A Horror Movie for Horror Movies

Rating: 8/10 (7 January 2007)

What a clever idea -- make a horror movie within a horror movie, complete with references to horror films of the past and even rules, said by one of the characters, of how to survive a typical slasher flick.
The movie stars Neve Campbell, a high school student in a small California town whose mother was murdered a year ago. She, and others, begin to realize that there is a serial killer obsessed with scary movies and that she or some of her friends may be the next victims.
Also starring in this horror movie/spoof are David Arquette, who plays the deputy, Courtney Cox (the future Mrs. David Arquette) as the aggressive tabloid journalist covering the killings, Skeet Ulrich as Campbell's boyfriend, and Rose McGowan as Campbell's best friend. With this talented cast, terrific direction by horror movie whiz Wes Craven, and a great script by Kevin Williamson, it's hard to go wrong with "Scream."
Henry Winkler (of TV's "Happy Days" fame) has a cameo as Principal Himbry, and Wes Craven appears briefly as Fred the high school's janitor (he's wearing the same sweater as Freddy Kruegger in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films. Hmmmm....