entertaining, but forced

Rating: 6/10 (9 August 2005)

SPOILERS One year after 'Scream' gave life to a dying genre, this entertaining but incredibly forced sequel was released. Continuing the story with the old survivors plus new casualties, 'Scream 2' is a fun affair, without ever actually returning to the highs of the original. Blatantly attempting to resurrect the glory imposed on the first outing, it manages to remain immensely predictable for the majority before hitting you with an exquisite twist at the end.
Two years later and Sidney Prescott's (Neve Campbell) life appears to be back on track. Happily settled at college, she still gets the occasional prank call, but will happily laugh it off thanks to caller ID. Yes, with a new 'perfect' boyfriend and life sorted, for Sidney life can only go wrong. So let's not be surprised when suddenly a copycat killer begins to replicate the events of the past.
Yet again the amazing Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson present us with the life of Sidney Prescott. With bad acting and some weak lines, you do know what your going to get with these films, and in regards to blood, you are rarely surprised. Ultimately though, the film is lacking. Less intellectual than it's predecessor, you only begin to grasp the genius at work when the eccentric film buffs class is taking place and every man and his dog pokes fun at the regularly inferior 'sequel'. This in itself is a brilliant masterstroke by writer Williamson who is blatantly aware of how this film will fail to live up to the original. Williamson is in fact so definite on this fact, that he abandons the intelligence soon after this early scene and resorts to jokes about the cast ('Friends' jokes for Courtney Cox, references to the cast of the film 'Stab' which is being made as a tribute to the original film) and the surprise twist at the end. Aside from these though, Williamson's input is limited and lacking in comparison with what he achieve in the first film.
The other problem of course is the same reason why so many sequels fail to live up to their predecessor, mainly that they are not original. 'Scream' changed horror and it did it in a fresh and keen way. In contrast 'Scream 2' is just another entry into the curriculum vitae of the cast and nothing new. Yes the plot is new and yes we do have new characters, but the feelings you get from watching a ground breaking film are absent. The film in effect, is like the first film but without the relevance.
'Scream 2' is not a bad film to watch. Often entertaining, albeit in a predictable way, it does provide a few key moments. That's all that can really be said about it however. Once again the acting is weak, and once again you don't care because most of the characters will die. The film is basically a repeat of it's predecessor but without the charm, intelligence and original feel. Watch it and be amused, but don't expect too much. Your average teenage horror story.