Fourth Wall Breach

It’s halfway to the next full ‘What X Taught Me About Y’ newsletter and Halloween.

After diving into the original Scream trilogy, plus the amazing 4th, here’s the follow-up to how this franchise of films plays with rules and our expectations, focusing on the latest, post-Wes Craven ‘requels.’ (RIP Wes Craven.)

And things will get even more interesting, because this is where the Scream(s) stop just commenting on the rules and start redefining them for a new audience.

Let’s get into it…

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Scream (2022)

Legacy + New = Relevance in the shape of the first ‘requel’

Scream 4 was more of a reboot after that 11-year gap after Scream 3.

Even though the same amount of time has passed since the release of Scream 4, this is a considered a requel…

While there are some instances of this film being referred to as Scream 5, Scream V, or even 5cream, the UK title definitely went big and bold by going by the OG’s name: Scream. 😱 It just tacked on the year of release after it to distinguish it from the first one to make it Scream (2022). Like Halloween (2018) did, except that went far bolder by choosing to ignore all previous 7 sequels to be a direct sequel to Halloween (1978). (Ouch to the others.)

This move for Scream (2022) means business.

It’s definitely a reboot-sequel (requel) because while it’s not denouncing the previous Scream films, it’s going in a new direction by relegating the OG legacy characters to supporting acts/ guest stars. Right from the start, the new generation — Samantha (Melissa Barrera), Tara (Jenna Ortega), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), and Chad (Mason Gooding) — are leading the story from the opening sequence.

One of the standout sequences is the hospital attack.

Tara is recovering after surviving the opening attack… which has never happened in a Scream film before. First twist! The tone definitely feels more modern, fast, and brutal.

Then, Dewey attempts a rescue… and dies.

Yes, no clumsy stabbing or severed nerves this time. Dewey ain’t bouncing back from this one. A legacy character is gone.

It’s not for shock value, but to signal something important: this isn’t a throwback or another sequel playing it safe. Now we know the stakes are high and real.

The rule-breaking ‘requel’ rears its head.

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