Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

Paramount, out now

Twenty-five years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new Ghostface emerges, and Sidney Prescott must return to uncover the truth. 

The fifth in the Wes Craven / Kevin Williamson horror franchise returns with new directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not) and writers James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) and Guy Busick (Ready or Not) and adds a fresh new spin to the series while also delivering the goods for the fans.

It was 1996 when Ghostface made his debut, terrorising the teens of Woodsboro, CA. A post-modern, meta whodunnit take on slasher movies, this knowing horror movie kickstarted both the slasher movie and the horror parody, with the final word apparently being 2011’s Scream 4. And then the horror movie hybrid of all-in-one reboot/sequel came along, using the same name as the original (Halloween, Candyman) and it was inevitable that Scream would come to the party.

All three main leads are back – Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette) – older, but not necessarily wiser, and it’s not long before the trio are within knifing distance of the new killer(s?). True to the formula, and in traditional Scooby-Doo fashion, the killer is in front of you the whole time, and it’s fun trying to work out their identity and justification.

Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera, In the Heights) and Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid, The Boys) are drawn to Woodsboro when Sam’s sister is attacked in the obligatory pre-credits ‘Do you like scary movies?’ sequence, and the next couple of hours juggles new characters with legacy ones in both new and familiar circumstances, while also constantly reminding you what the rules are, and how they’re being subverted (or not).

Ultimately, it’s a sequel that you probably thought wasn’t needed and yet it manages to find something new to say in this already clever-clever scenario. But be warned, it’s a strong 18 certificate, with no punches pulled in the brutal kills.

Verdict: A welcome addition to the Scream series that improves on the last two entries and proves that you can’t keep a good killer down. 8/10

Nick Joy