Tags
1990's, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Drew Barrymore, Horror, Jamie Kennedy, Matthew Lillard, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, Scream, Skeet Ulrich, Wes Craven
Film Title
Scream
Director
Wes Craven
Starring
- Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott
- Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers
- David Arquette as Dewey Riley
- Jamie Kennedy as Randy Meeks
- Rose McGowan as Tatum Riley
- Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis
- Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher
- Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker
Wes Craven’s seminal horror movie of the 90’s that rejuvenated the genre, Scream is a fresh, darkly funny and suspenseful movie that is still a real blast to watch.
The film begins with blonde bombshell Casey Becker answering the phone whilst preparing to watch a slasher flick. The caller soon turns threatening after flirting with her and begins to taunt her into playing a game of horror movie trivia. Her boyfriend is tied up outside and is subsequently gutted when Casey gets an answer wrong. The terrified girl is then stalked by the masked caller who eventually stabs her to death and hangs her body from a tree. Meanwhile, teenager Sidney Prescott is trying to adjust to life with the upcoming anniversary of her mother’s brutal rape and murder. Sidney is also contending with her boyfriend Billy who wants intimacy with her but can’t seem to get close. Sidney’s other friends include the sassy Tatum, movie nerd Randy and goofy Stu. The slaying of Casey and her boyfriend becomes big news in the town of Woodsboro( covered in the news by resident bitch and anchorwoman Gale Weathers and investigated by the not so bright Dewey, a cop and brother of Tatum) with everyone suspecting who the twisted killer could be. All the students are sent home for fear of their safety with a curfew put in place. It soon becomes clear that this killer has watched one too many scary movies as more grisly murders occur and Sidney is seemingly the main target. With the body count rising, will the terrified Sidney be able to survive the encroaching bloodbath? In-jokes to many slasher flicks, inventive and gory deaths and credible performances make Scream a refreshingly excellent exercise in the horror genre.
Wes Craven directs with a flair for the material and perfectly manages to balance the grim and knowing humour with scenes of blood-soaked savagery. The endless list of inventive deaths also breathes fresh life into the generic tropes of the genre, with the chilling opening a clear highlight of terror and suspense. The biggest asset that raises Scream above many horror films is the self-aware script that lampoons conventions and gives the proceedings a jolt of off-kilter humour. The scene in which Randy explains the rules about surviving in a horror movie to other students at a drunken party is both a witty commentary on the repeated formulas of horror movies and a subversive nod to the seen it all attitudes of movie-loving teenagers. Scream also gives us a genuinely creepy villain in the form of Ghostface. With his twisted love of horror movies, chilling games and menacing voice, he is a common fixture on Halloween night and has been imitated countless times in so many movies. Marco Beltrami provides Scream with a spine-chilling score of haunting voices and sinister synths.
A splendid cast encompass their roles with wit and believability. Neve Campbell is emotionally convincing in the role of the terrorized Sidney, who goes from vulnerable girl to strong and resourceful survivor as she is galvanised into fighting back against her masked attacker. Playing the role with quiet conviction and buried strength, Campbell makes for a great heroine of horror that you can root for. Courteney Cox makes a fabulous impression as the ruthless and bitchy Gale, who will do just about anything for a scoop or her name in lights. David Arquette contributes goofy charm to the part of Dewey, who is often clueless on matters of the case. Jamie Kennedy is a hoot as the movie geek Randy, imbuing the part with a nervous and manic energy while Rose McGowan is feisty and sexy as Sidney’s best friend Tatum. Skeet Ulrich is mysterious and slightly menacing as Sidney’s boyfriend Billy and Matthew Lillard is great at playing the slightly hyper Stu. Drew Barrymore makes the opening to Scream memorable as the blonde lovely tormented and eventually butchered by Ghostface.
Hip, witty and above all scary, Scream is a horror movie that shouldn’t be missed.
Laura said:
Love this film! It was the first horror film I saw at the cinema (under-age) after years of watching them at home with my mum. It cemented my love of horror, forever confirming it as my favourite, my go to genre whenever I’m looking for something to watch.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, it ranks as one of my favourite movies in the horror genre.
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Cavershamragu said:
Liked this one a lot though to my mind it’s very much a whodunit masquerading as a horror movie!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, I can see what you mean about the whodunit aspect of it.
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Abbi said:
You know I love this one. Definitely one of my favourite horrors ever.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks Abbi, it is such a well written and excellently performed movie that breathes new life into horror.
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shujibhuji said:
Oh man I specifically need a lot of guts to see this movie. It’s brilliantly directed and schemed and plotted as well. I can stand all the horror for movies but its just the human blood and gore and the ruthlessness I cant stand though I can watch the bloody horror shows and all kind of exorcism movies and all the real blood and gore from Animal planet and Nat-Geo wild documentaries but not the murdering lunatic crazy fanatic wretched humans blood and gore. In the end Love this movie and the reviews are good.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for commenting man.
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shujibhuji said:
you’re welcome
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alexraphael said:
Ghostface still scares me. I have not seen many horror films to compare it to, but I really liked the energy and the characters. Great review dude.
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vinnieh said:
I know what you mean, that mask still creeps me out.
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alexraphael said:
Out of curiosity did the spoof bother you?
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vinnieh said:
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Scary Movie.
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alexraphael said:
I prefer spoof movies that mock bad films than good ones.
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vinnieh said:
I agree with you there.
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thatbigscreenguy said:
The issue I think, is that this installment set the bar too high that none of the sequels could really surpass it. That’s just my opinion on it.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment, the bar was indeed set very high after Scream.
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thatbigscreenguy said:
Glad I wasn’t the only one who thought so 🙂
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Lights Camera Reaction said:
One of my favourites! I do think the film peaks at its opening scene (which is a masterpiece on its own), but its still a solid film after that with one hell of a third act.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, it really is such a clever movie that twists genre conventions.
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Mark Hobin said:
It wasn’t obvious at the time, but Scream would have an influential effect on horror. Wes Craven’s most successful film and a re-invention of the genre. Great review.
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vinnieh said:
Excellent point Mark, it did revitalise the horror genre when it really neeeded it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
My favorite Wes Craven movie Vinnie! Great review!
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vinnieh said:
It’s mine too and boy did he have some amazing films in his canon.
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raistlin0903 said:
Great post! I could not agree with you more. The first Scream is one if those movies that will always stick with you. That opening scene is truly heartwrenching. I remember the first time I saw it, it was one of the most powerful opening scenes that I think I have ever seen in a film. Great performances throughout, with great inside jokes on the horrorgenre in general, this is a classic film and one that I still watch from time to time 😊
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vinnieh said:
That opening is truly iconic and completely unexpected. That last shot is truly gut-wrenching when Casey’s parents find her. The cast where hip and smart, clearly clicking with the in jokes and self-reflexive tone of the film. I can’t really think of a film that can go from being really funny to genuinely frightening so quickly. Wes Craven’s adept horror skills and clear love of the genre creates a tense yet fun atmosphere. And Neve Campbell as Sidney is fantastic as she appears like any ordinary girl thrust into horrible circumstances.
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raistlin0903 said:
Neve Campbell was such a promising actress. It is a real shame her career never seemed to have lifted off. I love her acting skills, and ofcourse she is also a very beautiful woman. Strange how Hollywood can sometimes be very weird when it comes to things like this. As for Scream, I really think it was one of the most clever horrormovies ever made. I always love horrormovies. Definitely one of my favorite movie genres.
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vinnieh said:
I think she’s a very talented woman. From Scream to Party of Five, and not forgetting Wild Things, she got the attention. I think she’s said herself she sort of took indie movies rather than blockbusters because her younger years were so busy. Horror is a great genre, my favourite too.
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Hayley's Horror Reviews said:
Informative and well written. You capture why Scream revitalized the horror genre during the mid-90’s and why it has stood the test of time.
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vinnieh said:
Thank you. I feel so passionate about it as a film and as a recharge of the horror formula.
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Hayley's Horror Reviews said:
Me too. It’s one of the first movies that made me fall in love with the horror genre.
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vinnieh said:
I can see why it had that impact. It certainly made me love it.
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