Title: Scream
Director: Wes Craven
Year of Release: 1996
Scaredy-Cat Level: š (more funny than scary, but thatās intentional)
Subgenre: Slasher, Mystery, Meta-Horror
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
In the quiet town of Westboro, a prank call might be more than just a jokeāit could mean youāre about to be murdered. Sidney Prescott, whoās still coping with her motherās brutal death the year before, soon finds herself at the centre of a new wave of killings by a mysterious masked figure known as Ghostface. Obsessed with horror movies, Ghostface taunts his victims before striking. As the body count rises, Sidney must figure out who the killer is from a list of obvious ā and not-so-obvious ā suspects. Oh, and this killer might also be responsible for her momās death.
SPOILER ALERT!
The rest of this review contains some details and thoughts that might reveal a bit too much about this movie ā you have been warned!
The Scaredy-Cat Experience
Jump Scare Count: Scream has a few jump scares, but most are fairly predictable. Ghostface is always lurking around corners, and while heās easy to spot, thereās still that occasional moment where he catches you off guard ā like when he jumps out at Sidney in her house. A classic āyikesā moment!
Tense Moments: The opening scene with Drew Barrymore is iconic for a reason. Itās the perfect mix of suspense and horror, watching her go from playful banter to sheer panic in minutes. Even though sheās only on screen for a short time, her scene sets the tone for the entire film. And is this the greatest cameo in cinema history?
Spooky Atmosphere: While not exactly a spooky film, Scream nails that suburban slasher vibe. The big empty houses, quiet streets, and dark corners are ideal hunting grounds for a killer like Ghostface. Itās less supernatural dread and more āIs someone behind me in this very normal-looking house?ā Still, those dark hallways and lonely streets have their own unsettling charm.
Bits That Scared Me
āI wanna know who Iām looking atāāchills, even now. The way Ghostface flips from teasing to menacing is creepy as hell.
The final confrontation at the end, when you realize the killersā motive (however ridiculous) is a mix of funny and disturbing.
The Funny Bits
Scream is as much a horror-comedy as it is a slasher, and thereās no shortage of laugh-out-loud moments. Here are a few that cracked me up:
Dewey screaming while holding the Ghostface mask.
Gale calling her camera man fat for no reason ā so unnecessarily mean!
Dewey's moustache. Enough said.
The group of kids running through the school dressed as Ghostface ā insensitive but so perfectly high school.
Principal Fonzie waving scissors around like theyāre a deadly weapon (ironic foreshadowing?).
Sidney's boyfriend telling her to āget overā her momās death because he got over his parents' divorce. Yeah, because those are exactly the same.
The janitor dressed as Freddy Krueger ā bonus points for the meta reference since Wes Craven directed both A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream.
Randyās āEverybodyās a suspect!ā rant at the video store ā pure gold, and also, heās not wrong.
āPlease donāt kill me, I wanna be in the sequel!ā ā Greatest. Line. Ever.
The garage door kill ā her legs just dangling from the cat flap, like something out of Looney Tunes.
Death by TV. Ridiculous? Yes. Entertaining? Absolutely.
Scaredy-Cat Verdict
Scream isnāt the scariest film out there, but it doesnāt need to be. Itās a self-aware horror movie that pokes fun at the genreās clichĆ©s while still delivering enough thrills and chills to keep things interesting. It plays with the audience, winking at you with every horror trope it uses ā and youāre in on the joke. Scream knows exactly what it is: part slasher, part comedy, and all fun.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely loved this film. Itās a brilliant blend of clever satire and classic slasher, with enough 90s nostalgia to keep anyone entertained. From the hairstyles to the video store hangouts, itās a time capsule of the decade. If you grew up in the 90s, or just love a good meta-horror, this movieās for you. Plus, the death scenes are iconic ā each one more ridiculous than the last.
My (Out-of-Context) Thoughts During the Movie
āI would have hung up instantly. Not because I was scared but because Iām antisocial.ā
āWhy is she still talking to him? Such a flirt!ā
āPopcorn is ruined.ā
āSteve!ā
āThose questions were a joke.ā
āHow good were the 90s though?ā
āHe must have hung her really quickly.ā
āHe climbed in her window just for a quick kiss?ā
āItās The Fonze!ā
āLoving the hairstyles.ā
āAnother regular-sized American house.ā
āOoh, her mother was murdered. The plot thickens.ā
*Gasps* āThatās not Randy on the phone!ā
āYeah, run up the stairs. Great idea.ā
āBoyfriendās acting suspicious.ā
āThe press are intense in this town.ā
āWould a reporter wear a bright yellow suit when reporting on murders?ā
āWhat a punch!ā
āHe just wants her to get over her motherās death so they can have sex.ā
āWould they really announce the police curfew on the school intercom?ā
āOh no, Principal Fonze is toast!ā
āA video store. Great memories.ā
āMonica is such a bitch in this.ā
āHigh school kids would NEVER break a curfew lol.ā
āGhostface is so clumsy.ā
āNone of these actors are high school age.ā
āThis party turned a little boring.ā
āBet she doesnāt think heās the killer anymore.ā
āOMG, he killed Kenny!ā
āIs she limping because she got stabbed in the shoulder?ā
āWorst boyfriend ever.ā
āItās like they know theyāre in a horror film.ā
āDonāt stab each other too much, guys!ā
āWhy did she put on the costume?ā
āShe had time to put on the costume but not to untie her dad? Or at least rip the tape off his mouth?ā
I've always liked Scream, too. What amazes me is how long the franchise has kept going without completely killing itself. As I recall, in one of the sequels, there was discussion of how the Stab franchise is falling apart. That happens to so many. Or least they fracture into multiple timelines (I'm looking at you, Halloween!)
Maybe if we get tot he point where Ghostface is trying to kill Sidney Prescott's daughter, or perhaps Sidney's reincarnation in the year 2100, we will have had enough.
You did another fun one!!! Iāve def gone as Ghostface for Halloween once. It was nice and comfy haha