Scream 5 (4 Stars)

There was an eleven-year gap between "Scream 3" and "Scream 4", followed by another eleven-year gap before the fifth film. Maybe these long breaks helped to stop the series becoming stale. Or maybe nobody knew what to do with Ghostface for another decade.

"Scream" aka "Scream 5" brings back Sidney, Gale and Dewey, but this isn't simply another reunion. The film calls itself a "requel", combining new characters with survivors from the original films, while warning us that in a requel anything can happen. Dewey's death proves it. After surviving four encounters with Ghostface, he seems almost untouchable, so his brutal death comes as a genuine shock. From that moment onwards, we know that Sidney and Gale aren't safe either.

The film is entertaining and suitably self-aware, although at times it seems too dependent on reminding us of the original. Jenna Ortega makes a strong impression as Tara, while the returning characters give the film an emotional connection to the past. My biggest disappointment is the music. "Scream 5" doesn't sound like a Scream film until the familiar music arrives during the closing credits. By then it's too late.

Success Rate:  + 3.8

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