The first Scream was and is a classic, it remains the best of the series. I agree that this instalment is good, on par with #5. A previous review pointed out that this wasn't filmed in New York City, I don't understand the point of that comment, many films use alternative cities as a location for that in a film. I will say that other than being told they're in New York there was nothing else to establish the location as New York City, that was a miss. The violence was definitely turned up on the last film. The first Scream remains iconic and by far the most superior of this franchise and yes it would have been great if Neve Campbell signed on too.