Mutant Reviewers from Hell do
    Scream

    1996 Wes Craven's Nightmares

        Summary Capsule: Someone has taken their love of horror movies too far and is offing the teens of a small town in accordance with "horror movie rules".






        Justin's Rating: AHHHHHHH!!! (okay, whaddya expect?)
        Justin's Review: This definitely must be seen in a dark theater for full effect, but if you get a group of friends together and watch it on a stormy night, it might work as well. I've seen so many horror flicks in my life that they've become (as for most of our generation) clichéd and insulting. I can't remember the last time I was minutely scared or jumped at a horror film... until Scream. On top of being a cutting-edge satire of the horror film genre, it manages to be a terrifically scary movie as well. The opening sequence (which is the Scream trilogy's trademark) is nothing short of inspired. It's horror in spades as Drew Barrymore gets hacked by a demented killer, and I could have left the movie after the first fifteen-minute segment fully satisfied. But the rest of the movie is great as well, bringing in plenty of "today's hottest young actors" (translated: actors in their mid-20's playing teenagers with no skin acne and belly piercings) to be chased, taunted, and slaughtered. Truely scary in parts, funny in others, and a genuine mystery to the end -- if it's your first time seeing it. Well, going to go grab a soda... I'll be right back!

        Andie's Rating: 5 out of 4 Drew Barrymore stab wounds
        Andie's Review: Scream is hands down my all-time favorite horror movie. Trust me, I've seen 'em all and this one is the best. At first glance, you might think, "typical teen slasher movie" right? Well, the first difference is the killer; anything but typical. He is a cell-phone-toting, halloween-costume-wearing, movie-trivia-spouting madman, terrorizing a group of small town teenagers. The teenagers aren't typical either. The boys are hilariously funny, especially Randy (Jamie Kennedy) and Stuart (Matt Lillard). The girls can actually **gasp** fight back for once. These females give the killer a pretty good run for his money. The reason Scream is so good is because it doesn't resort to stupid scares. It doesn't overload you with startles and jumps, but it spices 'em in every so often. In between the good scares is some of the funniest dialogue you'll ever find. The highlight of Scream is the 13 minute opening sequence in which Drew Barrymore gives an awesome performance as the first victim. That sequence alone is definitely worth the price of admission. Overall, Scream is a great movie for horror buffs and a good movie for anyone else who wants to laugh til they ache and be so scared they grab the person next to them.

        Kyle's Rating: 5 shiny knife blades out of the kitchen set
        Kyle's Review: I love horror movies. As much as I like romantic comedies and action adventures films, I love watching some scary movie late at night and then wandering around till dawn making sure the windows are shut and that creak I keep hearing isn’t some spawn of Satan looking to collect on that gambling debt.

        I also love Scream. I went with three friends to see it on the big screen, and we were all jumping in our seats and gasping at every scare. It was great. Scream is fantastic, and it hasn’t lost anything on the transition to the small screen.

        This movie works because it’s more about plot than trying to scare us. Yes, you’ll barely control your bladder with some of the things this movie throws at you, but the devil is in the details, and that’s where this succeeds.

        Things that happen early on matter later. If you pay attention, there are little clues scattered throughout that help you find out who is really killing everybody. Pay close attention, because this whole movie is one cool trip to watch. Lots of in-jokes, lots of little stylish details, lots of fun dialogue. Dammit, this movie is cool, alright? The guys are funny, the girls are hot, the scares are chilling, and people fight back. It’s all a little too ironic to cause any permanent psychological damage, but this is a treat for hard-core horror fans and people who just want a good scare. So enjoy it!

        Didja Notice?
        thestatic writes in, The end of the film has an unusual continuity (I think). When Sydney runs back into the house, she's confronted by both Randy and Stu. Besides the fact that Randy seems to now be outside the house instead of on the couch, the fact that Stu is outside and now wearing different clothes should tip anyone off that he's one of the killers. And even if that was a slip-up, while it's reasonable to assume that he saw Tatum's dead body when he went to get more beer, there's absolutely no way he would know that Billy was "dead" upstairs.

        The Movie Store!
        Scream: A Screenplay: Book
        Scream: Movie [VHS]
        Scream: Movie [DVD]
        Scream: Movie [VHS Widescreen]
        Scream: Movie Deluxe Kit [VHS]
        Scream: Soundtrack [CD]
        Scream: The Poster [1]

        Intermission!
        Here is a list of the horror movie "rules":
        Don't just stand there!
        Never say "I'll be right back", because you won't be right back!
        Never say "Who's there?", it's a death wish!
        Never go out to investigate strange noises.
        Never have sex or do drugs and alcohol
        And NEVER EVER under any circumstances scream!!!!!

        Groovy Quotes:

        Casey Becker: Who's there?
        Ghostface: Never say who's there? Don't you watch scary movies? It's a death wish. You might as well come out to investigate a strange noise or something.

        Tatum: Who am I? The beer wench?

        Randy: If you were the only suspect in a senseless bloodbath-- would you be standing in the horror section?

        Randy: I never thought I'd be so happy to be a virgin!

        Killer: Do you like scary movies?
        Sidney: What's the point, they're all the same. Some stupid killer's stalking some big breasted girl who can't act, who's always running up the stairs when she should be going out the front door, it's insulting.

        If you liked this movie, try these:
        Scream 2
        Wes Craven's New Nightmare
        When a Stranger Calls (Drew Barrymore's opening sequence of Scream was based on this movie. It's pretty scary.)

        Soundtrack Review: Some pretty good songs, including techno and an eerie version of "Don't Fear The Reaper" by Gus.

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