Its a Scream baby (Scream (DVD))

Member Name: jaygami1986

Product:	Scream (DVD)
Date:	21/02/08 (68 review reads)
Rating:

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This review is on one of my favourite horror films, the reason I was so into this film because it was modern, and was so different to the common ideology about what horror films should be about. Im reviewing the 1996 smash hit horror "Scream", directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. For me the film revolutionised the target audience and conception of horror films.
It made horror films more fun to watch, with slight humour, however still keeping the edge, the gore and the blood. It took all the basic storylines from films such as Friday the 13th, and nightmare on Elm Street, and bought it up to date. The film was something I enjoyed more because I was young at the time; I feel it was made especially for teenagers, although the basic plot and movement of story wasn't that bad. Ive known quite a few people that don't even consider this to be a horror film, because it just doesn't seem realistic, it's too humorous at times. However, I myself didn't think it was too bad at all.

BASIC PLOT

The film starts off, with one simple phone call; a young beautiful blond named Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore), is making popcorn and waiting for her boyfriend to come over. Whilst waiting, Casey receives a phone call from an unknown person, who seems to ring her back many times. At first she thinks its all harmless fun, until the voice then says he's in her house. Casey and her boyfriend are brutally murdered, and word soon spreads around the school they went too.
Meanwhile Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is still coping with the murder of her mother almost a year ago, she was brutally raped and murdered and the murderer Cotton Weary is now behind bars. The film shows how she is still not coping with the loss of her mother, and the new deaths in town have made her think of how her mother was murdered. During the early stages of the film, with her father away on business Sidney is left home alone, however her friend suggests she stay over and will be around to collect her in the evening. It is then that Sidney receives a strange phone call from a mysterious person, the "killer", Sidney at first thinks its her friend Randy, however soon realises its either a sick joke or something weird. The Killer makes his way into Sidney's house, and is about to attack her, however unlike the normal stereotypical female lead, Sidney manages to attack the killer and salvage to her room were she calls the police. Moments later her boyfriend appears in the window, and she seems relived, only to find her boyfriend with a cellular phone, running downstairs the police find Sidney and arrest her boyfriend. Long story short her boyfriend wasn't the phone caller and is released, but the killer is still out there.
With several more murders, school is out, and the kids decide to throw a party. Will the killer show up, if so will we find out whom it is, what there motivation is, and who else will suffer from the hands of this killer. Prepare for a journey of 111 minutes of "Scream"

Characters:

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott:

Sidney is the main lead role in this horror film, like most horror films they need a lead female role, but she's so totally different from the others. Her character is just getting over the death of her mother, and the recent ways of new killings, which coincide with the anniversary of her death, make Sidney once again scared, and relive the tragedy of her mother's death. From he go ahead we see Sidney as a different lead role, as they state in the film, she's not blond, isn't dumb and doesn't have big breasts. She's well a realistic normal person that would choose to go out the front door rather than stay in the house if they hear weird noises.

Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers:

Gale weathers is the local news journalists that a year ago reported on the death of Sidney's mother, she covered the trial and believed the wrong man was in fact behind bars and the killer could still be out there. She like the woman that everyone hates in the film, especially Sidney as they have several altercations throughout the film, and yes she is Monica from friends.

David Arquette as Dwight 'Dewey' Riley:

Dewey is the local deputy of the town and the brother of Sidney's best friend. For me this film became a lot more humorous and down to earth because of his character. He really does look like a dumb ass and it makes it really hard to believe that he's a cop. However, in many ways he has a central role in the film ,and his character develops a relationship with Gale Weathers.

My View:
The reason I was quite fond of this film was because it was something different from the typical horror films, it almost poked fun at the concept of how horror films worked, giving insight into the rules of killers, and it most certainly revolutionised slasher films. It was more for the younger teenage generation, the high school kids, it was something we could relate to, and this was further cemented with comedy and humour. The death scenes although brutal were done in a way that made it watchable rather than turning your face in the cinema and not looking.
The characters were ok, as obvious the biggest star being Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox. The others were low budget actors, which at the time were involved in other low budget films. Now not the best horror film because there are so many more, but its up their as being a good one, in terms of box office success and appeal. I suppose it made horror films more glamorous and watchable for the younger audiences.
Another reason the film was so good was because we never really knew who the killer was, sure at first we have our ideas of it being this or that person, but the film moves in a way in which you cant point at one person, it could be anyone. The voice of the killer and his costume are the best bits to this film, the voice of a man who seems to have had one too many smokes and is now using a machine to talk. And the creepy black overall, with the scream face. I can still remember my friend coming to my house one day wearing this costume, it was about 2 in the morning and I was sleeping, seriously scared the crap out of me.

The film had a set of rules, which are noticeable whilst watching the film, these rules are the "rules" that all horror films supposedly have. They are;

* You may not survive the movie if you have sex.
* You may not survive the movie if you drink or do drugs.
* You may not survive the movie if you say "I'll be right back."
* You may not survive the movie if you ask "Who's there?"
* You shouldn't go out to investigate a strange noise if you wish to survive.
* Never believe the killer is dead, as he'll return for one last scare...

* Don't Answer The Phone
* Don't Open The Door
* Don't Try To Hide

I suppose the film mocked these rules, and showed why most horror films are so predictable at times, why would you open the door when you don't know who it is, or why not beat the killer if he's lying on the floor hurt, rather than waiting for him to wake up and run after you, only to then slit your throat and kill you. The film also had reference to many of the popular horror films of the past such as Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcists and many more.
Run Time: 111 minutes
Budget:$14 million
Turnover: $173 million
My verdict: 4 out of 5 stars.

Summary: Scream if you want some blood