Wes Craven’s “Scream,” released in December of 1996, resurrected the slasher-horror genre and amassed a legion of fans — 26 years later Ghostface is back to terrorize the town of Woodsboro and rewrite the playbook all over again.

“Scream” 2022, the R-rated film, topped the box office in its Jan. 14 opening weekend with over $35 million, knocking “Spider-Man: No Way Home” from the top spot since it opened in December of 2021.

The fifth film in the franchise, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, is written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick.

Kevin Williamson is accredited as the original writer of “Scream.” 

Writers Vanderbilt and Busick managed to craft a plot that leaves the audience guessing the identity of Ghostface with a twist viewers didn’t see coming.

The newest “Scream” picks up 11 years after the events in “Scream 4” that rocked the town of Woodsboro.

It’s worth noting that “Scream 4,” released in April 2011, was illustrious director Wes Craven’s final film before his death in 2015.

Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Marley Shelton all reprise their roles. Shelton played Deputy Judy Hicks in “Scream 4.”

The “Scream” franchise wouldn’t be the same without Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers, Dewey Riley and the town of Woodsboro.

Newcomers to the franchise include actors Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Dylan Minnette, Mikey Madison, Sonia Ben Ammar and Kyle Gallner.

It’s hard to discuss in detail the stand-out performances of Barrera, Quaid and Ortega without major spoilers, but all three are incredible. Ortega plays Tara Carpenter, sister to Sam Carpenter played by Barrera. 

“Scream” 2022 starts with the now famous wrong number opening scene reminiscent to Drew Barrymore’s character Casey Becker in the 1996 “Scream” film’s opening. 

The opening scene with Ortega’s character is a clear homage to Barrymore and the 1996 film that started it all.

There’s even a landline phone — how many people still have a landline in their home? Following her sister’s attack, Sam Carpenter returns to Woodsboro and enlists Dewey Riley to help to unmask Ghostface and put an end to the inevitable bloodbath that awaits.

What makes this “Scream” a great addition to the franchise is how it pays homage to the original film but feels fresh and relatable today.

The franchise and its characters have always been self-aware of the rules of horror.

Fans of the original 1996 “Scream” will remember that Randy Meeks explains how there are certain rules one must abide by in order to survive a horror film.

The fifth film continues to explore slasher-horror tropes: the killer is connected to someone’s past, never trust the love interest, turn around — the killer is behind you, never go to the basement alone and never go upstairs.

Jasmin Savoy Brown, who plays Mindy Meeks — Randy Meeks’ niece — explains the concept of a “requel” to Dewey Riley and that Ghostface might be trying to right the wrongs of “Stab 8,” the movie franchise that exists in the “Scream” movie themselves based on the life of Sidney Prescott.

A “requel” makes everything old new again with the goal of connecting new characters with legacy characters.

“Scream” 2022 is a horror movie to its core, but it is also funny with moments of social commentary on toxic fandoms.

The kill scenes get more gruesome and vivid culminating in an all-out bloody demise in the third act.

Fans will appreciate the ending and its clear nod to the original film and tie-in.

The newest chapter in the “Scream” saga honors the brilliance of Wes Craven’s 1996 film and offers up a new path for the franchise moving forward.

Perhaps my only gripe would be the lack of screen time for certain characters, but understandably that is part of the plot.

The unexpected twists make this a great addition to the “Scream” franchise.

“Scream” 2022 is more than worth a watch — especially if you’re a fan of slasher horror films.

“Scream” is available in theaters. Go watch with some friends, go alone, grab some popcorn and enjoy.

In the words of Ghostface, “What’s your favorite scary movie?”