SCREAM arrives in theatres as the fifth installment in Wes Craven’s celebrated franchise that originated in 1996 and is still, as of this film, going strong. A running meta-commentary on horror and the trappings of the slasher genre the Scream franchise has eschewed the ebb and flow of horror with each passing trend and a sharp edge. An almost entirely new team is behind the camera with this new film. It’s written by James Vanderbilt, Guy Busick based on characters created by Kevin Williamson (the writer of the first four installments,) and directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Those stats might give a franchise fan pause, but this group of five actually pulls something off that Craven might have actually been proud of. I gotta tell you, for being the fifth film SCREAM doesn’t suck. It’s actually a lot of fun.

The film opens with the typical scene. We are in Woodsboro, a sleepy California town. High schooler Tara (Jenna Ortega) is at home alone and texting with a friend. They are planning on hanging out and watching a movie. Of course, we all know where this goes and Tara lands in the Hospital. Soon her long-gone older sister Sam (Melissa Barrera) rushes to her bedside with boyfriend Richie (Jack Quaid) en tow. With yet another Ghostface killer on the loose attempting to add to the story, Sam looks up former town sheriff, Dewey Riley (David Arquette). Dewy, in-turn, reaches out to series final girl Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), and his ex Gale Weathers-Riley (Courteney Cox) who both quickly descend upon the town to stop the killer.

Who is the killer after? Another set of paper-thin disposables of course. We have Wes (Dylan Minnette) who is actually Deputy Hicks’ (Marley Shelton) high-school-aged son, Twins Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Amber (Mikey Madison), and Liv (Sonia Ammar). Peers of Tara, the group is a garden variety mix of 20-somethings playing younger, each with a target on their back.

Once everyone is in town, the hijinks ensue with technical precision to the point that horror fans and series vets can easily speculate what will come next. There is the opening and the kills that end act one. Then we have the revelations and the set-up for the big party in act two. Finally, there is the final showdown that resonates with the entire series, creating an extended narrative that could easily see another movie. Have I drifted off into vague sentences? Yes. Yes, I have.

Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett clearly know what made the first four films work. In fact, they aren’t trying to imitate them so much as honor them. The same with writers Vanderbilt and Busick. These four guys get what made Craven’s series work and why it is so iconic. This is horror wagging its finger at itself and then flipping the script into absurdity and making strange sense of it.

Hats off to series vets Campbell, Cox, and Arquette for returning to the series. The three offer a weathered, sardonic levity to the lunacy. I would also give props to the new parade of victims that distracted us with red herrings and fun performances that do honor the 96′ original. Finally, Mr. Williamson, wow. You did it. This is an unanticipated homage to one of the masters of horror and you have honored him by what you have learned. Now go. Create something new. Where does this land in the series? That’s up to you. But it isn’t Scream 3.

Scream fans, you are safe. Go. Enjoy. Please be kind to the Halloween fans licking their wounds.

7 Out of 10