From Scream to Screaming more...Scream 2 proves horror sequels worthwhile

Rating: 9/10 (11 July 2010)

The first Scream gave an entire new generation of Horror fans a brilliant series. It only stood to reason they would rush to make a sequel a year later. The amazing part is that Scream 2, in most people's opinions easily sits on the plateau of the original and in some ways even exceeds the original film. The story is stronger, the cast is thoroughly established, and they are in a whole new setting ripe for the Ghostface killer. The film makers are incredibly smart because they stuck to the 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' method by keeping everything that made the original Scream successful and top notch. Best of all they took the incredibly clever satire that made the first one a huge success and turned up the intelligent and fun horror spoofing. The two films together make probably one of the best slasher flicks in the nineties easily. If anything director Wes Craven knew exactly how to keep the success rolling and that makes anyone who loves horror smile because it means you will be ferociously entertained and blown away by something that is smarter and truly a pop culture revolution.
The entire original main cast come back stronger than ever. Neve Campbell, Liev Schreiber (really terrific and his character is even better), Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Jamie Kennedy all come back and are truly better than they were the first time around. Their characters are more developed, we know their background and what they've been through and their older and in a new place in their lives. Schreiber and Kennedy are both better than they were the first time around and more main character. As in the first film Scream 2 gives us a host of hot young newcomers and Hollywood 'It' kids including Jada Pinkett Smith (classic beginning horror scene that she is great in), Omar Epps (same for him), Sarah Michelle Gellar, Joshua Jackson, Timothy Olyphant, Rebecca Gayheart, and Portia de Rossi. Also new to the cast is Sydney's (Campbell) new boyfriend Jerry O'Connell who is really great as one of the male heroes in the film. Him and Campbell have great chemistry as well.
There is no question that Wes Craven is a horror master but Scream proved his direction was timeless. He returns to helm the perfect (and superior) sequel and Kevin Williamson returns to pen the script. The setting of the college campus and sorority house would seem to be terribly predictable and yet Scream 2 pulls off their clever satire and poke fun at the horror genre and itself at the same time and at a whole new level even above the original. Unlike other slasher flicks Scream has always been known for revealing the killer in the end and the story and twist at the end fits everything into a neat little package (unlike Scream 3.) Regardless any horror fans needs to see the entire trilogy especially with a fourth installment on the way, but Scream will give you a whole new perspective on slasher flicks, Scream 2 will demonstrate the sequel to a slasher flick exceeding even its original. Watch it!! 9/10