31 Days of Horror! Scream Movie Review!




For day #2 in my 2013 31 Days of Horror I bring to you yet another one of my all time favorite horror movies: Scream.  Writer Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven brought us more than just your garden variety slasher film when they released the movie Scream in theatres in 1996.  Together, these two redefined the slasher movie genre and are also reputed for revitalizing the horror genre as a whole.  Until that moment, horror films were often cast with unknown actors and actresses and the genre was used as a stepping stone for their careers.  Not so with the movie Scream.

When Drew Barrymore, a legend in her own right, read the script, she was hooked at once and wanted to be a part of the team.  Originally she was cast in the leading role however other obligations turned up and she took a smaller role in the movie.  With Barrymore’s name added to the bill many other big names in Hollywood took notice and soon the cast was filled by more than a few familiar faces.  Neve Campbell plays the leading role of Sidney with Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy and Matthew Lillard rounding out the roles of Sidney’s friends.  Courtney Cox and David Arquette also co-star with cameos from Linda Blair, Henry Winkler, Liev Schrieber and Wes Craven himself.

The movie opens with your typical girl-home-alone scenario who receives a call from an unknown caller.  After some harmless bantering back and forth it doesn’t take long for the girl to realize something is amiss.  When the caller tells her “I want to play a game” the tension really begins to mount and the premise of the movie is laid out immediately.

What truly makes Scream an original of its time is the endearing nature of the film to poke fun at its own genre.  Filled with countless clichés and classic horror movie references, the film is one name drop after another making this horror aficionado smile with glee at each obscure (and not so obscure) reference.


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