3. Scream (2022)
The fifth instalment came when fans were uncertain of the future of the franchise, partially because this one was also released 11 years after its predecessor and — perhaps more importantly — because Craven had tragically passed away. So, with Radio Silence taking the reins, this left fans wondering whether they would deliver an instalment that would pay respect to the previous films while moving the franchise forward. But the answer was a resounding yes.
What makes Scream (2022) a successful instalment in the franchise is how it delivers the best of both worlds. It pays homage to the original while moving the franchise forward. In recognition of the franchise’s tone of self-referential meta analysis, a pivotal scene of the film sees Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), the niece of the ill-fated legacy character Randy (Jamie Kennedy) and who has inherited her uncle’s prowess for horror movies, introduce the film’s new rules and make mention of the fact that the killer is trying make a “requel.” This concept of a “requel” is also exactly how screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick conceptualized the film, as it captures
Even some of those new faces, Samantha Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and her younger sister Tara (Jenna Ortega), turn out to be related to past characters as they end up being the daughters of previous killer Billy (Skeet Ulrich). All in all, the film does a wonderful job at laying the groundwork for future instalments but also reminding us of the past and the franchise’s nostalgia.