Scaredy-Cat Review: Scream

Sweet, sweet, 90s nostalgia.

Title: Scream

Director: Wes Craven

Year of Release: 1996

Scaredy-Cat Level: 😂 (more funny than scary, but that’s 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 joke—it could mean you’re about to be murdered. Sidney Prescott, who’s still coping with her mother’s 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 — and not-so-obvious — suspects. Oh, and this killer might also be responsible for her mom’s death.

SPOILER ALERT!

The rest of this review contains some details and thoughts that might reveal a bit too much about this movie — 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 he’s easy to spot, there’s still that occasional moment where he catches you off guard — like when he jumps out at Sidney in her house. A classic “yikes” moment!

Tense Moments: The opening scene with Drew Barrymore is iconic for a reason. It’s the perfect mix of suspense and horror, watching her go from playful banter to sheer panic in minutes. Even though she’s 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. It’s less supernatural dread and more “Is someone behind me in this very normal-looking house?” Still, those dark hallways and lonely streets have their own unsettling charm.

Bits That Scared Me

• “I wanna know who I’m looking at”—chills, even now. The way Ghostface flips from teasing to menacing is creepy as hell.

• The final confrontation at the end, when you realize the killers’ 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 there’s 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 — so unnecessarily mean!

• Dewey's moustache. Enough said.

• The group of kids running through the school dressed as Ghostface — insensitive but so perfectly high school.

• Principal Fonzie waving scissors around like they’re a deadly weapon (ironic foreshadowing?).

• Sidney's boyfriend telling her to “get over” her mom’s death because he got over his parents' divorce. Yeah, because those are exactly the same.

• The janitor dressed as Freddy Krueger — bonus points for the meta reference since Wes Craven directed both A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream.

• Randy’s “Everybody’s a suspect!” rant at the video store — pure gold, and also, he’s not wrong.

• “Please don’t kill me, I wanna be in the sequel!” — Greatest. Line. Ever.

• The garage door kill — 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 isn’t the scariest film out there, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a self-aware horror movie that pokes fun at the genre’s clichés 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 — and you’re in on the joke. Scream knows exactly what it is: part slasher, part comedy, and all fun.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved this film. It’s 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, it’s a time capsule of the decade. If you grew up in the 90s, or just love a good meta-horror, this movie’s for you. Plus, the death scenes are iconic — each one more ridiculous than the last.

My (Out-of-Context) Thoughts During the Movie

• “I would have hung up instantly. Not because I was scared but because I’m antisocial.”

• “Why is she still talking to him? Such a flirt!”

• “Popcorn is ruined.”

• “Steve!”

• “Those questions were a joke.”

• “How good were the 90s though?”

• “He must have hung her really quickly.”

• “He climbed in her window just for a quick kiss?”

• “It’s The Fonze!”

• “Loving the hairstyles.”

• “Another regular-sized American house.”

• “Ooh, her mother was murdered. The plot thickens.”

• *Gasps* “That’s not Randy on the phone!”

• “Yeah, run up the stairs. Great idea.”

• “Boyfriend’s acting suspicious.”

• “The press are intense in this town.”

• “Would a reporter wear a bright yellow suit when reporting on murders?”

• “What a punch!”

• “He just wants her to get over her mother’s death so they can have sex.”

• “Would they really announce the police curfew on the school intercom?”

• “Oh no, Principal Fonze is toast!”

• “A video store. Great memories.”

• “Monica is such a bitch in this.”

• “High school kids would NEVER break a curfew lol.”

• “Ghostface is so clumsy.”

• “None of these actors are high school age.”

• “This party turned a little boring.”

• “Bet she doesn’t think he’s the killer anymore.”

• “OMG, he killed Kenny!”

• “Is she limping because she got stabbed in the shoulder?”

• “Worst boyfriend ever.”

• “It’s like they know they’re in a horror film.”

• “Don’t stab each other too much, guys!”

• “Why did she put on the costume?”

• “She had time to put on the costume but not to untie her dad? Or at least rip the tape off his mouth?”