Scream 2 (1997)

Director:

Wes Craven

Writers (WGA):

Kevin Williamson (characters)
Kevin Williamson (written by)

Release Date:

12 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Jemand ist mit seiner Liebe zu Fortsetzungen einen Schritt zu weit gegangen. (Somebody has taken his love for sequels one step too far.)

Plot:

It has been two years since the tragic events at Woodsboro. Sidney Prescott and Randy Meeks are trying to get on with their lives...

Plot Keywords:

College | Murder | Death | Revenge | Sequel

Awards:

5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Jada Pinkett Smith	...	Maureen (as Jada Pinkett)
Omar Epps	...	Phil
Paulette Patterson	...	Usher Giving Out Costumes
Rasila Schroeder	...	Screaming Girl Up Aisle
Heather Graham	...	'Stab' Casey
Roger Jackson	...	The Voice (voice) (as Roger L. Jackson)
Peter Deming	...	Popcorn Boy
Molly Gross	...	Theater Girl #1
Rebecca McFarland	...	Theater Girl #2
Neve Campbell	...	Sidney Prescott
Elise Neal	...	Hallie
Liev Schreiber	...	Cotton Weary
Kevin Williamson	...	Cotton's Interviewer
Sandy Heddings	...	Girl in Dorm Hallway (as Sandy Heddings-Katulka)
Dave Allen Clark	...	Reporter Outside Theater

Also Known As:

Scream Again (USA) (working title)
Scream Louder (USA) (working title)
Scream: The Sequel (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and strong bloody violence.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:PG-13 | USA:TV-PG (tv rating) | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (cut) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:18 | Israel:16 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:18 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Agnes Scott College - 141 E. College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, USA

Company:

Craven-Maddalena Films

Trivia:

Body count: 10

Goofs:

Continuity: Red drawings on Derek's chest disappear/reappear when the fraternity captures him.

Quotes:

Gale: So I am heading down to Admissions to do some legwork, you game?
Dewey: I'm not here to write a book Miss Weathers, I'm here to help Syd.
Gale: I wanna help her too, and help myself, of course. Come on Dewey, smile for me once, please!
Dewey: I'll smile when I catch the killer.

Movie Connections:

References "Twin Peaks" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Eyes of Sand

Film Planted Firmly in Cheek

Wes Craven is back again at the helm of Scream 2, his followup to the mega-successful Scream. As sequels go, one could do a lot worse than this film. Sure, it has a pretty silly story trying desperately to cling to the original source material, but it never ever takes the story too terribly serious. How does Craven do this? He laces the film with all kinds of film references and humour directly tied to the film industry and actors involved. Several mentions of "Friends" cast members abound whilst having Courtney Cox return in her signature role as Gail Weathers. Craven also brings back the rules to horror films - now horror sequels; these rules are right on mark too(wish we had heard the most important!). In fact my favourite scene in the whole movie is in a classroom where students debate the inferior sequel to the superior original. Excellent examples are given to support one argument that sequels are better: Aliens and Terminator 2, and of course, The Godfather 2. Naturally this small cross section seems great when none of the hundreds of truly bad sequels are mentioned. Purposely I am sure! Is Scream 2 better than Scream? No way. It doesn't have nearly as much punch to it. The opening scene this time takes place in a movie theater, but it is not as powerful as the opening scene with Drew Barrymore in the original. The story is really something unto itself as well...but any kind of examination of plot other than a cursory one would give too much away. Not that that would be any great pity. I did like the acting in this one more. Arquette returns as Dewey affecting some kind of limp and pinched nerve in hand. He does a fairly nice job. Cox is lovely as ever and also is good in her role. Campbell is OK, as is the rest of the cast with Jamie Kennedy again standing out as nerdy movie maven Randy Weeks and, in particular, Liev Screiber doing a wonderful job as Cotton Weary(the man who had been accused of killing Sidney's mama). This sequel has more blood, more deaths, and more jokes. Like the original, I too enjoyed this film for its entertainment value if nothing else.