This article contains major spoilers for Scream.
The newest addition to theScreamuniverse arrived with great exhilaration, which didn’t disappoint as the film ended its opening weekend box office debut atop the revenue charts, dethroning the four-week-long sovereignSpider-Man: No Way Home. The film, however, contained an unforeseen twist that didn’t sit right with most audiences, equally baffling the film’s long-time veteran, Neve Campbell.
Campbell made it clear that she wasn’t sure about committing to the fifth installment of theScreamfranchise because of the absence of emblematic director Wes Craven. However, directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin convinced Campbell to return through a letter, highlighting Craven’s impact on their careers. The gesture was enough to draw Sidney Prescott, played by Campbell, back to Woodsboro alongside franchise veterans David Arquette and Courteney Cox.
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Scream 5has garnered generally good reviews for its self-aware style and the homage it pays to1996’s originalScream, but a particular moment left audiences feeling somewhat mixed emotionally. Dewey, played by Arquette, has been a fan favorite of the franchise for decades because of his unwavering determination to protect Prescott and those he cares about from the Ghostface variations that plague their lives. However, his brutally violent death in the film’s 5th installment was a shocker to both audiences and the cast. “I was devastated,” articulated Campbell to Variety. “I still have trouble wrapping my head around it. I still question whether it was the right choice, because from what I’m hearing, there are a lot of fans who are really upset.”
To see the return of a beloved character is an exciting moment for audiences, but seeing that character disappear from the screen is a hard pill to swallow. When asked if discussions with the directors occurred, Campbell confirmed that she and her co-stars had spoken to them about the decision, hoping that some potential thoughts were in the works that could somehow prevent Dewey from meeting hisdeadly fate inScream. “We did. We were sad about it. Courteney had tried to tell the directors to shoot it both ways to give themselves the option because Wes would do that sometimes when there were certain characters that were so beloved.” But unfortunately, the decision to extinguish Dewey from the narrative was set in motion, creating one of the more jawing dropping moments for audiences experiencing the film.
Many films have seen their beloved characters reach an eventual end, but the feeling still doesn’t sit right with most audiences.Screamwas not absent of violence or brutality, but the connection to the newest members of the cast was minimal compared to the thread woven between audiences and the returned veterans. For decades, these characters have faced death and emerged successfully on the other side, which promoted many to believe the same pattern would play itself out. To see the thread snapped in half is a jarring experience, but characters need to see their journey come to an end at a certain point. However, the question becomes whether Dewey’s death was the appropriate send-off for the character.
Despite Campbell’s hesitations to enter into the film, along with Dewey’s unexpected death, thenewest addition to theScreamfranchisehas performed well, which is something Campbell has acknowledged. She attributes the success to the fandom centered around the film and believes Craven himself would be pleased with the film’s performance.
