In 1972, my dad lived in the house directly across the street from Regan MacNeil’s home on 3600 Prospect Street in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C. Nowadays, the home at 3600 Prospect Street is affectionately known as the Exorcist House.
My dad was on summer break during filming, but he had a friend keep an eye on the place. That friend liked keeping the door open for fresh air. One day, an assistant director came by and asked the friend to keep the door closed during filming. The friend recognized the opportunity in front of him and asked, “For how much?” The assistant director stormed off. So next time you watch Exorcist and see the neighbor’s door open, you’ll know why.
The film included other Georgetown landmarks closely connected to my dad. For example, he was a regular at the Tombs, an on-campus hole-in-the-wall where some scenes were shot.
My mom even claims that she fell down the Exorcist steps on a date with my dad, but I suspect that may be exaggerated.
So anyway, my dad loved his little connections to the Exorcist so much that he couldn’t wait any longer to show his 9-year-old child the movie. As you may expect, it took about 9 years to heal from that trauma and to see my next horror film. That film was Scream.
Scream introduced me to slasher films. And in a lot of ways, Scream acted as my generation’s Exorcist. Horror went mainstream for a little while after Scream. I Know What You Did Last Summer was next. Then Final Destination, I think. I couldn’t get enough of 90s teen horror flicks.
And in a lot of ways, Scream got me into movies. I envied Randy’s encyclopedic knowledge of film. I probably even copied his personality for a month or two in high school. That was a fun little phase. And now, over twenty years later, Scream VI is out in theaters. Like in 1996, this release is coinciding with another horror resurgence. Just look at M3GAN’s numbers. Cocaine Bear found an audience. People are clamoring for blood and guts again.
I saw Scream VI at the Alamo Drafthouse last week during a 4:20 p.m. show. I told the Exorcist story to explain why I felt compelled to leave work early to see the sixth movie in a 90s horror franchise. The original Scream was important to me. In fact, I once had a nurse turn on Scream while a surgeon removed a chunk of flesh out of my chest. If you’re wondering how I knew the nurse could play Scream, wonder no more: I brought the VHS tape to the operating room. Anyway, I can now report that Scream VI is a worthy addition to the franchise.
Scream VI hits harder than the prior films. Each stab came with thunderous sound, emphasizing the impact and intensity of the kills. Honestly, I could see Scream VI get nominated for a Best Sound Oscar. The sound really enhanced this movie.
In addition to the sound, the directors used the urban location to their advantage. The subway scene created tension and dread really well, whether from the sound of the brakes screeching or the lights flickering. Alleyways were also used well. If you think about it, the dark lighting and tight walkways of alleys are practically made for horror. The location allowed for a few gags as well. For example, the characters mistake a gruesome death scene for loud sex - it gave off strong Kitty Genovese vibes.
Overall, Scream VI was a fun slasher that made excellent use of the urban setting. The sound stands out as a highlight. So do the performances by Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera. Neve Campbell is barely missed, and frankly, the Carpenter sisters a lot more interesting.
My Scream Franchise Ranking:
Scream
Scream 2
Scream 6
Scream 5
Scream 3
Scream 4
Do you think we get a seventh?