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    Scream

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    “Scream” was, and still is, a game-changer for the horror genre. Part black comedy, part satire, part unapologetic slasher film, it’s smartly written, memorable and suspenseful. Written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Kraven, it deconstructs the clichés of the slasher genre and then rebuilds them better than ever.

    Woodsboro, California has become a playground for a mysterious serial killer in a Halloween costume. When “Ghostface” (voiced by Roger L. Jackson) begins calling high-school student Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), she wonders if the killings are linked to the murder of her mother, one year ago. Or is it simply a coincidence?

    The film wastes no time indulging in the clichés of the slasher genre. The opening scene (featuring a memorable cameo by Drew Barrymore) is basically a summary of every “Friday the 13th” and “Halloween” sequel, complete with an isolated teenager targeted by a maniac whose face remains hidden, abundant bloodshed, a murderer that seems to be everywhere at once and an edged weapon. This shows that Kevin Williamson knows what he’s about to tear down. "Scream" is a movie about people who have seen horror movies. There are direct references to both mainstream classics like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and the more obscure horror pictures (that should be classics) like “The Howling”. The characters are a lot smarter than you’re used to seeing because they've seen the same movies you have. The killer is far less indestructible than you’re accustomed to.

    “Scream” has a very unusual quality. One second you’ll be laughing, the next you’ll be horrified. When Ghostface attacks someone, they get pelted with whatever objects are nearby, they get knocked over, tripped, etc. It makes you laugh but don’t get too carried away. They’ve got murder on their mind and the body count in this film is high. It’s like all these setbacks are making the killer angrier and more determined; like they expected to be untouchable so when they finally tear into their victim’s flesh, the deaths are brutal. Director Wes Craven (no stranger to many of the films referenced in the script) manages to have his cake and eat it too.

    Aficionados of the genre will have a great time catching all the references, recognizing the tropes and seeing the formula they’ve seen before and fallen in love with play out like this. What elevates the film - and makes it a dark delight for those who might only have a passing interest in the horror genre - is the mystery. You don’t know who is under that mask. When you think you might have it figured out, you’ll notice something off about the way Sidney’s boyfriend, Billy (Skeet Ulrich) enters the room, or wonder if her friend Randy (Jamie Kennedy) might be obsessed enough with horror movies to go on a murder spree. There’s Matthew Lillard’s Stu, who shows a weird enthusiasm about everything that’s going on that also points to him as a suspect and if he’s in on it, I guess his girlfriend, Tatum (Rose McGowan) might as well be placed on the list. The same goes for police officer Dewey Riley (David Arquette). Could all the teasing have made him snap? The boots we saw the killer don in that one scene are eerily similar to the one he wears… unless they’re just standard police issue, which could point toward Sheriff Burke (Joseph Whipp) as the killer. Hints point toward pretty much everyone, maybe even reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox). That last one is significant. This movie offers much more than just the murders and mystery. You get the sense that even if bodies weren’t falling left and right, there would be a lot going on with the relationships, the anniversary of Sidney’s mother’s death coming up, her murderer being falsely accused according to Gale and more.

    A lot of care and attention has been put into “Scream”. The deaths are memorable and so are the characters. The gore will make you turn away, but there are many laughs and clever bits of dialogue. Between all of these - and the icon the film created upon arrival - it’s easy to overlook the performances, which would be a mistake. Neve Campbell as Sidney is terrific. Everyone is. Whether you’re watching it for the first time and trying to figure out who Ghostface is, or you’ve seen it before and you’re watching to see how all of the little pieces of the mystery pay off, “Scream” is a great film - and not just for horror hounds either. (On Blu-ray, January 16, 2022)

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    adamwatchesmovies@  18.4.2015 age: 26-35 2,866 reviews

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