‘Scream 5’ Trailer Introduces the Most Serious Ghostface Yet
Social media has been flooded with excitement surrounding the horror movie Scream 5, which is simply being titled Scream. The Twitter hashtag creates a Ghostface emoji that has fans engaging with delight. Posters, images, and a trailer tease have kept Scream fans on the edge of their seats waiting to see how the new movie will look. The highly-anticipated Scream trailer is finally here and it has a more serious tone than its predecessors.
‘Scream’ is getting a revival
1996’s Scream defined a horror genre era. It spawned three sequels and a television series, and its killer Ghostface has become a wildly popular villain. Horror legend Wes Craven directed the series created by Kevin Williamson. Scream is a slasher franchise that simultaneously acts as a satire. The series regulars include Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.
The Scream movie franchise has been quiet since 2011’s Scream 4. Horror fans are finally getting another installment after a decade of silence. It’s being marketed as a reboot, but it’s actually a direct sequel to Scream 4. Campbell, Cox, Arquette, Roger L. Jackson, and Marley Shelton reprise their roles alongside a new cast. Ready or Not‘s Radio Silence duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are directing a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick.
The new ‘Scream’ trailer gives off a serious tone
The Paramount Pictures YouTube channel released the Scream trailer. It opens with a phone call scene that’s reminiscent of Drew Barrymore’s opening sequence. However, Ghostface’s question to his victim is, “Would you like to play a game?”
The trailer quickly reintroduces Campbell, Cox, and Arquette as they once again try to put a stop to a killer dawning the Ghostface costume. However, Dewey points out that this particular instance feels different from the rest. The trailer introduces a new generation of teens, who are being played by Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Dylan Minnette, Mikey Madison, Sonia Ben Ammar, and Kyle Gallner.
However, Scream is bringing a vastly different tone than its predecessors. It’s placing emphasis on the horror component, but the full-length movie may differ. The trailer features no satire, humor, or pop culture references that the franchise is known for. The focus is on Ghostface and how the survivors plan to take the killer down. However, it’s clear that the two generations are being brought together for some reason.
The fan reactions vary. Some love the trailer’s serious tone, while others are explaining why it doesn’t look like it belongs in the franchise. However, the trailer isn’t always the best way to indicate a finished movie’s tone. There will likely be an abundance of Scream-related content coming before the movie’s release that could give further insight. For now, this trailer is certainly delivering the most serious Ghostface we’ve seen yet.
Scream stabs exclusively into theaters on January 14, 2022.
