Scream 4 (Review)

Whether or not you like Scream 4 (aka Scre4m) will depend a lot on whether or not you liked Scream 2. Luckily for me, I like both. It never goes too far off the beaten path, but it delivers exactly what Scream fans are looking for in a clever back-to-basics package. Unlike the third installment, the characters in Scream 4 are rather interesting—thanks in no small part to the return of screenwriter Kevin Williamson. It takes what worked with the old and places it in a newer, Internet-centric world. It doesn’t revitalize the horror genre like the original did, but it shows that the Scream series still has a pulse.

Of course, all the bloodshed would not be possible without the return of Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott to her hometown. She has written a book entitled Out of Darkness (seriously, that’s the title), which chronicles her struggles as woman whom many people have found very stab-able. Her return to Woodsboro happens to fall on the anniversary of the original film’s events, and conveniently enough, people start getting hacked to pieces in what seems like an attempt at a “remake.” And guess what? Everyone’s a suspect!

Besides the return of Sidney Prescott, the other two main characters from the Scream films return as well. The only difference is that now Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers is now married to David Arquette’s Dewey Reilly (now sheriff), and some adorable bickering is sure to ensue.  Other players include Emma Roberts as Sidney’s cousin, Hayden Panettiere as her best friend, and Community star Alison Brie as Sidney’s rather profane publicist. Also, Rory Culkin and Erik Knudsen step in to fill Jamie Kennedy’s shoes as the all-knowing horror movie experts.

Scream 4 follows just about every beat of the films that came before it, and it knows it. Much of the film’s inevitable meta-commentary revolves around its own pointlessness, and while that doesn’t do a great deal to assure the audience that they aren’t wasting their time it’s still good for a few chuckles. Ultimately, the film’s real cleverness doesn’t reveal itself until the end, but to explain it now would be to go into dangerous spoiler territory. So just trust me. Until now, the original Scream was the only film that had a great deal to say about the horror genre. Luckily, Scream 4 has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Most important of all, Scream 4’s horror elements are surprisingly effective. By now, fans of the series likely know the basic playbook of the Ghostface killer. One second he’s there, the next he’s not, the phone calls all play out in a similar fashion, etc. The difference between this film and Scream 3 is that it’s fun to follow along with the action. Even when you know the killer is creeping around the corner, you wait with eager anticipation instead of rolling your eyes. Say what you will about the material, but Wes Craven can direct a scary movie in his sleep.

In my opinion, the Scream films have rarely ended on the right note. When the “taking off the mask” moment came in the first three, my reaction wasn’t always positive. I talked myself into liking the original’s ending, but the next two just devolved into silliness. Strangely, I think Scream 4’s ending is actually quite good. Rather than being pulled out of deep left field, the killer’s identity actually seemed thought out—which made for some terrific thrills in the last few scenes.

Of course Scream 4 doesn’t need to exist, but that’s the case with most movies these days. The difference with this film is that it actually explores some new ideas without ever breaking the Scream rules. It isn’t all that interesting when it tries to be overly self-aware, but when it goes for simple “man in the house” thrills is when it’s most successful. In a world where horror films are often dumber than a bag of hammers, well-made thrill rides like the Scream films are a joy to behold. This fourth installment is more than good for two hours of fleeting, fun and frightening entertainment.

Rating:  (out of 4)