some characters whose well-being the audience truly cares about again, too.

There’s plenty of nods to the earlier films, with Courtney Cox once again returning as Gale Weathers, and – without giving away too much here – other franchise alumni, including Matthew Lillard, David Arquette Laurie Metcalf, Scott Foley, and of course the all-too familiar voice of Ghostface himself, Roger L. Jackson, each show up one way or another, yet it never comes off as too overly nostalgic. Even Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown as twin brother and sister Chad and Mindy from the past two films return for the proceedings here as well.

Sure there’s some cliche or predictable elements that still work their way in, and the big reveal ending is definitely one of the weaker points (though still nowhere near as as bad as that over-the-top car crash of an ending we got in part six). But I heard someone else describe Scream 7 as a “reset” for the series, and after the direction it was heading with the “whiny sisters” (whose sudden absence is honestly not felt one bit here) plotline the past two films were following it is indeed a welcomed return to form. Far from perfect, but a much-needed step above its predecessor.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Film Review: The Naked Gun (Paramount Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

After laying dormant for over three decades, The Naked Gun has finally been resurrected with Liam Neeson in place of the late legend Leslie Neilsen. It’s not easy to bring back something once held with such regard though, and that’s surely proven here.

Nesson plays Frank Drebin, Jr., the son of Neilsen’s original character. He meets the beautiful bombshell Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson) after her brother is suspiciously murdered, and a rather uninteresting plot to uncover some shady corporate cover-up (headed by Danny Huston) ensues.

The two leads do work together well, resulting in some humorous moments (the montage with the snowman played to the tune of Starship’s “Nothing Gonna Stop Us” was rather amusing), and there’s even a couple of cameos from series regulars like Priscilla Presley and “Weird Al” Yankovic (blink and you might miss the former). But the laugh-out-loud jokes are way to widespread, and viewers were already given a quarter of the film via trailers prior to ever even stepping foot in a theater.

The original Naked Gun film series was comic gold, and it speaks volumes that the producers of this film did not even reach out to either of the Zucker brothers behind it for this one. But I can remember going to see Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult when it came out in 1994 (I think even on opening night if memory serves correct) and thinking “this isn’t that good in comparison to the first two films.” I got that very same feeling again while watching this one.

Rating: 2/5 Stars

Film Review: Scream VI (Paramount Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

My first thought upon hearing about Scream VI was “Why give this one an actual number, yet just give last years “requel” the same exact name as the 1996 original (and wouldn’t that technically make this one just Scream 2 all over again?!)?” Yet that personal pet peeve of mine was really nothing in comparison to how low this franchise has actually sunk. Like many others, I had hoped the New York setting might help reinvigorate some life into this tired franchise; boy was that nothing more than wishful thinking though.

This outing finds sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Berrera and Jenna Ortega, respectively) from last year’s outing replanted and studying in the Big Apple, only to find (Uh-oh!) there’s another killer after them. Everything that unfolds from there is either cliche or predictable, made all the more worse by having to endure this mess with obnoxious supporting characters played by some of the most unlikable actors in the series to date. Neve Campbell was wise to step away from this mess, and Courteney Cox and Skeet Ulrich – the only two faces to return from the original – don’t do much to add to this mess.

The only bright spots are few and far between; the “intro kill” with a blind date setting features some inventiveness (and one very easy-on-the-eyes appearance from Samara Weaving), and the subway scene actually offers some intense moments before being yet just another let down (like the film itself).

Overall, the acting and dialogue are both atrocious, and everything meant to come as a “surprise” is merely eye-roll inducing. The far-fetched, preposterous ending is the final icing on the cake, so beyond believable it’s an insult to any reasonable intelligence. One of the characters actually sums it up best themselves after being stabbed when she utters, “Fuck this franchise.” I couldn’t agree more; after this entry, I’m officially done with the Scream films, too.

Rating: 1/5 Stars