Director: Wes Craven Writer: Kevin Williamson Starring: Neve Campbell Courteney Cox David Arquette Jamie Kennedy Rose McGowan Skeet Ulrich Matt Lillard Henry Winkler Liev Schreiber Drew Barrymore Rating: *****
Back in 1996 horror was a dying film genre, then a man named Kevin Williamson wrote a film called Scary Movie. It's sharp script and well developed characters meant it was an instant hit with movie producers, and after plenty of battles for the rights it was finally made, and the Scream series was born. It's terrifying story, brilliant directing and superb performances meant it is my all time favourite horror film and that is why it has made my number 1 spot.
The film starts with a phone ringing and a young and attractive girl answers, her name...Casey Becker (Barrymore). As the conversation unfolds she soon realises that this isn't just a prank call, but a psychotic murderer playing a sick game. This whole scene, for me, is quite possibly the best scene in any horror film, and it is certainly the best opener. What it does is instantly show whats going to be happening, but also that nobody is safe. Drew Barrymore was one of the biggest stars at the time so the audience expect her to survive, but the moment her parents find her hanging from a tree everything is turned on it's head and nobody knows what to expect.
After the shocking opener we are then introduced to Sidney Prescott (Campbell), a damaged teenager who has had a very troubled past. She has a strong group of friends including Tatum (McGowan), her spunky best friend, Billy (Ulrich), her sexually frustrated boyfriend, Stu (Lillard), Tatum's lazy boyfriend, and Randy (Kennedy), who is obsessed with horror movies. Despite the strong group of friends she still can't get over her past, and with all the murders now happening it is all being dragged up again.
Sidney's mother was brutally murdered a year prior, and now it's all flooding back, with no help from local reporter Gale Weathers (Cox). Gale had reported on the murder and also wrote a book about it, and because of this her and Sidney are often bucking horns. Gale also defended the man who was sent down for the murder, Cotton Weary (Schreiber), and that has always rubbed Sidney up the wrong way. Tatum's brother, Dewey (Arquette), is like an older brother for Sidney, so he tries to protect her from Gale, but he ends up falling in love with her, which Tatum isn't that pleased with. Gale and Dewey are complete opposites, Gale is smart and sharp and always on the ball, whereas Dewey is a bit slow and dopey but he really does mean well. It is a lovely relationship and it is things like this that separate Scream from other horror films. You become so involved with the characters that you really feel for them and genuinely feel something when they get got.
The direction is brilliant by Craven and he really manages to bring Williamson's script to life. It brings out all the sharpness and cutting comedy that makes the script so brilliant, as well as creating some of the best death scenes in movie history, I'm talking garage door and TV on the head. The acting is terrific, and I especially love Rose Mcgowan as Tatum; also the fact that the three leads, Campbell, Cox and Arquette, returned for all three sequels show how good and well made the films are, because that never happens with sequels.
So, my countdown is complete, 5. Zombieland 4. Halloween 3. Paranormal Activity 2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and my number 1. Scream. I have plenty of other favourites but these are the best of the best. Maybe you disagree, and if so let me know below.
Director: Wes Craven
Comments
Post a Comment