DIRECTORS: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
PRODUCERS: William Sherak & James Vanderbilt & Paul Neinstein
WRITERS: James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick
PERFORMERS: Melissa Barrera Mason Gooding Mikey Madison Dylan Minnette
Jenna Ortega Jack Quaid Marley Shelton Jasmine Savoy-Brown
Special Appearances by Skeet Ulrich Courteney Cox David Arquette and Neve Campbell
It's been over twenty-five years since a little film called "Scream" changed the face of the horror genre for a younger generation of it's time. With the direction of Wes Craven (R.I.P.), the brilliant writing of Kevin Williamson and the uncanny performances of the main cast (some of whom appear in this follow-up), that film brought back what horror and suspense had been missing for a while. And now with this recent incarnation, not only do we get a trip down memory lane, but also a new approach to the average "whodunit" aspect of the film itself. Same rules, Same town... New killer(s), Scream is a rather surprising and edgy return to a world filled with mystery and suspense.
When Craven died, I must admit I thought we would never get another Scream film. Having seen the first three from the mid 90's to the early 2000's, I thought that was the end of it. But then the fourth film came and went and as with any other franchise, one would think 'okay, that's a wrap'. Then this came along, and I really didn't know what to expect. All I knew was that Craven could not be replaced no more than the original actors or writer couldn't. So, I took a huge chance with this when I saw it and much to my surprise, did not disappoint! The new cast was very stellar, including the main ones and to keep this spoiler free... everyone played their parts to the core. I really liked the performance of Melissa Barrera as she really delivered her part as the daughter of a former character from the earlier films. She really brought so much believability to her character as she struggles to overcome her inner demons while trying to find her identity. They say you can't run from your family, and it's true even for those who don't have a family. Jenna Ortega, on the other hand, also gives an uplifting portrayal as Barrera's younger sister, she was more like a younger more adolescent Laurie Strode from the Halloween franchise, only naiver and despite her innocent appearance, a fighter at heart when push came to shove. Seeing the originals from Arquette to Cox and yes... Campbell herself was also a real treat. Who would have seen that coming?
The twists and turns had me guessing on almost every level I could count! In fact, I almost thought I was looking at a repeat of the first film only more twisted. It was as if nothing had changed, the signs of suspicions were aimed at everyone, and you didn't know who to believe or trust until the climax. But the main guy was a complete shock to me. That's what made the earlier films work in the first place. You never know who's the real culprit until the end and as the main tagline suggests: "it's always someone you know". What makes it true is that the main antagonist is either someone you know or someone you're familiar with. Everyone is a suspect throughout the show, but once his or her identity is revealed, you're either shocked or not. I was shocked beyond belief when the big reveal was out. The motives behind the killings were out of this world insane! Taking an idea and revamping it into something new from the viewpoint of a superfan while attempting to disregard all the other incarnations that came and went, we're also quite genius. If this was anything short of genius writing, it was one other thing: a message to fans all over without distorting the original material. Talk about a way to uphold something sacred and precious.
If Craven were alive, he would have been proud of this because the directors behind this film have really done him justice. Somewhere up there lies his stamp of approval, as this is also tributed to him and the legacy he left behind. The original Scream launched a lot of the actors' careers, rebooted the horror genre for a young generation and was the stuff that suspense was made of. But this one succeeded in capturing the essence of that time without feeling too undated and that no time has passed by. The film was well made, well written, well directed and well done and I would highly recommend it for every fan of the series out there. You would be surprised how it turns out upon seeing it and with everything you remember from the earlier films, you'll have that same feeling you had when you saw the originals for the first time. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time; my heart was pounding like crazy, and it thrilled me from start to finish! Scream makes you want to scream like you never have before and when it does, you recall that first time when you did in 1996! Just don't see it alone. All in all, highly recommended!
In Memory of
WES CRAVEN (1939-2015)
MY RATING: 4 out of 5