How ‘Scream’ 5 and 6 Are Connected, Explained

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With actor Mason Gooding hinting at Neve Campbell’s return for the upcoming “Scream 7″ in 2026, it appears that the narrative of the horror series is coming together more clearly. The franchise, launched by Wes Craven in 1996 and initially set in the suburbs of Woodsboro, expanded its setting to New York City in “Scream VI.” This move represented a fresh change, and it seems this broader continuity will continue as we await the release of “Scream 7.

Alongside the shift in coastal locations, leading actress Neve Campbell was conspicuously missing from Scream 6 due to contract disputes. In contrast, Melissa Barrera was expelled from the series franchise after expressing pro-Palestinian views following the release of Scream 4, leading to Campbell’s return for Scream 7. With numerous casting changes, shifting settings, and so on, it’s crucial to clarify the connection between Scream 5 and Scream 6 narratively, determining if viewing the former is essential to understanding the latter.

What Is Scream V About?

25 years have passed since the groundbreaking initial Scream film, with Scream V seeing horror master Wes Craven’s absence from the director’s chair for the first time. Neve Campbell reprises her role as Sidney Prescott, the frequently targeted “final girl” who survived Ghostface’s brutal attacks on four separate occasions. Alongside Sidney, series veterans Gale Weathers (portrayed by Courteney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette) maintain the franchise’s continuity; however, they take a backseat to a new group of main characters.

The horror movie Scream 5 opens with the character Tara Carpenter, a teenager played by Jenna Ortega, being suddenly confronted by Ghostface in her residence in Woodsboro, California. After this harrowing event, Tara ends up hospitalized. Her older sister, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), who lives in Modesto, comes to see her. During the visit, Sam’s boyfriend, Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid), is introduced, and he gets acquainted with Tara’s friends: Amber (Mikey Madison), Liv (Sonia Ammar), Wes (Dylan Minnette), as well as the twins Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmine Savoy-Brown).

In the original Scream, the town of Woodsboro is on edge when Liv’s boyfriend, Vince (Kyle Gallner), meets a grisly end at the hands of Ghostface. It turns out that Vince was the nephew of Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), one of the perpetrators of the original Woodsboro murders in Scream. As Tara and her friends attempt to unmask the new Ghostface, Randy Meeks’ sister Martha (Heather Matarazzo) suggests that the killer is executing a “Requel” – a reboot-sequel, continuing Ghostface’s murderous mayhem for a fresh generation of victims.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the Scream series

‘Scream VI’ Continues Directly on From ‘Scream V’

In the finale of ‘Scream V’, it’s disclosed that Richie and Amber are the duo behind the Ghostface mask, terrorizing the Carpenter siblings and their companions. This surprising twist is strategically placed to pave the way for the events in Scream VI, compelling fans to view the fifth movie to understand what transpires subsequently.

Following their narrow escape from death at the hands of Richie and Amber in “Scream V,” Sam and Tara decide to start fresh by relocating to New York City in “Scream VI.” Unfortunately, another wave of Ghostface attacks arises, placing the siblings in great peril. Interestingly, Sidney Prescott is absent from the scene, but Gale Weathers persists in leveraging and profiting from the Woodsboro murders as a TV personality and successful author.

Alongside Sam and Tara, Chad and his girlfriend Mindy make their comeback in Scream VI, set in the bustling city of New York. The newcomers in this story are college students Ethan (played by Jack Champion) and Jason (Tony Revolori), along with their roommates Quinn (Liana Liberato) and Anika (Devyn Nekoda). Sam’s enigmatic boyfriend Danny, portrayed by Josh Segura, further deepens the mystery, stemming from the events of Scream V involving Richie. The character Kirby, played by Hayden Panettiere in Scream 4, reappears in a complex FBI plot, but her role is less central compared to the direct connections in Scream V’s storyline.

Why ‘Scream V’ Must Be Seen to Understand ‘Scream VI,’

To fully grasp and appreciate the narrative of “Scream VI” by the Carpenter sisters, it is essential to watch “Scream V” beforehand. The reason being, key events that transpire in “Scream V,” such as Richie’s attempt on Sam and Tara’s lives, form a cornerstone for the storyline of “Scream VI.” In this sequel, new copycat killers assume Ghostface’s identity, mirroring the earlier attack on Sam and Tara. Tara, in particular, is driven by her desire to escape the haunting memories and PTSD associated with Woodsboro, leading to a fresh set of suspects, victims, and survivors.

In a similar fashion, it would be hard to understand why Sam is hesitant to date Danny in Scream VI if we haven’t watched their backstory in Scream V. Similarly, without witnessing the near-death experience of Chad and Mindy in Scream V, their roles and outcomes in Scream VI wouldn’t carry the same emotional weight. As key characters from the original Scream series like Sidney, Dewey, and others are written off, Scream V and Scream VI continue the Carpenters’ storyline to deliver the “Requel” envisioned by directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Betinnelli-Olpin.

To truly appreciate Scream VI, it’s essential that you watch Scream V first. This is because Scream V introduces Sam’s biological father as Billy Loomis, and in Scream VI, Sam encounters Billy’s spirit, which aids her in defeating the real killers. It’s also noteworthy that the main Ghostface killers in Scream VI are biologically connected to Richie Kirsch, who was the killer in Scream V.

In Scream VI, it’s unveiled that Richie’s father, Wayne (Dermot Mulroney), had been orchestrating revenge against Sam for killing Richie. To aid in this, Richie enlisted his siblings, Ethan and Quinn, to target Sam and Tara. Consequently, the dad of the Ghost Face killer from Scream V is implicated in Scream VI, thereby linking the two movies within the franchise while respecting the expansive Woodsboro mythology.

The bloodshed that ties Wayne and Richie together is significant, but the reconciliation between Sam and Tara in the slasher sequels is what binds them most strongly. Understanding their sisterly bond, forged by their shared traumatic experiences in Scream V, greatly enhances the emotional depth of their relationship in Scream VI. As the Carpenter sisters are no longer part of Scream 8, it’ll be fascinating to observe how the franchise reconnects with Sidney Prescott (played by Neve Campbell) and finds a new connection point.

Scream V & Scream VI are available to stream on Netflix & Paramount+

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2025-02-01 04:02