Scream

    Without a doubt Scream is one of the most well-crafted horror films that is justifiably given credit with revitalizing the horror/slasher genre. Everything about the film works. From how meta it is to the kills to the mystery to the conclusion; it is a film that works on several levels. The cast is one of the best things about the film, as Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, and Skeet Ulrich all do a fantastic job to the point where I cannot imagine anyone else playing their characters. The opening scene of the film might be one of the best in the horror franchise. It sets the tone for not only the premise, but also the overall feel and style of the film, including the fact that it supposedly takes place in the real world where movies like Friday the 13th are acknowledged.

            From that opening sequence, the film does not let up at all. There are several different plots for the characters involved and it becomes an interesting task to try to figure out how it all ties together. One of my biggest issues that I typically have with horror films is that the killings are not spread out. Virtually nothing happens for a very long time and then towards the end a massive killing spree occurs, but that is not the case here. The killings start from the opening scene and continue routinely throughout the film, with each murder building suspense and keeping the audience guessing as to who the real killer is, while also giving you several options of which to choose from. The killer in the film even uses a generic Halloween costume that is acknowledged in the film, so the possibilities are endless. That is a clever way to add a sense of realism. What happens in this film can easily happen in life, and that ups the scare factor tenfold.

            Another issue I typically have with horror films is how ridiculous they can be, but Scream decides to steer directly into that with the character Randy, who is a major horror fan that constantly acknowledges how ridiculous horror films can be and how they all seem to follow the same methodic formula. I am just a sucker for films that happen to be meta because I like when a film can poke fun at itself. Wes Craven did a fantastic job with the direction of this film, but that should be no surprise. That guy was a master at crafting suspenseful horror films and his presence was definitely felt throughout this film. It is very difficult for me to review a film like this because I feel like I am just gushing over my love of it. It really is just that good.

            During Halloween season I highly recommend you watch this if for whatever reason you never have to this point. Especially considering that a new sequel is in the works, it would be a good idea to get caught up before that is completed. Although, if I am being completely honest, this is really the only one you need to watch. The others are fine, but none can compare to the classic that this is. This is easily my favorite horror film. Official Rating: Five Stars.

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