Scream 2022 Image: Ghostface Murders A New Victim

The new Scream movie shared an image from the upcoming film, with Ghostface standing over a perceived victim played by Kyle Gallner. Scream 2022 is the fifth installment of the Scream franchise and the first film in the series not directed by horror icon Wes Craven following his death in 2015, with Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett taking the helm. Series mainstays Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courtney Cox are confirmed to reprise their roles, joined by new cast members Gallner, Melissa Barrera, and Jack Quaid.

The Scream films follow Sidney Prescott (Campbell) as she tries to uncover the various identities that take on the Ghostface persona, a masked killer who stalks and murders his victims with a knife. Director Gillett has indicated that the new film is planned to be the first of several. With the film being called Scream instead of Scream 5, it’s clear the screenwriters intend it to be a new beginning for the franchise.

The Scream Instagram (screammovies) released an image from the movie of Ghostface standing over Gallner’s character, Vince, in a parking lot at night. Vince is lying facedown with Ghostface brandishing a knife, looking like he’s moving toward Vince for a killing blow. The caption reads, “Play dead for me,” implying that’s what Ghostface is saying to Vince as he approaches his victim.

Scream is famous for revitalizing the slasher genre with its mix of horror and comedy, bringing an edge of self-awareness to its presentation. The new film looks to be more serious in tone than previous entries. The trailers and released material do not contain any charming self-referential comedy that made previous films memorable. The decision to have a more serious tone could also reflect the movie trying to be a new beginning for the franchise. However, there’s a levity to this recent post that hints at a more humorous movie than being advertised.

When the original Scream came out in 1996, it was a hit for being self-aware and genuinely scary. Later films have tried to replicate the success with decidedly mixed results. Still, the idea of combining horror elements with comedy has long proved successful in the years since, with Get Out, The Final Girls, and Shawn of the Dead as examples. Though with so many horror comedies, it might prove beneficial for Scream 2022 to bring a more serious entry to the franchise, with straight slashers being an increasingly uncommon breed of film. Sidney Prescott is not the character she was in 1996, and audiences have changed with her, and maybe a more serious tone can give Scream the edge it needs to stand out.

Source: screammovies/Instagram

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