YouTube giveth! Yes, I couldn’t find the third and final season of Scream on any streaming service until I checked out the original premium video service online, and some clever individual has uploaded all six episodes to YouTube. Not so long ago, I gave my thoughts on the first two seasons of Scream: The TV Series, but season 3 works as reboot, with a completely different cast, and a new origin story for the killer(s). I was most excited by the change of production, along with a change in setting; there’s a strong African American representation in front and behind the camera, due to Queen Latifa’s production company becoming attached. We’ve seen the Ghostface killer sulk around the whitest suburbia many times before, but a change in the cultural community might add something fresh to the Scream formula.
Having said that, now that I’ve watched it, this season has taken me a little while to write about, as I wanted to find a way to describe it showing the least amount of apathy possible. Okay, the show’s got a really creative way of making the traditional costume a murderous thing in this world; in the opening scene, Ghostface stands at the front door as an unsuspecting teen receives a prank call. She happily opens the door, and it’s fine, because the costume was once just an over-the-counter cheap Halloween costume, and it’s nice to be reminded of that. Then for Scream: Resurrection, the killer’s Ghostface costume is not random, based on easy access or tradition, but links back to our protagonist’s past; Dion Elliot’s (RJ Cyler) twin brother was killed on Halloween night wearing the costume when they were children – the killing spree that runs through the series is then personal, revolving around Dion carrying a secret, that when push came to shove, couldn’t have been anything else. As for the setting, apart from allowing the characters to metaphorically jab at how ‘whites’ are such babies in horror movies, and adding a slight social-political tinge as to why the police are less helpful than usual because murder is happening in a black neighbourhood, the series doesn’t add much more to elevate itself over what has come before. I like that this series has a start, middle and an end, avoiding leaving mystery open for a possible continuation, and I’m sure it does what it sets out to do; which is rinse and repeat the nostalgic motions of the franchise.
Just as is the same with the first two seasons, the series is led by some quality young actors – I got around having RJ Cyler as our main protagonist; he looked familiar and I couldn’t figure it out, but a Google taught me he’s the same guy who played Billy Cranston in the Power Rangers movie. I liked him so much more here; less expectations than filling the iconic Blue Ranger suit I hold so dear, that’s for sure, and I’m sure that’s why. Giorgia Whigham is fast becoming my favourite liddle-lady, after I watched her partner up with the Punisher last year, and I dare say, I think I gravitated most towards her, as I think she is written the most to do – she plays a gothic movie buff with a sadistic edge named Beth. And whilst Keke Palmer as the rebellious smart-mouth Kym, sometimes sounds like that absurd caricature of a black stereotype in Scary Movie, faced with a more serious murder scenario, she proves to be pretty smart and willingly funny. I’m not sure about the angle the killers were trying to pull testing our courageous kids, urging them to reveal their true selves before getting killed. The gay kid Manny (Giullian Yao Gioiello), reveals he has anger problems before getting offed – honest to God, I thought he was going to reveal that he wasn’t really gay and secretly in love with Kym. It seems counterintuitive, where in most mainstream teen and horror media it’s the truth that sets you free, but here, opening up is a signal to the audience that you’re about to be dead. And yes, I have no qualms with calling Manny ‘the gay kid’ because you tell me if the series worried to give him any more characterisation than that.
Let’s talk killers… I guessed them by episode two. Look at me bragging; but with the amount of Scream out there, I think there’s a formula to these things that certainly stood out in the first two seasons – 1) Check who’s not around when the killer appears. 2) Cross-reference that with who never gets an antagonistic phone call from the killer, and/or scene where they are running and narrowly escape. And voila! By episode five, Scream: Resurrection tried to drag me off the scent, stabbing Jay (Tyga), and I would have been pleasantly surprised if the second killer turned out to be someone else. But no, I had it; I had it all along.
Similarly to the first two season, watching this newest experimentation of the Scream franchise is a good time to turn your brain off, sit back, relax and enjoy – and sometimes that’s all entertainment needs to be. But I’m glad I’ve watched it now, which should give me ample time to cleanse my palate before Scream 5. I guess because I’ve seen this formula play out seven times now, there seems to be only a few ways to do it – hide the killers in plain sight and avoid nodding to them as a potential perpetrator, or portray them as the frontrunner for the crime only to reveal them later on, as a kind’ve double bluff. I’m suddenly more trepidatious for Scream 5 than I already have been, although Sidney and the gang will be back, and I adore Sidney Prescott. I’m just in the camp where, inheriting these characters off Wes Craven, I hope they can pull off a new and exciting chapter without having to bump off our ever-surviving three just for shock value; unless this killer proves to be the ultimate Ghostface outshining all the rest – but obviously, Billy and Stu are a hard mountain to eclipse, so good luck with that. Although… what if Ghostface kills off the three at once before the opening title card, in an elevator or something, leaving the rest of the movie an open slather? Honestly, Scream 4 had a pretty good premise, and I was impressed with Freaky last year for its exciting pace and creativity with an underestimated teen slasher, so let’s hold on hope…
Anyway, I’m getting side-tracked; I’m meant to be talking about Scream: Resurrection! But it’s pretty simple; as a television series based off a movie franchise that I hold dear, at least the powers that be have been able to pull out three adequate seasons, that haven’t impacted the original, or stained the legacy. If you haven’t seen Scream: Resurrection and you’d like to, okay.
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