I mean, hey, the directors found a way to juggle the polished possibilities this idea has with their power to make a sequel worthy of the franchise. Of course I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t skeptical about them doing two back to back movies the years that followed (seeing as the decade long hiatus between the 2011 installment and the 2022 isn’t quite short) at first. However, seeing many factors that would’ve been challenging for most directors (including Craven himself) from having it take place in the city to the way people in costumes (if not Tara and Sam Carpenter's characters fleshed out in ways that flirted with psychological horror) is a clever segment rather than gimmick, almost felt like the 2022 version was more of a Part 1 than a standalone this time around. And, if nothing else, this movie is pretty much a visual horror extravaganza for a Scream installment. From the mis-en-scene of New York City architecture to the way scenes are shot at night that recall the 80s (and even one or two that are shot during the day which recall the 70s). this movie does a fine job at updating its classic feel with its setting to match the lore its titular villain has grown from since the late 90s. It’s essentially a Scream film that knows it’s made as much horror movie history as the films it references yet makes sure its place in that legacy really counts with the museum of research (that as far as goes to literal extremes) it includes.

Even if it has to remind the faint of heart how this genre was never for them at its post-modern best in a scene or two.