by Foster Harlfinger, Contributing Writer
Spoiler warning for the first four Scream movies!
Welcome to Round Two of “Foster Checks Another Iconic Horror Franchise off His Watchlist!” Though I have seen the first two Scream films, I feel that I have never properly “done” the Scream franchise. I can never remember the names of the characters, nor can I quote any of the famous lines from memory.
Given the upcoming release of the new Scream film, I figured that now would be the perfect time to cross this franchise off the list of shame. I look forward to diving headfirst into a world of cheesy ‘90s goodness, self-referential jokes, and those pesky Ghostface killers. I guess everyone’s entitled to one good scare, eh? Wait — wrong franchise!
Scream (1996)
The original Scream is just the best, isn’t it? I firmly believe that the iconic 13-minute opener stands alongside the original Halloween as having the greatest opening to any horror movie ever made. Casting a high-profile name like Drew Barrymore in such a critical role makes her unexpected death all the more shocking, and I still get chills no matter how many times the scene has been parodied. Though the opening sets up the viewer for an unrelenting terror-fest, the remainder of the filmis one of the most wildly entertaining experiences I have ever had. This delightfully campy cast perfectly brings to life Kevin Williamson’s meta script about the mysterious Ghostface killer (or is that killers?) terrorizing the fictional town of Woodsboro, California. Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott makes for an excellent lead. She’s a sweet, lovable high school girl, but you would not want to get on her bad side. Courtney Cox as the snappy journalist Gale Weathers and David Arquette as “boyish” Officer Dewey Riley make perfect additions to this cast, but the real star of the show is Matthew Lillard, whose performance is so manic and unhinged that it deserves an entire analysis of its own.
Craven’s direction and Williamson’s surprisingly tight script create some of the most fantastically clever scenarios I have ever seen. I love the way Craven sets up small, but intensely satisfying payoffs like when he shows Sidney using her closet door to block her dad’s entrance to the bedroom, only for Sidney to do the same to Ghostface later in the film. My personal favorite moments occur in the climax of the movie featuring two fantastic moments of back-to-back horror. First, when Randy repeatedly shouts, “Behind you!” at an onscreen Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween as Ghostface hovers over a hilariously oblivious Randy. Next, this is immediately followed by a terrified Sidney watching over the live-camera footage of Ghostface head in their direction only for Gale’s cameraman to inform her that the footage has a 30-second delay. Bye bye, Gale’s cameraman! Scream is one of the all-time greats. I am embarrassed to say that I was underwhelmed with Scream the first time I watched it. I was likely too young to appreciate the meta humor and gonzo performances from Lillard and Skeet Ulrich, but I am happy to report that I have since come around on the genius that is Scream. It’s the perfect balance of cheesy fun and genuine scares, and I love every second.
Grade: A
Scream 2 (1997)
Scream 2 had a lot to live up to when it came to its opening scene, and there was no way that Craven could ever top the original, but I’ve got to say… I really love this opening. Jada Pinkett Smith and Omar Epps make for a hilarious and engaging pair, and the film-within-a-film, Stab, based on Gale’s bestselling account of the events of the original film, is genius. Scream 2 feels like a natural extension of the original film, following Sidney and the other survivors as a copycat Ghostface killer begins making the rounds. In terms of sheer entertainment value, Scream 2 is only a hair below the original film for me. The main thing that knocks this sequel down a peg is that it doesn’t quite capture the lightning-in-a-bottle feel of the original, and the killer reveals this time around are not quite as convincing as Billy and Stu in the first. Regardless, you can tell that Craven and Williamson put a lot of thought into this sequel, and we film fans benefit as a result. As in the original film, there are several memorable horror sequences like Gale and Dewey hiding in the soundproof studio and an unbearably tense scene in which Sidney and her friend squeeze their way out of a car trying not to wake up an unconscious Ghostface. But most importantly, and I can not stress these next two words enough, Timothy Olyphant. Scream 2 more than makes up for its loss of Lillard and Ulrich with its casting of the criminally underappreciated Olyphant as one of our two killers. While he is easily the highlight from Scream 2’s excellent cast, I also have to give some praise to Liev Schrieber and Laurie Metcalf, who don’t get enough love for their similarly compelling performances. Overall, I’d say that Craven’s strong direction, Williamson’s clever plot developments, and a consistently committed cast puts Scream 2 a cut above most horror sequels.
Grade: B+
Scream 3 (2000)
When taking some scribbly notes while watching Scream 3, one of the first things I wrote was, “Feels like a different screenwriter.” Not to toot my own horn, but I kinda nailed it! Scream 3 has the special distinction of being the only film of the original quadrilogy written by a different screenwriter. According to my extensive internet research (also known as Google), screenwriter Ehren Kruger ignored most of Williamson’s original outline for the film and wrote many of his script pages on the day of filming. I unfortunately felt that missing Williamson touch throughout most of this film, though there is still certainly fun to be had. The film tracks the production of Stab 3 as a new Ghostface killer begins offing the film’s cast members in the order that Stab 3’s screenplay kills off its own characters. While this is a perfect set-up for a delightfully meta story, Kruger’s script never lives up to the potential of its own concept. Even so, a few neat ideas sneak their way into Scream 3. I particularly loved the scene in which the real Ghostface hides in plain sight among the Ghostface costumes on the set of Stab 3. The cast, as I have now come to expect with this franchise, is largely great. My favorite addition has to be Parker Posey as Gale’s Stab 3 counterpart — their back-and-forth banter was the highlight of the movie for me. In spite of some genuinely fun moments, Scream 3 is a major step down from the first two entries in the series. From the decent, but underwhelming opening, to the unmemorable final killer reveal, the scariest thing about Scream 3 is Gale’s new haircut.
Grade: C-
Scream 4 (2011)
Guess what… I totally loved Scream 4. Is it as suspenseful and clever as the original film? Certainly not; but I had nearly as much fun with this latest entry as I did with the original two. I loved the multiple fake-out openings, the new additions to the cast, and the movie’s unabashedly over-the-top energy as Ghostface strikes again on the 15th anniversary of the Woodsboro murders from the original film. I think that “fun horror” like this has become somewhat underrated in recent years. I’d love to see more mainstream horror movies like Ready or Not and Malignant which let themselves have fun! Speaking of Ready or Not, being reminded of the film while watching Scream 4 sold me on the fact that the Ready or Not’sdirectorial duo could deliver exactly the sort of sequel I want from the upcoming Scream. It must also be said that for a man in his 70s, Mr. Craven directed the heck out of Scream 4. Nearly all the sequences leading up to one of the Ghostface kills are tense, creative, and exciting. Though no one can top Lillard’s chaotic energy from the first film, I had a blast watching Emma Roberts in the third act of this movie. Watching her character Jill walk into her own knife and jump on top of a glass table was not something I expected to see, but the entire aftermath of her Ghostface reveal was so wonderfully ludicrous that I couldn’t help but enjoy myself. Sure, I’ll admit that the climax of the movie is ridiculous, but you know what? I had a great time, and that’s all that really matters here! I am dangerously close to ranking Scream 4 as my second favorite of the franchise after the original, but I’ll refrain from making such a bold claim for now.
Grade: B
Franchise ranking:
- Scream
- Scream 2
- Scream 4
- Scream 3
The fact that Craven and the main cast stuck around for each of the first four films makes Scream one of the more cohesive horror franchises out there. In spite of an undeniable dip in quality with Scream 3, this was definitely a worthwhile time investment, and I look forward to watching this short-but-sweet franchise again soon. In the meantime, this watch-through has me sufficiently hyped that Craven fanatics Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett were able to take a stab at this consistently entertaining franchise. I look forward to seeing their take on this world and sincerely hope that Craven’s enduring legacy has been left in good hands.
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