Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Fifteen years after the original Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott returns home to promote her new book about surviving trauma, only for a new Ghostface killer to emerge, targeting a new group of teens.
Scream 4 makes a genuine effort to revitalize the franchise by turning its meta-commentary toward reboot culture and millennial horror sensibilities, which gives it reasonable Novelty within the slasher genre. The plot is serviceable and self-aware, playing with audience expectations about who survives in a 'reboot,' though it runs out of fresh ideas by the second act. The acting is competent — Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox are dependable, and Emma Roberts brings some energy — but no performance truly elevates the material. Cinematography is workmanlike and functional horror-thriller fare, nothing visually distinctive. The ending lands a fun twist that subverts expectations in a satisfying Scream-franchise way, earning its keep without being genuinely shocking. Overall a decent if unessential entry in the series.