Above average for the slasher sub-genre

Rating: 9/10 (2 October 2003)

This is NOT your average, mindless slasher flick. Scream: a real psychological breakthrough in the genre of slasher movies.
This movie demonstrates a most excellent advancement in the genre of slasher flicks. Let me begin by saying this is NOT a flick; a flick being a fluffy little piece of nothing designed to make money and nothing more, OR a movie which is so low budget (or the acting is so bad) that it can't do anything but make you laugh, regardless of the subject matter. This is a quality production. The direction was wonderful and the acting was believable. The key to this movie, in my opinion, is three-fold.
(1) The characters seem to realize they are in a horror movie. They quote movies, site movies and refer to movies all throughout the dialog. This, to me, adds to this production, and establishes it as an homage to the horror genre in general. This is a serious parody; not meant to be amusing, but rather, thought-provoking. Randy points out to his friends (and the audience) all the basic rules of surviving a horror movie, as if he knows the now-famous quote by John Lennon that "Nothing is Real."
Randy's rules for Surviving a Horror Movie.
1. You can never have sex.
2. You can neither drink nor do drugs. It's a sin; an extension of Rule #1.
3. Never EVER under any circumstances say, "I'll be right back," because you won't be back. You'll be dead.
(2) The citing of actual movies and events by the characters lends a total reality to this production that lacks in others where they actually make UP movies to site and critique rather than being bold enough to work real movies into the script. ("You can only hear that Richard Gere/gerbil story so many times before you start to believe it." Tatum) Perhaps they are afraid of being accused of endorsing certain movies, while slighting other directors'/actors' work.
Regardless of the reasoning behind it, this movie grabs the bull by the horns and makes you believe the characters are real. You have the uncanny feeling that you are watching actual live footage of these people, rather than characters on a screen, that's how realistically these characters are portrayed.
(3) The characters are SENTIENT. They realize there are consequences. They aren't mindless victims/killers. In a very poignant scene, the killer asks of the victim, "Did you really call the police? My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at me!" in a tear-filled, pathetically whiny voice. It lends to the scene a certain reality that it would have otherwise lacked. The whole movie is blessed with these "reality checks," helping to make it more and more believable.
Neve Campbell is completely believable; her character (Sidney Prescott) seems real and is so beautifully portrayed by Ms. Campbell that she has fully established her gift as a thespian. I do sincerely hope that she is not type-cast in horror movies for the duration of her career. Her talents could well be used in any leading role, in any genre. Her list of credits is already quite impressive, all things considered.
Her character is not one of those horror movie heroines who falls down while running from the killer, who can't keep her head straight in a real crisis, or who proves inept and incapable of fending off an attacker. Her character is brave, and strong, and capable. I LOVE that!!
The character development was so rich and deep, further lending credibility and reality to this production. Above the feeling of watching live footage, you feel as if you personally know the characters and care about what happens to them. This is key in ANY good movie.
Henry Winkler was amazing in his role as the principal of Woodsboro high school. This is the first serious role in which I have admired his abilities. I hope it is not the last. He demonstrated a quality in this movie that I have never before seen in his performances. Even Wes Craven makes an appearance as "Fred the Janitor" in Winkler's most poignant scenes.
As this story unfolds, you will be blown away. This is one of the best movies of the genre of "slasher," and also rates with "The Game," "Fallen," "Psycho," and a much later movie, "Identity," in the psychological thriller Hall of Fame.
A most excellent movie; totally awe-inspiring soundtrack that works with the movie SO WELL. It is endearing to see a director take so much care with every little detail of a work; so much so that this is a true work of art. It is believable, watchable (if from behind a pillow, your half-closed hands, or your knees), and downright SCARY. Truly, I find those movies which tap into the category of "that which could actually happen" to be the scariest. This is definitely one of those movies. I have the whole trilogy right next to "Halloween," "Halloween 2," and "Halloween H20" in my collection. I honestly think this movie tops "Halloween," if only by a small bit.
The twists are so amazing they will leave you sitting there with your mouth wide open.
It gets a full 8.89/10 from...
the Fiend :.