So I'm a, Big Scream believer and a homecoming queen! (Scream (DVD))

Member Name: angusreid

Product:	Scream (DVD)
Date:	31/10/05 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: thoroughly enjoyable and deserving of anyones time

Disadvantages: Bit of a weak plot and has been tried and tested, but well modernised.

So what’s you favourite scary movie?

Scream was originally called Scary Movie, did you know that?

All the best ones have a main character, don’t they?

Friday 13th has Jason, nightmare on Elm Street has Freddy, Halloween has Michael and the Exorcist has Margaret Thatcher. (Not really, the poor girl in the exorcist was called Regan and played by a very young Linda Blair would you believe?)

But Scream does not.

So what makes a good scary movie watch able time and time again, despite knowing the plot and ending? Is it the gore? The gruesome endings of the main characters? Or even an ending that is left open for a sequel?

No, none of these point me to my fascination of Scream.

What makes this compelling viewing is, in my opinion, the fact it takes on the ridiculous plots of scary movies and reinacts them tongue in cheek, yet does not lose the relevance nor audience involvement at any time.

Sure, some well known names appear here, what with Drew Barrymore making a fleeting appearance at the start (swoon) and Courtney Cox showing she can act away from her stereotype friends role. Yet this movie does not really look for startling performances or real-life incidents to shock, it relies on good old jump out from behind the door shouting “BOO!” entertainment to ride its version of horror. No fancy special effects and no deformed unkillable superhuman mutant.

So, the story.

The movie starts of quickly with some action in the guise of an attack on a poor girl on her own babysitter style plot, nothing you have not seen before and certainly nothing original, but to think this movie is going to take the role of your usual scary movie would be wrong. Turns out this attack is similar to that of Sydney’s mother killed a year ago and we have what seems like a serial killer in the small US town of Woods borough.

Now Sydney’s friends are rather geeky and include a movie expert, who follows all the plots of serial killings and gruesome horror movies etc, and he explains to the group his theories and according to his calculations, every one of them is a suspect!

This equates to the rules of a scary movie, rule number one being never say “I’ll be right back!” or you die. Another rule is “Do not lose your virginity,” which is why I am around to write this review.


Scream follows a pattern where people are being bumped off one at a time for no apparent reason, and no one can work out who is carrying out the murders. Incorporating suspense, thrills and storyline, Scream is a bit of an edge of the seat movie and barely time to nip to the loo without missing something. Believable in most parts but humorous at the same time, something that a lot of movies do without meaning to or fail to achieve when they do. I saw a movie a few weeks back called “Head Cheerleader, dead Cheerleader!” and that was funny for all the wrong reasons, but worth watching.
Screams storyline is unoriginal when you think of it afterwards but carries you for the duration and the plot is strengthened by the acting, which I thought was more than believable and also quite entertaining. Something you need to keep you transfixed to any spoof style serious movie.

As I said, the acting was really good, Drew, although only on screen for a short time always has my undivided attention. Courtney raised the bar for me, after seeing her in Friends, it took a lot to shake of the Monica stereotype, but this worked very well and her character, a ruthless reporter, was played with great conviction.

Sydney, the star of the movie is played by Neve Campbell and is also very convincing as a victim who fights back. None of the “oh help me please!” little lost girly characters in this movie, as Wes Craven prefers his victims to make a fight of it and help the action rather than succumb to stereotype scenes. Some other notable performances go to Skeet Ulrich and David Arquette, and all in all they are convincing if not Oscar potential.


Careful use of shadow, darkness and clever lighting ensures that you do not miss any of the action and Wes manages to ensure the camerawork is almost like you are filming it yourself. It’s hard to tell at times if you are jumping or the camera is and I really enjoyed the fact it was not shot in darkness like a lot of horror movies are. I prefer to see the action on screen when I rent or watch a movie, not have to imagine them as I buy the book for that.

Now my personal opinion of the movie is that the storyline is tried and tested, but turned around and given a spring clean then updated to fit 5 different plots into one. I enjoy this movie every time I watch it and despite knowing the ending, still find it entertaining. With acting that covers the basics (entertaining and funny) and enough action to ensure you are never bored, Scream incorporates all the characteristics of Wes Craven and proves why he is one of the top scary movie directors in the game. To think he was sacked originally as Freddy Kruger as they thought they could do the Nightmare movies without him, how wrong they were.

This movie has everything for me, shock, jumps, laughs, cute girls and popcorn. I would thoroughly recommend this movie anytime as a bargain rental or one to record on T.V. despite being some 9 years old now and one of a trilogy; this will not let you down.

Summary: You won't want to leave the room and say "I'll be right back!"