"Oh please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel!"

Rating: 10/10 (30 March 2020)

When Scream was initially released in December of 1996 it was not predicted to be a hit. The horror genre had become a parody of itself throughout the early 90's. Many of the icons of 80's slasher cinema were already running out of steam. Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Pinhead etc.. no one expected Ghostface to be the new icon for the horror genre.
The film is perfectly setup with a brilliant opening sequence featuring Drew Barrymore. Despite her notoriety these days Barrymore had yet to achieve the wholesome image she would attain just a few years later. Still, no one expected to see a former child star brutally murdered in the opening scene. Pay close attention to the advertising. Barrymore was being marketed as the films star. This made for a much greater shock when viewing the film upon its release. Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox were busy working on television. Campbell was still an up and coming star having worked a few seasons on Party of Five. Courtney Cox attained a following for her role as neat freak Monica on beloved sitcom Friends. Both actresses were able to sink their teeth into more complex material. Kevin Williamson's script gleefully pokes fun at the genre while simultaenously expressing adoration.
A masked serial killer gleefully stalking his victims and using horror movie trivia to threaten them provided a unique self aware approach. Scream launched a whole new cycle of slasher cinema. The self aware style was innovative and highly regarded at the time. The film itself has fallen victim to parody over the years but it will forever be regarded as a suspense classic. Wes Craven brought his expertise to the camera and Kevin Williamson provided the witty dialogue. A perfect recipe for success.