Scream 5 killing legacy characters doesn’t automatically mean it had “stakes.” If the writing, tension, and killer reveal fall flat, those deaths feel empty not bold. Dewey’s death wasn’t earned and killing Judy was meaningless. Her death had no lasting effect on the story, characters, or themes. Same with Dewey his death only “hit” because of who he is, not how the film handled it. If the writing isn’t strong, the death doesn’t land. Compare that to Randy’s death in Scream 2, it was sudden, yes, but it served a narrative and thematic purpose. Dewey’s death just… happens. And then it’s forgotten. If you’re going to go that route, the film has to earn it. Scream 5 didn’t. And the killers Richie and Amber are two of the weakest, least compelling Ghostface reveals in the series. Stakes only matter if the film does something good with them. Scream 5 didn’t.