The stage curtains open ...
"There are certain RULES that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie!"
"Scream" (1996) directed by Wes Craven, and starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Rose McGowan, Jamie Kennedy, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore, was an instant classic in horror - a game changer. I was 28 when this movie hit the silver screen, and I was a HUGE horror film fan, so "Scream" was right up my alley. In an age where horror movies had all but come to a standstill with uninspired plots and straight-to-DVD sequels, "Scream" reinvented the slasher genre that helped inspire other notable films to follow, such as: "I Know What You Did Last Summer", "Urban Legend", and "Disturbing Behavior" (to name a few), while paying homage to the classics that came before.
The movie starts with one of the best opening scenes ever filmed in horror history when a girl named Casey (Barrymore) is home alone one evening. She is getting ready to enjoy some popcorn and watch a scary movie when she receives a phone call from a stranger with deadly intentions. The next day, the whole town of Woodsboro is abuzz with the news of Casey's gruesome murder, especially the students at the high school who can't believe it. Affected more deeply than the others is Sidney Prescott (Campbell), who's mother was a murder victim nearly a year before. A feisty news reporter (Cox) seems to think there may be a connection between the two, and it isn't long before the killer known as 'Ghostface', because of his halloween-like costume, comes calling at Sidney's front door.
Wes Craven has often times been labeled (correctly too) as a master of his craft. This may not be more pronounced than this film. "Scream" is the perfect blend of scares, humor, acting, direction, editing, cinematography, and music as I've ever seen in a horror movie. Ever. That is saying something since there aren't too many horror movies I haven't seen. It was perfectly cast, and I was invested from the very first scene. It has a solid plot as well - it's not just an excuse to have a serial killer chasing after screaaming teenagers. It is a movie that is self-aware, and that is one of its biggest charms.
Nothing is rushed here. Each moment is allowed to build up the tension as it should. It isn't a busy film, but it really is engaging and it will pull you in for its entirety. The final scene alone, the party at Stu's house, was just over 40 minutes. And, at NO time, did it feel like it was too long or drawn out. It is probably the best horror film of its generation out there, and can hold its own against all of the greats. I highly recommend this one at the strongest rating possible of 10 stars out of 10. THIS is good horror. The best.
"There are certain RULES that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie!"
"Scream" (1996) directed by Wes Craven, and starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Rose McGowan, Jamie Kennedy, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore, was an instant classic in horror - a game changer. I was 28 when this movie hit the silver screen, and I was a HUGE horror film fan, so "Scream" was right up my alley. In an age where horror movies had all but come to a standstill with uninspired plots and straight-to-DVD sequels, "Scream" reinvented the slasher genre that helped inspire other notable films to follow, such as: "I Know What You Did Last Summer", "Urban Legend", and "Disturbing Behavior" (to name a few), while paying homage to the classics that came before.
The movie starts with one of the best opening scenes ever filmed in horror history when a girl named Casey (Barrymore) is home alone one evening. She is getting ready to enjoy some popcorn and watch a scary movie when she receives a phone call from a stranger with deadly intentions. The next day, the whole town of Woodsboro is abuzz with the news of Casey's gruesome murder, especially the students at the high school who can't believe it. Affected more deeply than the others is Sidney Prescott (Campbell), who's mother was a murder victim nearly a year before. A feisty news reporter (Cox) seems to think there may be a connection between the two, and it isn't long before the killer known as 'Ghostface', because of his halloween-like costume, comes calling at Sidney's front door.
Wes Craven has often times been labeled (correctly too) as a master of his craft. This may not be more pronounced than this film. "Scream" is the perfect blend of scares, humor, acting, direction, editing, cinematography, and music as I've ever seen in a horror movie. Ever. That is saying something since there aren't too many horror movies I haven't seen. It was perfectly cast, and I was invested from the very first scene. It has a solid plot as well - it's not just an excuse to have a serial killer chasing after screaaming teenagers. It is a movie that is self-aware, and that is one of its biggest charms.
Nothing is rushed here. Each moment is allowed to build up the tension as it should. It isn't a busy film, but it really is engaging and it will pull you in for its entirety. The final scene alone, the party at Stu's house, was just over 40 minutes. And, at NO time, did it feel like it was too long or drawn out. It is probably the best horror film of its generation out there, and can hold its own against all of the greats. I highly recommend this one at the strongest rating possible of 10 stars out of 10. THIS is good horror. The best.