I enjoyed the latest installment of the Scream franchise.Though, like many genre sequels before ,I felt it didn't know what to do with it's legacy character.
Our Gale.She shows up,but is not really present. Her scene in the Shrine should have been her time to shine as she reflects on the many objects in the room that are part of her past with Ghostface.The investigative work that got everyone to this moment.Her continued influence on it all with her glorification of the murders in her true crime books.And more importantly,show how closely the memory of Dewey is connected to this and her life's experiences.
Personally, I would have liked a sequence where she is walking among the items on display and as she looks upon each ,she hears in her head a quote from Dewey from it's respective movie.
The initial Shrine scene could have been both powerful and haunting.And even potentially have an impact like the opening murder in Part two that happens while a theater of viewers cheer it on.
While we the viewers are ooohing and aahing over each revealed "prop" from previous films,they could have had each of the survivors emotionally commenting on a display that connects them to a victim or their own attack.Gale,looking at Randy's display while standing next to Chad and Mindy, mentioning how the phone call that ended his life was meant for her.Foreshadowing the call that she would get later from Ghostface.
Each character voicing their sadness at the loss of a friend or their own pain and continued physical suffering from the wounds as a result of the violence that is devotedly on display in each glass case. Hitting home the realization that an actual person is dead from that violence that is so callously on display. Have one of the characters even break down in tears at the violent reminder of how their friend died.Subconsciously putting their hand on the place where they themselves were stabbed by the same killer.
If Sidney had been a part of this movie , I would have loved to have seen her walk the aisle past a part 4, part 3, part 2, and then end up on a tableau of her mother...with Gales first book about the start of this madness on display with the items. In fact, each tableau shown would have a copy of one of Gale's corresponding books. And then a conversation with Gale about her potential influence on these murders with her continued glorification. Including the most latest,which could have been sighted by the STAB conspiracy theorist in their accusations of Sam.And maybe address why she didn't or emotionally couldn't write the book about Dewey.
Gale's first scene is basically a rehash of a sequence we have already seen in several previous Scream movies.By movie 6 it is a odd beat to repeat without a twist. She playing the sensationalist reporter and getting punched accordingly.What did she think was going to happen? After years of going through this with Sidney.Even with their awkward friendship that developed,most likely due to Dewey's influence,one would think that she would now have a bit more awareness on how to approach a STAB victim.
Maybe,without Dewey's influence, Gale not changing is the point.Though it's sad to see. Gale Riley is dead to us.
Scream VI takes place a year after Part 5.
This timeline raises some questions. Particularly in regards to Gale's book that she has written about the events of the fifth movie.
Originally ,she stated to Sidney that she intended to let those killers die in anonymity. And that she professed wanting to write a book about Dewey.A choice that showed growth in her character and would have served as a way to give presence to Dewey in the next film.
I had once gave thought to not only Gale's first Ghostface call but how it could be connected to her book about Dewey in a scene: http://mypartyofone.blogspot.com/2022/01/hello-gale-seen-any-good-scary-movies.html
Sadly,Gale must have given up this ghost very quickly ,or was offered too much money to turn down taking a stab at Woodsboro Murders Part 5 .
Did she find writing a book about Dewey difficult?
Too personal? Too exposing of herself? Too soon to poke at the open wound? Was it greed and ego or was she afraid to go there?
With the movie taking place only a year later,that means the book was fast tracked to publishing.So much so that already the Carpenter ladies have read it to be aware of how they were described in the book. Maybe Gale sent them a copy?
But still, that's a fast turnaround.
Gale wasn't present for half the attacks and Dewey wasn't around long enough to fill her in on the details afterwards.Neither was Sheriff Judy Hicks.Gale would have had to interview the survivors.I could see her using the intention of writing a book about Dewey to get access to information about his last efforts from his fellow former police officers but in truth she wanted the details about the murders.
Did Gale do any research?
The Billy Loomis connection would have been something she would have wanted to exploit in her book for additional sensationalism points.Would Gale have questioned Sam and Tara's Mother about the relationship?Especially after the killings.Get the Mothers quote in on what it felt like to discover she was pregnant with Billy's kid and then he shortly later acts out his serial murder fantasy?
Not to mention a reaction to the events of the first attack becoming a best selling book and popular movie series.And then it happens all over again with her and Billy's daughter?
Maybe that is indicative of the content and her awareness. If Gale did a cursory research into the backstory of both Amber and Ritchie because she needed to get the book written as soon as possible.Got facts wrong (in turn firing up the conspiracy nuts) That would explain how Gale had no awareness whatsoever who Ritchie's brother and sister were ,let alone what his father looked like or was even a detective.Remember, Gale didn't recognize Mrs Loomis, despite interviewing her for a book.
Wouldn't she want a quote from them for the book?Maybe she did reach out, but they rebuffed her before she even met them.
I would think one's son becoming a serial killer,especially one attached to a legacy killing spree,and when the Dad is a cop would have received much more press outside of Gale.Someone(s) would have had to know that Ritchie was Det. Baileys son(former classmates,friends,people who hated him in high school,Cousins). Someone in his past had to also be a Stab fan,the odds are in that favor.And after the media attention from the killings,Someone would connect the dots.And there could have been pictures,video of reporters trying to question the cop father or family.As Gale says, someone was going to write it. So she couldn't have been the only one looking into the killer's personal lives.Someone would have posted something online and would have been noticed.Shared.
A super STAB/Horror fan might even theorize that one of Ritchie's family members would be the next killer-following in the footsteps of Mrs Loomis and Woodsboro history.
Mindy Meeks can't be the only horror nerd to try and put 2 and 2 together.With Kirby being in the FBI, and her familiarity and personal connection to all things STAB, she should have thought of it as well.And her access to information about Ritchie's family could have been a key to discovering the killers.Was no one curious from which this killer came? Especially after the Billy Loomis connection to the last event?And that every single STAB attack has had a family connection to the main players in the first movie.
Gale's choice to forgo telling Dewey's tales of heroism is also an unfortunate character choice. Why have her make that statement at the end of part 5, after surviving yet another attack and losing Dewey, the man who truly loved her,her family.Only To drop it so fast and return to her old ways. I was more interested in seeing what changes this attitude adjustment would bring to Gales storyline in the next movies.Would she become part Gale and part Dewey in her actions/choices .WWDD? What Would Dewey Do? being her mantra.Without Dewey, would Sidney ever trust her again?Wouldn't Sidney be disgusted (though not surprised) by Gale going against
her words.Abandoning Dewey's memory.Feeding the STAB fandom yet again. And what is up with Gale's last words after her attack? It's established that the two of them are not in close communication.And while there may have been some mutual mourning together of Dewey,a funeral attended. Would they have really spoken much afterwards?So much that Gale thought of Sidney in her final conscious moments?
One of the things missing from Part 5, that for me was always a enjoyable moment in all the movies was when Dewey and Gale investigated together.The banter between the two was what made them a high point.Gale doesn't do much of that in part 6. She somehow has discovered this Shrine that she brings everyone to see.I would have preferred the shrine being discovered in the moment. Gale investigating missing evidence from previous Ghostface attacks. Following pieces online.Maybe even setting up a trap.Posting something personal of Gale Weathers "Stab" evidence.Or something of Dewey's. To find out whose buying up all these items.Thinking she's going to catch the killer before they start the next movie
Random thought : What if one of the phones on display in the shrine started ringing? Picture it....Gale is looking at a display devoted to her and a cracked phone in the case suddenly starts ringing, with the caller ID as "Dewey"
I kind of wish the Shrine had disappeared near the end.The Ghostface hall of fame would be discovered during the course of the movie but after the events of the final attack it is revealed that it has mysteriously disappeared.Implying that the ones who would put together such a horrific tribute are still out there.And watching.I hate that its one and done.
It would also have been more interesting if the Shrine had been a larger collective creation rather than just a couple of rich weirdos. Leaning harder into the cult of Ghostface concept.A group where each member is tasked to obtain the originals or recreate them to the letter.
But then perhaps sometime shortly after the final attack occurs, the shrine, which would have been closed off by the police, would have been gutted of its contents and went missing. Any cops left on guard would have been killed.Leaving the audience with a what happens next cliffhanger. There's still Ghostface danger out there....and it's coming back.(Not every movie needs a post credit scene,but that could have been one)
Within the films,each killing took place at multiple different locations and cities and as such would have their evidence stored in different police districts evidence lockers.Wouldn't that evidence be something of a badge of honor for the police station.Something they show off to new officers at the station."Hey....you know about that Stab 2 movie? Guess what, it happened here, we have the real deal Ghostface costumes.Wanna see?" And wouldn't it's disappearance raise an alarm?
While each different police station wouldn't necessarily have communicated to the others about the missing evidence.Both for reasons of why would they? and also ,it makes them look bad for losing whole boxes of evidence associated with such famous crimes. If it had somehow become known that so much of it was missing, that would have,should have created a stir.
But this is where having no Dewey and Hicks in the mix comes into play.Dewey would have been told if the Woodsboro murder evidence had gone missing for Parts 1 and four.Someone he worked with before at the department would have gotten word to him.He might have even been approached by his former officers to be questioned.And in the process making him aware of the developing situation.Then he could have contacted the other police stations in a personal inquiry.Discovering that evidence has gone missing from all previous Ghostface attacks.
It could have even been a cool way to make Dewey be part of the current story's investigation,even though he is no longer alive. Dewey could have already been looking into this development off screen during part 5,things having started all the way back then,Or even before,and he could have files of information.Tracking of pieces sold online.And these notes/files are something that Gale would have discovered in Dewey's belongings when his trailer was cleaned out after his death. Maybe even Dewey left a sweet note to Gale attached to the material. Making his "appearance"(like say spoken in a voice over) a bit like Randy's farewell video in part 3.
I would also have loved it if Gale's book had been the impetus for this story's attack.Use Gale's own words as a commentary on the dangers of sensationalism for sale.Lay in her other books amongst the crime evidence from previous attacks in the Shrine.Emphasizing a talking point of does her brand of media encourage these murders by perpetuating the mythos? From another case to another book to another hyped media film,on and on.
That the hatchet job she does on Ritchie and Amber would infuriate the families.She clearly did little research,what with pressure to get the book out before interest waned.Attention spans to tragedy being what they are these days.And Gale's ego wouldn't want someone to beat her too it.It being her claim to fame, after all.
If only she had written the book about Dewey....
