Scream VI is more violent and graphic than the last one, but that doesn’t fix its shortcomings – namely a fairly standard story and a hurried beginning. This film felt uneven to me. The first portion was quite chaotic, introducing numerous new characters and events spread across several locations. While the New York setting led to some interesting scenes, it also made the movie feel a little scattered at times. It seemed like they tried to move too quickly through this setup, which hurt the pacing. However, the second half delivered an intense sequence filled with suspense that really kept me engaged. Ultimately, the film functioned reasonably well, though it had the potential to be much stronger. The strongest aspects of Scream VI are the characters and the action sequences. The returning actors all do a great job, and their interactions feel very natural together. They’re so compelling on screen that I almost felt like the legacy characters weren't really necessary; they seemed somewhat superfluous. The newer cast members were adequate in their roles, but not nearly as captivating as the original four. But that’s acceptable for a slasher film, since their purpose is to become victims of Ghostface. This installment is particularly brutal, with some very graphic deaths and impressive special effects showing what happens to the characters who are killed. A few of those kills were exceptional and will rank among my favorites in the series. Scream VI was the first time I’ve genuinely felt stressed while watching a movie. Certain scenes lingered just long enough to create an unsettling feeling that I thought worked really well. The subway sequence, in particular, had me on edge for what felt like two full minutes. Aside from the rushed opening act, my only real criticism concerns the ending and some of the unbelievable aspects regarding the cast’s survival. While I don't think the final reveal was as bad as many critics claim, it still could have been improved. I figured out who one of the killers was early on, but the other came as a surprise, so I believe they did a decent job keeping things mysterious. The characters endure quite a lot in this film; some are stabbed numerous times and somehow manage to live through it. It wasn’t a major distraction, but it did pull me out of the story somewhat. Also, I spent close to ten minutes trying to understand how Kirby was still alive – I was sure she had died in Scream 4. Overall, Scream VI was a welcome addition to the franchise, even if it didn't quite reach the heights of Scream (2022). I suspect my expectations were a bit high based on the initial reactions, which may have led me to feeling slightly disappointed. Score: 68% Verdict: Good

Source on TMDB