Scream 4/2011

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Scream 4/2011

If you’re going to do a sequel (and not just any sequel–we’re talking about the 4^th film in a series), then it’s nice to wait 11 years to do it. We’ve had such a long break from the Scream films that we can actually come back now and have fun, whereas with part 3, by the time it hit theaters, we were so tired of being bombarded with them that it was impossible to be entertained by it! And, let’s be honest, with these types of movies, this is ALL you’re supposed to do–sit back, relax, and enjoy the slashing and blood spatter!

The cinematography is nothing to speak of, as this is not really the type of movie that requires anything special. And it would be stupid for me to comment on the acting, as there’s not much for the actors to do...except for Neve Campbell. However, being the new generation’s “Scream Queen,” she’s used to crying, wailing, and running in fear. She’s done it four times now–she should be used to it! And since I’m bypassing the acting, I’ll move on to the story–nothing unique, yet entertaining. These days, that’s about all you can ask for from a horror film. It was fun. It made sense (mostly, except for one thing I’ll point out about ‘Dewey’ in the end). And although I didn’t flinch throughout the entire film, these supposedly ‘scary’ scenes did make me smile, as I knew whilst watching them, somewhere, some poor girl was probably leaping upon her boyfriend’s lap at the very same time.

I’ll probably be a Wes Craven fan till the day I die, and though Last House on the Left and the Nightmare on Elm Street series will always be my favourites, the Scream franchise is not far behind (part 3 will always be the one I consider more of a ‘throw away,’ but perhaps I should go back and watch it again to see if I feel the same way after all this time.) In all, I’ll give Scream 4 a solid “B” grade, just for being so much damn fun...

(c) Marque Terrynamahr Strickland/2011

...However, I do have two questions. The reason I saved them as afterthoughts is because they do not pose issues that affect my enjoyment of the film. First question: wasn’t Dewey Riley partially crippled from having a severed nerve, or does that heal over time? If not, Wes screwed up there. Oh well. Question number two: do all rich, white kids have parents that care so little about them that they leave them alone for days at a time? What the fuck? You almost NEVER see Caucasian kids’ parents in horror films!