With VI shouts now playing in theaters, we thought it would be fun to see Wes Craven’s fantastical comeback Shout series.
The series shows no signs of slowing down, so if you’re new to the franchise or want to sharpen your knowledge of this long-running series, check it out. Shout The films are rated below and let us know which one Shout movies get your adrenaline pumping.
6) Shout 4 (2011)
There is a point scream 4 in which I’m ready to proclaim the third sequel the best of the bunch – and a killer film that deftly uses modern media as its ultimate weapon. Unfortunately, Wes Craven and returning writer Kevin Williamson opted for a happy ending that allowed the original cast to live to see another day.
Really, the photo should have ended with Emma Roberts’ deranged killer, Jill Roberts, riding off into the sunset as a twisted version of Sidney Prescott after manipulating the news media to create her own made-up hero’s journey. Imagine the consequences of his actions in the sequel – will he be haunted by the murders he committed? Will he regret positioning himself as the target of the villain Ghostface in the future? Will he finally come clean with his unnatural story?
scream 4 it takes a shock ending to justify its existence. Unfortunately, despite some great kills and fine performances from the likes of Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin, the fourth entry is little more than another chapter in a franchise stuck on autopilot.
5) Scream VI (2023)
Directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin return for the sixth entry and… bring absolutely nothing new to the franchise. Gone is the clever meta-humor that defined Wes Craven’s original shocker, replaced by the gratuitous violence, darker tone, and assortment of cardboard characters that pale in comparison to the original gang. Set pieces abound, but none are especially memorable, and the big reveal is about as predictable as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Really, it’s just a remake of Scream 2. There are some interesting ideas lingering in this sour company, especially the relationship between Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) that continues to simmer beneath the surface. Ideas like that need to take center stage if this franchise is to hope to continue.
4) Scream (2022)
Amazed, Shout, the requel, manages to surprise and awe without bringing much new to the table aside from a more somber tone. While the killings are more violent and sinister than ever, the jokes are less commonplace; even Dewey, our resident goofball, trades the twinkle in his eye for a tired look that somehow makes the character less appealing.
Even more criminal, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick brought Sidney back for more Ghostface mayhem but left him absolutely nothing to do. The character feels embedded into the plot because someone somewhere didn’t think the audience would be showing up for more Scream unless they saw Neve Campbell in the poster. To be fair, the talented actress did what she could with too many cameo counts, but couldn’t overcome the limitations of the script. His clash with this iteration of Ghostface feels more obligatory than the last, which tainted the character’s journey in the original trilogy.
Besides being negative, Shout 2022 still offers enough gore and guts to warrant your attention. The young cast, led by Melissa Barrera (as Billy Loomis’ daughter), Jenna Ortega, and Jack Quaid, handles the material well, and the script at least incorporates some new ideas that deserve some enthusiasm for a sequel. At this point, there’s only so much you can do with this franchise, and credit to all involved for at least making a plausible reason for Ghostface to kill again.
3) Scream (1996)
Wes Craven’s original Shocker is still enjoyable as a savvy piece of ’90s pop culture, but too often it looks and feels like a made-for-TV thriller starring a 20-year-old who was irresistible as a high schooler. The action is clumsy, Craven’s direction surprisingly erratic; while the cinematography coats the horror with warm tones more suited to a romantic comedy.
In other words, you could say that no one involved knows how successful it will be Shout eventually will be. Much of that success, though, lies in Kevin Williamson’s witty screenplay (and a terrific opening scene featuring Drew Barrymore), which pokes fun at the slasher genre without straying too far from the formula. At one point, two characters literally scream into the security monitors as if they’re watching Halloween. It’s pretty good.
Still, after my last re-watch, I was left dissatisfied That scream the overall design, the one-note characters, and the overly long ending. I still respect the original for its novelty but feel like parts two and three were executed Shout much better concept.
2) Shout 3 (2000)
I do not put scream 3 here just to stir up the controversy. I think this is a very well made slasher film that somehow manages to reconfigure Shout formula becomes something, ah, important. Sure, you get your assortment of gruesome kills and shocking twists, but Wes Craven and screenwriter Ehren Kruger aim a little higher with their threequel and poke at the underbelly of Hollywood slums; explore a world full of sleazy producers who spend too much time preying on young actresses who want to be stars. Somehow all of this relates to Sidney, whose results may surprise you.
Also, where the first two films were products of the late 90s, scream 3 feels more timeless with less focus on tongue-in-cheek meta-commentary and more emphasis on characters and story. There’s also the welcome addition of Parker Posey, who absolutely oozes Gale Weathers’ cult character and delivers a scene-stealing performance that makes you wish he’d stuck around longer.
I just see scream 3 several times, but every time watching always makes me satisfied. I also think Sidney’s arc should have stopped here, as the photo gives her some much-needed closure. Ditto for Dewey and Gale, who are enjoying their own happily ever after away from Ghostface’s relentless reign of terror.
Unfortunately, the powers that be were unable to resist and will simply have to purge our team for more sequels that spoil their personal journey.
1) Scream 2 (1997)
Where Shout is a new cinematic exercise that somehow turns into an entertaining film, Scream 2 taking an established concept and completely knocking it out of the park. With a bigger budget, Wes Craven delivers a bolder, bloodier, and more stylish sequel full of shocking reveals, gruesome murders, and dazzling suspense sequences that keep you clinging to the edge of your seat from start to finish. .
This is the film Shout want to be.
Everyone brings their A-game, especially Neve Campbell, who adds even more pathos to Sidney, turning her from your regular scream queen into a real human being. Courtney Cox and David Arquette executed their Gale/Dewey romance with aplomb, while newcomers Sarah Michelle Gellar, Timothy Olyphant and Jerry O’Connell left the mark in smaller supporting roles.
Yes, the third act again went on too long and the big reveal caused more eye rolls than gasps, but Scream 2 moves along with such a brash confidence and self-awareness that it’s easy to overlook her flaws. From the incredible opening scene with Jada Pickett and Omar Epps to the wild confrontation with Ghostface during the climax, Scream 2 dazzles with its witty dialogue and brilliantly witty jabs at pop culture (especially the sequels). It’s a riot.