SCRE4M

2011
Director:  Wes Craven
Writer:  Kevin Williamson
Starring:  Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox

YES!  I've been an original fan since 1996.  I can still recall the first night I watched it.  I had to be eleven or twelve.  A neighbor spilled the blood on the first gory ten minutes of the film to me, so I knew it was one of those movies that could only be endured to its maximum with the lights out.  Although I do remember it was a bootleg, beings how I watched it in the comfort of my own bed while others traveled to the movie theater, I honestly do not remember if it was a VHS tape or DVD.  You know you're old when you own a movie on DVD and VHS:)

I fell in love with this movie because it slices a new light into the horror genre.  The overwhelming comic relief alters the emotional effect it has on the viewer.  The story almost made me want to live in "Woodsboro" just to hang out with the characters, whether they were psychotic or not.  Can you honestly say you would not have attended Stu's party in the first film?  Most horror films splash me with sympathy for the victims and fill my stomach with that awkward feeling of fear for the possibilities of what can happen in real life.  Scream stands out in this sense because it intertwines horror with comedy while throwing in intense and suspenseful scenes.

Although the original is unmistakably the best, I have some honorable notes to mention for the second film.  I dig the music almost as much as the original movie soundtrack.  The "ear slashing" movie theater murder opener is epic.  The scariest and most suspenseful scene is delivered in this sequel.  When Sidney and her friend are being escorted to an unknown place by the two cops, Ghostface interrupts their plan and kills the two cops.  The two girls get trapped in the back seat after the car crashes and the killer, who was driving,  is temporarily knocked out.  The only way out of the car is to climb over the limp, masked body.  Watching two girls attempt this makes you unnervingly squint knowing the killer just has to wake up any second.

This movie also does an amazing job framing different characters throughout the story, leading the viewer to accuse the wrong people.  As a result, the killers' true identities are especially surprising.  Not to mention, the twist that reveals the killers' identity is not only off the top, but also is believable and makes perfect sense, unlike the third sequel.

Scream 3 sucked.  Period.  I can still remember the excitement that tossed in my stomach the night I stood in line on opening night.  Beings how I had to live up to my crazy reputation, I dressed up as Ghostface.  Unfortunately, a cop made me remove my mask before I could even enter the theater.  That shitty buzz kill foreshadowed the disappointment the movie had in store.  I recently discovered why that movie sucked so bad.  The entire film series was directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, however, Scream 3 had a lot of writing influence from Ehren Kruger.  Thankfully Kruger only wrote bits for Scream 4 which were uncredited to him, may I add.  Perhaps he got caught up writing a fucked up sequel to Nightmare on Elm Street?

I must be honest, my expectations for Scream 4 were not high at all.  I wanted to see it for sentimental reasons, and I am sure as hell happy I did!  I found the multiple opener twist satisfying and enjoyed the few cameos made by some familiar faces from some favorite television shows.  Above all, I found the ending twist quite tasteful.

My favorite scene probably consisted of 4,839 gallons of corn syrup/fake blood.  Olivia's death scene is classic because her friends watch helplessly from a window in the house next door as she gets slaughtered.  When help finally arrives and the bedroom door of the crime scene is first revealed, the walls are literally painted red.  Don't worry, it's not the overwhelming gore that tickles my interest.  It's the fact that the crime scene has a familiar look to it.  It reminds me of Tina's last breaths in Wes Craven's Nightmare On Elm Street.  Now that's symbolism, baby!