“Scream” series returns

In December 1996, Ghostface was introduced as a serial killer that attacked high school student Sydney Prescott, and her group of friends in the film “Scream.” Twenty-six years later, this mind-bending horror franchise is being renewed with fresh directors, according to the new trailer that dropped recently. The beginning of the trailer shows Tara Carpenter, played by “You” actress Jenna Ortega, being attacked by the new Ghostface in her home, and was presumably killed. Fans of the movie will notice the homage paid to Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker in the first “Scream.”

Horror icon Wes Craven directed all four of the original “Scream” films. Sadly, the legendary creator of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” passed away in 2015. However, it’s been announced that the new film in the franchise is being handed over to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, co-directors of 2019’s “Ready or Not.” Which was not only brutal but inventive–calling for a perfect choice in directors for the new slasher film.

While the “Scream” movies lost popularity after the fourth installment, the series continued with an anthology TV series produced by MTV. It took place in the fictional town of Lakewood, following a group of friends targeted by a masked serial killer. Unlike the movies, the killer didn’t wear the infamous Ghostface mask, but one of Brandom James, the town’s own terrifying murderer who has seemingly returned after 20 years.

The “Scream” series follows Sydney Prescott, Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers as they endure several encounters with new Ghostface killers. In the upcoming “Scream” (2022), Ghostface is back again and has a new rule to their madness, in which the people getting attacked have ties to the original killers. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette reprise their respective roles as the “Final Trio,” as they have survived the horrors that each installment awaited them. Marley Shelton also reprises her role as Deputy Judy Hicks from “Scream 4.”

The “Scream” (2022) trailer successfully hypes the movie’s thrills without giving away much about this installment’s story. However, the trailer might be deliberately misleading, as the franchise has a tendency to have numerous plot twists, including fake deaths. It’s heavily hinted that Dewey might die, and it doesn’t help that the trailer includes a scene of a distressed Gale and Sydney possibly holding her back from what could be Dewey’s body.

Throughout the trailer, we’re introduced to several new characters, including Hick’s son, played by Dylan Minnette (“13 Reasons Why”) and Tara’s sister Sam, played by “In the Heights” actress Melissa Barrera. The trailer ends with what seems like a final showdown between Sydney and Ghostface at Stu Mathers’ house. Stu Mathers, played by Matthew Lillard, was one of the two original Ghostface killers in the first “Scream.”

The film is set to premiere on Jan. 14, 2022.