Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gory "re-quel" in meta-horror series is still wicked fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Scream (2022)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 26 parent reviews
Parents say the latest installment in the franchise showcases plenty of gore and violence, making it unsuitable for younger viewers, with many believing it’s the most brutal entry yet. While some parents found it to be appropriate for older teens with an established taste for horror, others criticized its repetitive plot and lack of character depth, calling it confusing and a poor addition to the series.
- gory violence
- not for kids
- mixed reviews
- character depth
- appropriate for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 110 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a mix of thrilling action and intense violence, highlighting its gory scenes and frequent profanity, which may not be suitable for younger viewers. While some loved the nods to previous films and found it entertaining, others criticized the plot's weaknesses and character decisions, particularly the controversial death of a beloved character.
- intense violence
- strong language
- mixed reviews
- plot criticisms
- entertaining moments
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SCREAM, 25 years after the Ghostface Killer first struck, teen Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) gets a call from a stranger asking her about her favorite scary movie. Not long after, she's attacked and stabbed. Her estranged older sister, Samantha (Melissa Barrera), and Sam's boyfriend, Richie (Jack Quaid), return to Woodsboro to be with her. When the killer attacks again, Sam and Richie seek out the retired Dewey Riley (David Arquette), who reluctantly agrees to help, describing the rules of survival to a group of Tara's friends -- and adding that the killer is likely one of them. Horror movie buff Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) explains her theory that this is all a "re-quel." Meanwhile, Sam makes the decision to reveal her dark secret, the likely reason for the new rash of killings. Before long, Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) arrive in town to hopefully put an end to the killings for good.
Is It Any Good?
In passing the torch to fresh blood, this fifth entry in the meta-horror series shows that there are still layers of meta-ness to uncover, fresh scares to experience, and wicked fun to be had. Co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (of the collective "Radio Silence") and co-writer Guy Busick previously gave us the similarly whip-smart, gory Ready or Not, and they tackle this Scream in that same fashion. They also seem to have been inspired by the late Wes Craven's singular style of filmmaking, with his masterful use of interior spaces as the source of nightmares. One sequence, in which a character putters around in a kitchen, is filled with squeal-inducing traps and false alarms, and when the punch finally comes, it's well-earned.
The movie has lots of fun with the theory of the "re-quel," a movie that relaunches a franchise with fresh characters as well as "legacy" characters in smaller roles (see: Halloween, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Jurassic World). This new Scream is also steeped in the fictional movie-within-a-movie Stab franchise, with one superb scene featuring film buff Mindy enjoying watching it (actually the original Scream) on television. But this movie also understands and references "high-minded" horrors like The Babadook and Hereditary. Campbell, Cox, and Arquette provide a measure of emotional connection, and new character Samantha is interesting enough to go out on her own. In the final act, the filmmakers fumble their juggling act in a few small ways, but for the most part, this Scream is worth shouting about.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Scream's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Is the movie scary? Does it concentrate more on fright, suspense/mystery, or clever references? What would make the movie scarier -- or less scary?
How does the movie depict teen drinking and drug use? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
What is a "meta movie"? Do the Scream movies benefit from being self-aware? What might be missing?
How has technology advanced since the fourth Scream movie (2011) or even the first (1996)? How is newer technology incorporated into the story?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 14, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : March 1, 2022
- Cast : Neve Campbell , Courteney Cox , David Arquette , Melissa Barrera
- Directors : Matt Bettinelli-Olpin , Tyler Gillett
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : School ( High School ) , Fantasy
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence, language throughout and some sexual references
- Last updated : March 17, 2026
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