It’s weird saying we have a new Scream movie without the late Wes Craven behind the camera. Here we are and a new movie is officially in theaters.

I’ll be honest that when the news first broke a new film was in production I got hesitant. The thought of this franchise missing the mastery of Wes Craven left a big hole in my heart and I’d assume many fans of the franchise hearts. Then finding out that Kevin Williamson wasn’t returning as the writer created some worries. Specially considering the only film up to this point he didn’t write is the much discussed Scream 3.

A lot of those worries I just stated quickly got eased when Paramount after rescuing the franchise from the Weinstein’s handed the series to Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett – a.k.a. Radio Silence. If you haven’t seen Ready or Not do yourself a favor and seek it out as soon as possible.

After seeing the movie I can happily say the film accomplishes what it sets out to do. Now that isn’t to say it isn’t without flaws but overall this latest entry delivers the funny, meta, self-awareness we have come to expect from the franchise, very much has it’s fingers on the pulse of where the horror genre is at, while also delivering some good scares and a violence from Ghostface we haven’t seen since Scream 2.

I won’t get into many of the plot details because that will get into spoilers but the premise is pretty much the same as the other films. Someone is attacked in the opening which forces people to return to Woodsboro as Ghostface begins a new killing spree.

Scream delivers in all the ways you’d hope and then some. It’s a bloody film that returns the legacy characters with a great young cast of fresh new faces. While the film at times feels like it’s treading water it still manages to deliver terrific scares, brutality, clever twists all while winking at the camera and is as self-aware as the other entries in the franchise.

3.5 out of 5