Sharp reflection of the concept of horror flicks will keep you screaming till the end

Rating: 9/10 (22 April 2009)

After the murder of her classmate, Sidney (Campbell) is stalked by an unidentifiable lunatic in a white mask one year from her mother's shocking death.
Wes Craven's horror reflects on the past releases of classic horror to manipulate the genre into a highly creative slasher movie that will make you guess and gasp right until the gob smacking climax.
Named as the film which spurned the continuous parody releases in modern times such as Scary Movies and Epic Movie etc the 1996 shocker has perhaps been shunted aside as it resembles an easy target for such ridiculous parody releases. But the important thing to see is a sharp and witty film that showcases horror in a thrilling fashion.
Opening with an anonymous caller and a horrible murder and we are plunged head first into a story about survival against the insane. There are twists, shocks, jumpy moments, horrible deaths and some gory sequences that will make your stomach turn. So what you might ask is different from every other horror film? For starters Scream is set out to be a lighter version of horror. Throughout the 111minutes we see humorous references to other "scary movies" including Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist and Halloween, all established classics in the horror market. All finely executed with that degree of teen subtlety that makes charming and acceptable viewing. I have never watched any of the titles mentioned but this was thankfully not necessary as brilliantly, this film is all about the sheer concept of horror.
As Jamie Kennedy's character clearly identifies, there are certain rules to survive a horror film. What follows are references to this humorous theory and the intertextuality from the other releases are used exquisitely to emphasize the point made.
Performances wise Neve Campbell is perhaps the star, very quiet but also aggressive. Her anger scene with Courtney Cox was brilliantly funny.
Where Scream fits the horror genre easily, there is a high degree of drama. The fact the murders are happening a year from Sidney's death makes everything more fragile. The romantic inclusions add to the intensity and the sustained threat places Scream into the thriller genre also. Cracking mysteries likewise as we are guessing right till the very end.
Craven's direction serves up waves of screaming action and his creation of the masked murderer is now a legendary icon. His picture really is a scream.