Feels rushed, lacks real innovation *SPOILERS*

Rating: 6/10 (6 December 2002)

*SPOILER WARNING*
The main rule I have when it comes to sequels is this: do not release them too early or it'll feel rushed and do not release them too late or my interest in the franchise will decline. Scream 2 breaks the former rule, released a year after the original, it's goal is to spoof horror movies by having a killer imitate them in his killings. In the sequel, it's goal is to have the killer imitate horror movie sequels. Sound confusing? It is.
One thing that most horror movie sequels have in common is that they all drag us through the same path that the original did, and end up being really weak. Add that to the already rushed nature of this film and we have ourselves a film that pales in comparison to the original. The part that these films always contained that entertained me is the entire "who is the killer?" feeling, I actually found it much more present in this one than the original, but in the end, it all falls apart.
The killers in the end are revealed to be two very underdeveloped characters, which destroyed the ending for me.As soon as the killer took off his mask, my initial thought was "Who is that?", then "OK, I think I know who they are, what was their motives?". Turns out that character's motive was that his accomplice would pay his tuition if he dressed up as a Ghostface and killed people, (on a lighter note, wouldn't if have been a little easier just to rob a convenience store? Less blood involved). His accomplice turned out to be an annoying reporter-type character that was using that disguise to "get closer" to the university and get revenge against Sydney (very underdeveloped motive here).
On a positive note, this film does build up the suspense quite well and the whole "Whodunit?" theme is very much present (I started pointing fingers to several characters throughout the film). We do get more gore than present in the original and a general sense that the writers were serious about the whole "sequel" thing in the beginning of the film.
A little disappointing, definitely suffers from all the flaws that sequels do have. Not as groundbreaking as the first one was, still a decent watch though.
5.5/10