Review #43: Scream (1996)

Cast/Notable Credits:
Wes Craven (Director/Janitor):

Neve Campbell (Sidney): Sream Trilogy, Party of Five T.V. series, Wild Things (1998), The Craft

David Arquette (Dewey): Scream Trilogy, Eight Legged Freaks (2002), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Courteney Cox (Gail): Scream Trilogy, Friends T.V. series, Masters of the Universe (1987)

Rose McGowan (Tatum): Deathproof/Planet Terror, Jawbreaker (1999), Devil in the Flesh (1998), Phantoms (1998), Ready to Rumble (2000), Bio-dome (1996), Encino Man (1992), and Charmed T.V. series

Matthew Lillard (Stuart): Ghoulies 3 (1991), Wing Commander (1999), 13 Ghosts (2001), Scooby Doo 1 (2002) & 2 (2004)

Live Schreiber (Cotton): Scream Trilogy, Omen (2006), The Hurricane (1999), Jakob the Liar (1999), Phantoms (1998), Sphere (1998), Ransom (1996)

Jamie Kennedy (Randy): Scream Trilogy, Bowfinger (1999), Three Kings (1999)

Drew Barrymore (Casey): E.T. (1982), Cat’s Eye (1985), Firestarter, Poison Ivy (1992), Batman Forever (1995), Charlies Angels 1 (2000) & 2 (2003), Donnie Darko (2001), 50 First Dates (2004)

Henry Winkler (Principal): Waterboy (1998), Arrested Development & Happy Days (Fonzie) T.V. series

Trailer:


The first of the 1990's "Fab 4".

Wes Craven makes a comeback in the horror industry with this movie. He pumps the “juice” into horror movies making them more modernized and realistic. The plot is simple…unknown killer seeking revenge on a goody two shoes girl and her friends.

Scream starts off with Drew Barrymore cooking Jiffy Pop popcorn on the stove waiting for her boyfriend to come over to watch a scary movie. She receives a phone call for a mysterious stalker who is watching her from the outside. He toys with her and quizzes her about horror movies in order to save her life. If she answers wrong to a question, then she dies. I'm liking the start to the film!

She (Drew pictured right) bluffs the caller by threatening that her boyfriend is coming over any minute now. Little does she know that he is being held captive and dies because she answers a wrong to a question the killer asks. Eventually the killer disguised in a ghost costume comes after her and kills her. Her parents come home and find the mess. Boo hoo.

The next day, the high school is shocked about the killings and the film sets up the main characters and...the stereotypes they fit in. Sidney (the troubled virgin/heroine), Tatum (the bestfriend), Stu and Randy (the pranksters), Billy (the mysterious horny boyfriend), Gail (the snoopy news reporter), Dewey (the in empted cop), and the Fonze (the principal).

We learn that the focal point around the movie turns out to be Sidney. Her mom was murdered exactly a year ago by a deranged serial killer, Cotton Weary. She’s become dark and depressed over the course of the year...basically turned into a Goth chick...just kidding! Her father leaves town on a business trip and harassing phone calls by the killer start pouring in.

Left alone and scarred, the killer attempts to go after Sidney, but is interrupted by her boyfriend and the cops. The killer flees and Sidney stays with her best friend and idiot cop brother for protection. Johnny on the spot to interview Sidney is Gail, the slimy reporter.

Gail continues to pry into Sidney’s current situation because Gail has hit it big with a book publishing from the Cotton Weary murders. Any smart business man would be saying, "Can you say sequel?"

The town is rocked by deaths and imposes a curfew and temporarily suspension of school. Stu holds a party at his house remotely located in the hills. Party goers are picked off one by one as the killer closes in on Sidney. At the end we get the whole damsel in distress chase scene followed by the revealing of the killer and the mastermind plot behind the killings.

Villain:

Film created an icon killer (at least the costume set up). Those costumes are even more popular during Halloween time. Craven created a cash cow here.

If you haven't seen the killer...pictured right...yes it's Ghost Face. I actually like the Scary Movie spoof of the mask...the one with the tongue rolling out from the "Whatz up!" stoned look. G.F.'s favorite weapon of use: the knife. ***Spoiler Highlight to Read *** Ghost Face turns out to be a multi-killer. * End.

Cast:

Scream offers a better cast than most horror films, at least from a budgetary perspective. Wes Craven brought some life into the film by making the characters more realistic, and lively. It also helps that the audience knows the characters from previous/future jobs.

My favorite characters from the film are Stu (Lillard or Shaggy) and Randy (Kennedy). I thought that they brought some good humor to the film. Sidney (Neve)on the otherhad, well…if I had my way, she would have died. That probably would have killed the whole "trilogy" thing though. I'm not a big fan of Neve Campbell's acting...or her just in general.

Courtney and Rose (pictured left) spent the film doing nothing (besides being annoying), but they did bring a huge element to the film...eye candy. It was great to see The Fonze in a limited role. He's awesome!

Unfortunately Scream creates a "cast mold" for future 90's horror films to come. One key element that was puzzling...there was no "token" cast memeber. What's up with that?

SFX/Gore:

There was a total of seven deaths in the film, using good special effects on them. Scream did actually bring back the gruesome killing style of slasher serial killers.

Scream used more creative deaths rather than the "gross you out" type of deaths. For the most part, it stuck to the knife being the main weapon of destruction. None of that one stab in chest-fall-over-and-die B.S. They proved when you get stabbed, you got stabbed to death...they made it count!

TNA:

Scream filled up the screen with eye candy for the men and women movie goers. For the men, there were at least 6 hot chicks to gaze at. For the women...well...I'm not a good judge at grading hot men, so I'll go with a ball park figure of 6 as well.

The film did have the key moment of the virgin finally losing her virginity, not really shown in a true "pornographic style"...and there were no female "twins" involved. Bummer. At least you can look at the great eye candy. Here's another picture of Rose for ya. You can never have too much Rose, can ya?

T.Gun's Take:

This movie set the standard for later rip off slasher flicks to come...at least it revitalized the slasher genre. Scream also staked a claim in the ground by adding the unique “who dunnit” killer twist, which eventually will get over used.

Although I’m not a huge “Scream” franchise fan in any sorts, I have to give it some respect for putting horror movies back on the map. I get sick of hearing people state that Scream is their favorite horror movie because it’s so scary. Whatever! Most of those idiots never saw the original haymakers back in the day. They only see the iconic figures as the heroes that numerous sequels have turned them into.

Misc. Movie Trivia:
-Film opened December 26, 1996 and made $103 million at the box office ($6.35 opening weekend)
-List of people that auditioned for the role of Sidney: Drew Barrymore, Melissa Joan Hart, Molly Ringwald, and Reese Witherspoon
-List of people that auditioned for the role of Tatum: Rebecca Gayheart, Melinda Clarke,and Charlotte Ayanna
-Freddie Prinze Jr. auditioned for the role of Stu
-Movie killer based on a true life Florida serial killer named, “The Gainesville Ripper”
-The janitor in the school is director Wes Craven, wearing a Freddy outfit (minus make up and glove)
-Dewey was originally supposed to die, but popular screen tests favored him to live. Damn!