Scream - Halloween - Advance Preview

Trick or treat, smell my feet, “Scream” has given us something pretty good to eat with its two-hour “Halloween” special. And interestingly, while I was expecting these episodes to tie up loose plot ends, it’s more of a standalone story starring the “Lakewood Six,” though it does lay some groundwork for a possible the just-announced third season.

Eight months have passed since Kieran’s arrest and the survivors are still struggling to move forward. Emma is tired of being Emma Duval: Final Girl and she’s unsure of what she wants from life now. Audrey is in a new relationship, but her closeness with Emma poses a problem. Noah and Gustavo teamed up on a graphic novel based on nuGhostface’s killing spree that’s been a huge success, but Noah’s suffering second thoughts. Gustavo is also still dating Brooke, though Brooke’s college plans are causing some tension. And it doesn’t help that it’s Halloween, the anniversary of several Lakewood massacres.

So, in a set-up that reminded me a bunch of “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” they all jump at the chance for a little getaway. Unfortunately, their destination is Shallow Grove (heh) Island, a.k.a. “Murder Island.” The island has a Brandon James of its own – Anna Hobbs, an allegedly disturbed young woman who used a burlap mask and garden shears to kill three people, including the patriarch of a prominent family – and Noah and Gustavo’s publisher wants them to make the tale their next project. “Every town has [a murder house],” Gustavo declares, trying to reassure his friends. “Lakewood has, like, ten.” But because it’s “Scream,” the fun doesn’t last and it’s not long before drinks by the water becomes running for their lives in the dark. They must discover if it’s a prank, if they’re caught up in this town’s dark history, or if nuGhostface has followed them from home.

The episodes do a good job of quickly and efficiently introducing a crop of fresh faces/suspects/victims, including Jeremy (Alex Esola, “Mr. Robot”), the aforementioned publisher, and Alex (Alexander Calvert, “Arrow”), an island recluse. I also found Emma’s arc throughout really interesting, the way it tackles what being a survivor of this type of thing – particularly in the public eye – does to a person’s sense of self. Things drag a bit in the second hour, though, and they’ve sanded off a lot of Gustavo’s more interesting edges now that he’s Brooke’s boyfriend. But overall it’s a fun sit that reminded me of why I like this show and these characters. And the teases for what may what’s to come – including a surprise guest star – were also very intriguing.

“Scream” celebrates “Halloween” early this Tuesday on MTV. Until then, speculate away in the comments section.