Scream VI
Dense, extra-brutal slasher sequel has strong characters.
Parents say
Based on 7 reviews
Kids say
Based on 23 reviews
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Scream VI
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Scream VI is the sixth movie in the meta horror-slasher franchise, following the characters who were introduced in 2022's "re-quel," Scream. It's pretty brutal, but thanks to strong character interactions and a good mystery story, it succeeds. Expect tons of stabbings and slayings, bloody wounds, blood spurts, dead bodies, etc. A man tries to take advantage of a drunk girl at a college party (her friends rescue her), characters are shot and fall from high places, heads are bashed, and more. There's kissing, sex noises coming from a bedroom, and sex-related dialogue. Language includes sporadic uses of "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "bitch," "a--hole," "goddamn," and more. A raucous college party features lots of drinking and some pot smoking; other characters drink shots or mixed drinks at a bar. Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, and Hayden Panettiere co-star.
Community Reviews
Great movie
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Violent but great
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What's the Story?
In SCREAM VI, Tara (Jenna Ortega) and her friends Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad (Mason Gooding) have moved to New York City following the terrible events of Scream. Tara's older sister, Sam (Melissa Barrera), has tagged along and is putting a crimp in Tara's social life with her overprotectiveness. Nevertheless, they're all sharing a house with some new roommates, Mindy has a new girlfriend, and they're all trying to move on. Unfortunately, the terror of Ghostface isn't finished with them yet, and they start to experience deadly new attacks. Mindy tries to establish the rules this time, while police detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) -- who's now with the FBI -- discover that the new killer is referencing all of the previous killers. So Tara and her friends must prepare for what they hope will be one final showdown.
Is It Any Good?
While this slasher sequel is bogged down by complicated lore and is far more brutal than it is actually scary, the strong characters and an effective mystery come together to make it a cut above. Fans of the franchise will likely want to rewatch the previous five movies before tackling Scream VI, as it has many, many references to them. In the last movie, 2022's Scream, Mindy cleverly proclaimed that they were in a "re-quel," but here her efforts to establish the rules are headache-inducing. Additionally, perhaps as the result of the number of kills getting ramped up, each one lacks the suspense it might have had (with the exception of a terrific, extended sequence on the subway). Still, filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (of the Radio Silence collective) do manage to use their 123-minute running time to more deeply explore the characters and their relationships. We can feel their trauma and their wounds and easily empathize with them. Plus, not only is the mystery in Scream VI satisfying and clever, but it's also a logical extension of the previous movie. There actually was a good reason for another sequel; it's more than just a stab in the dark.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Scream VI'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 underage 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 do the characters handle trauma? How are communication and family involved in this process?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 10, 2023
- Cast: Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Courteney Cox
- Directors: Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 123 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence and language throughout, and brief drug use
- Last updated: March 19, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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Scream (2022)
Gory "re-quel" in meta-horror series is still wicked fun.
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Scream 4
Ghostface killer returns for more bloody slayings.
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Freaky
Over-the-top, foul-mouthed slasher comedy goes for the gore.
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Ready or Not
Ultraviolent satire is forgettable but fun for horror fans.
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Happy Death Day
Playful tone lightens time-bending slasher movie's violence.
For kids who love scares
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