"What's Your Favorite Scary Movie?" Scream.

Rating: 8/10 (21 May 2008)

"Scream" remains one of the smartest and most entertaining teen slasher films ever. Why? Well, of course there's the actors. Neve Campbell definitely gives Jamie Lee Curtis a run for her money as the Reigning Teem Scream Queen. She makes the lead character, Sidney Prescott, all at once strong, smart, and vulnerable. Besides Sidney, there's ruthless and ambitious reporter Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox); dopey but lovable cop Dewey (David Arquette); Sidney's feisty and funny best friend Tatum (Rose McGowan); Sidney's brooding boyfriend Billy and his wisecracking friend Stu (Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard); and movie-obsessed geek Randy (Jamie Kennedy). All the characters are distinctive and well-acted, and it really is an ensemble film.
However, it is the writing by Kevin Williamson that makes "Scream" truly special. As Billy states to Sidney at one point, "It's all one big movie. You just can't pick your genre". The film stays true to this quote. Unlike other slasher films full of clueless teens, the characters in "Scream" know they're in a movie. And if they don't, they sure do know a lot about them. The script contains several humorous, pop culture references to movies (many of them being horror films). The film takes pleasure in poking fun and deconstructing many horror movie standards and clichés. "Scream" is still a horror movie itself and often implies a few of these so-called rules. But they are often done in an ironic and inventive way. The death scenes are creative, the characters are actually smart and know how to fight back, and the plot twists are effectively surprising. Actually, it would be safe to say that "Scream" is not so much of a horror movie, but a mystery movie with blood and violence. Unlike Freddy, Michael, and Jason, the killer is never given an identity until the climax of the film. "Everyone is a suspect!" Randy proclaims. At different points in the movie, every character does come under questioning. Is it Billy, Sid's dark and angst-ridden boyfriend? Did Randy see one too many movies and snap? Or is Gale doing all of this to get another story? Anything can happen, and the final reveal is very unexpected.
"Scream" is amazingly entertaining and suspenseful on the first viewing. And the great thing is it remains fresh and continues to keep you on your seat every time you watch it. Afterwards, many teen slasher copycats like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Urban Legends" were made, and two more films in the "Scream" series, but none of them are like the original "Scream".