“Watch a few movies, take a few notes…it was fun!” – Stuart (Matthew Lillard) in Scream

With Wes Craven’s Scream 4 hitting theaters today, I decided to take a look back at the previous three Scream films in the popular horror series. I was only 8 when the first film hit theaters, but I still remember it’s huge cultural impact: creepy prank phone calls, a huge revival in the slasher genre and of course the introduction of the now infamous Ghostface mask. I did however, see Scream’s parody counterpart Scary Movie when it was in theaters in 2000 and even then I was still much too young for that. Actually, Scream and Scary Movie aren’t that far apart from one another. In fact, Scream’s original title was “Scary Movie.” And that’s honestly what the heart Scream is. Not just a slasher film with teenagers getting hacked off one by one, it is a self aware parody/love letter to ALL those other cherished horror films. Teenagers will appreciate the thrills of the kills just as much as movie lovers will appreciate the horror name drops and inside jokes. That has been the beauty of writer Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven’s beloved series. 

I felt a standard recap of the movies was necessary as I began to get (a little too) excited about the next installment: Scream 4. The movie’s compass has always been the film’s established “rules.” These rules, generally described and elaborated on by resident horror film nerd Randy (Jamie Kennedy), are the basic rules most horror films tend to follow. Each set of rules changes to adapt the type of film it is set in. Here’s how the rules help cultivate the films in the trilogy.






Scream

  1. No sex, “Sex = Death”
  2. No drinking or drugs (extension of #1)
  3. Never say “I’ll be right back”
These are your most basic rules. The audience can relate and gets comfortable. The film does a great job delivering on the rules set while still catching us off guard with twists we didn’t see coming. The first Scream installment had all the makings a classic and re-watching it really made me fall in love again. As silly as that sounds, Scream is just so much fun. Upon viewing, I sit and squee with excitement as I revel in lines like “Sid. You’re starting to sound like some Wes Carpenter flick or something.” Then there’s the small clues to answer the whodunit mystery you pick up on during repeat viewings. Even the way the setting of Woodsboro was filmed, gives you the vibe that the creators knew it would be a classic. It was a fresh film that breathed life into a struggling genre and became the source of messy fun for generations to come. 

Scream 2: The Sequel

  1. The body count is always bigger
  2. Death scenes are more elaborate (more blood, more gore)
  3. Never, under any circumstances assume the killer is dead.

Scream 2 is actually my least favorite of the trilogy. While it does deliver on the rules and adds in a few decent scares, I find it misses the mark on campy fun. A lot of people disagree with me on this one, stating 2 to be one of their favorite in the series. I do appreciate the new sequel rules, especially the bigger body count, but I ultimately feel that the plot starts to meander and the shocking moments don’t hold up on repeat viewings. It seems that adding a third film with the core cast was the right idea, trying to keep up the series allure. The cast here is not as strong either, becoming an annoyance and distracting from the tone of the film. Plus an awesome character dies, which sucks in the long run.



Scream 3: The Concluding Chapter of a Trilogy

  1. Superhuman Killer (very difficult to kill)
  2. Anyone, including the main character, can die
  3. Forget what you know about the past, because it’s coming back to bite you in the ass
  4. All bets are off
Well wouldn’t you know it, Scream is ready to become a trilogy! There are a lot of haters out there for the third Scream installment, but I actually had a great time while revisiting this one. Most of the new characters are humorous and overall good additions to the rest of the cast. The rules can basically be boiled down to “anything can happen” which is almost a cop out. I can see why people have beef with the film. But I really like the concept of incorporating the Stab movieverse into the plot of the films. My favorite rule here is #2. Knowing that Sid could be slashed up at any time really keeps the viewer on their toes.

In conclusion, Scream is a solid horror series. The filmmakers are smart enough to not take themselves to seriously. They know why the audience watches and can for the most part deliver. So what’s in store for Scream 4? It appears to be a remake/reboot themed film. I think this is coming at the perfect time. In a world were we are almost exclusively treated to horror remakes and barely any fresh ideas. I am an absolute sucker for a great slasher franchise and if no new ones are ready to get started, count me in on continuing the Scream legacy.