Scream
You might scream when you see 'Scream'
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2022 Review Number 2:
Scream: (Thriller/Horror): 77 out of 100: Who remembers the original 'Scream' from 1996 which killed off big star (at the time), Drew Barrymore in the opening scenes? This movie explored the clichés of horror movies and was a satisfying treat for the aficionados of this genre. After three sequels with the last one released in 2011, comes this 'requel' (as explained by one of the characters as a reboot/sequel). It's a welcome return to form for the 'Scream' franchise.
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Tara (Jenna Ortega) and her sister, Sam (Melissa Barrera) live in Woodsboro, California, the scene of a streak of brutal murders that have plagued the town over the years. Along with their friends, they discover that people close to them are being killed by Ghostface. In order to survive, they enlist the help of retired sheriff Dwight "Dewey" Riley (David Arquette), author and TV reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and survivor of the original Woodsboro killers, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).
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If you haven't seen any of the 'Scream' movies then fear not, as there are hints dropped throughout this movie that explain what has happened in the past. If you have seen the original, there are many scenes that help you reminisce to the point where you might even think that you are watching a carbon copy of the 1996 version. 'Everything Old is New Again' as Peter Allen once sang. This might disappoint some fans who want something completely fresh but please those who felt the previous sequels were unmemorable or disappointing.
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This is the first film in the series not directed by Wes Craven, the master of slasher movies, who unfortunately died in 2015. The new directors are Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett who would make Craven proud of the way they have elicited the scares throughout the movie along with the gruesome killings that would make the squeamish close their eyes or cower in their seats. For those who enjoy jump scares, there's a few of these along with the obligatory scary music to signal the scares.
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The cast of newcomers along with mainstays of the past films, Arquette, Campbell and Cox, all contribute capably to building the tension and there's even some emotional moments to develop the character arcs. It's not all doom and gloom however with some witty dialogue to remind you that this is basically a satire of the horror genre. Yes, there are clichés aplenty but this is like a film within a film and there are references throughout to illustrate this.
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'Scream' is a solid entry to the thriller/horror genre and makes up for the mainly forgettable sequels that followed the ingenious 'Scream' of 1996. It certainly helps if you like this genre to appreciate it even more.
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Starring Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid, Jenna Ortega, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette
(114 mins)
Parental advice: Profanity and violence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beToTslH17s (Movie trailer)
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(Reviewed on Thursday 13th January, 2022)
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