Scream

***Scream*** is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. It stars David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich and Drew Barrymore. Set in the small American town of Woodsboro, *Scream*'s plot follows high school student Sidney Prescott (Campbell) and her friends, who, on the anniversary of her mother's murder, become the targets of a costumed serial killer known as Ghostface.

Williamson, a struggling writer at the time, was inspired by reports of a series of murders by the Gainesville Ripper as he wrote a screenplay that satirized the clichés of the slasher genre popularized in films such as *Halloween* (1978), *Friday the 13th* (1980), and *A Nightmare on Elm Street* (1984). Developed under the title *Scary Movie*, Williamson's script became the subject of an intense bidding war from multiple studios before Miramax Films purchased the rights. Despite turning down the opportunity multiple times, Craven agreed to direct the film after reading the script and being disappointed by the failure of *Vampire in Brooklyn* (1995). The involvement of Barrymore and Cox helped secure support from the studio. Principal photography took place from April to June 1996 in California on a budget of $15 million. Craven trimmed down the violence in the film after being involved in a tense conflict with the Motion Picture Association of America over the desired R-rating.

*Scream* was not expected to perform well on December 20, 1996, due to concerns over releasing a slasher film in a time normally reserved for holiday entertainment, but it went on to gross approximately $173 million worldwide through the strength of word of mouth, becoming a surprise success and one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Reviews praised the performances of its cast and its unique meta humor but criticized its excessive violence and lack of suspense in favor of that humor. *Scream* helped elevate Williamson's career as a writer and raised the profiles of the rest of the cast.

*Scream* is now regarded as one of the greatest horror and slasher films ever made. It has been credited with rekindling interest in the horror genre during the 1990s following a decline in the genre's popularity. It has remained influential, as Barrymore's involvement helped make participating in horror films more acceptable to prominent actors and increased horror films' appeal with younger audiences. The success of the film launched a multimedia franchise, which comprises the sequels *Scream 2* *Scream 3* *Scream 4* *Scream 5 and Scream 6 as well as an anthology television series.*

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### Starring

David ArquetteNeve CampbellCourteney CoxMatthew LillardRose McGowanSkeet UlrichDrew Barrymore

### Release dates

December 18, 1996 (Los Angeles)December 20, 1996 (United States)

## Plot

In the small town of Woodsboro, California, high school student Casey Becker is home alone when she receives a phone call from an unknown person. They discuss horror films until the caller turns sadistic, threatening her life and revealing that her boyfriend, Steve, is restrained on her patio. The caller demands she answer questions about horror films to save his life, but she gives an incorrect answer about *Friday the 13th* and Steve is killed. Casey attempts to escape the house, but is killed by someone wearing a "Ghostface" costume and her disemboweled corpse is hanged from a tree.

The news media descend on the town as a police investigation begins. Teenager Sidney Prescott struggles with the impending first anniversary of the rape and murder of her mother Maureen by Cotton Weary. The trauma has made her unable to consummate her relationship with her boyfriend, Billy Loomis. As her father Neil is traveling for work, Sidney waits home alone for her best friend, Tatum Riley. She receives a call taunting her about Maureen's death and is attacked by Ghostface, who disappears just before Billy comes through her window. However, she becomes suspicious when he drops a cell phone, and he is arrested by Deputy Sheriff Dewey Riley, Tatum's brother. At the police station, Sidney is confronted by investigative journalist Gale Weathers, who claims that Maureen had several affairs, including one with Cotton, and that he was wrongly accused of her murder. Sidney stays at Tatum's home but receives another taunting call from the killer. The calls are traced to Neil's phone but the police are unable to locate him.

After his release, Billy encounters Sidney at school and further upsets her by comparing his absent mother to Maureen's death. After suspending school in the wake of the murders, Principal Himbry is stabbed to death in his office. To celebrate the closure, Stu Macher, Tatum's boyfriend, hosts a party at his secluded home. Dewey and Gale keep watch on the party in case the killer strikes again. As fellow high schooler Randy Meeks details the rules of surviving a horror film, Tatum is isolated in the garage by Ghostface, who crushes her with the garage door. After discovering Himbry's murder, most of the partygoers leave to see his hanging body, nearly running over Dewey and Gale and inadvertently leading them to Neil's hidden car. Billy arrives at the house to reconcile with Sidney, and they finally have sex. Afterward, they are suddenly attacked by Ghostface, and Billy is stabbed. Sidney evades Ghostface, who kills Gale's cameraman Kenny and stabs Dewey when he returns. Gale, attempting to flee in her van, crashes and is knocked unconscious. Sidney seeks refuge inside the house, locking Stu and Randy outside as they accuse each other of being the killer.

A seemingly wounded Billy returns and allows Randy inside before shooting him in the shoulder, revealing himself as the killer and Stu as his accomplice. Billy confesses that they killed Maureen because he discovered her affair with his father was responsible for his mother leaving. The pair abducted Neil to frame him for their crimes and proceed to stab each other to portray themselves as the only survivors. They are interrupted by Gale's return, which gives Sidney the chance to incapacitate Billy and kill Stu by dropping a television set on his head. Billy attempts to stab Sidney, but is shot by Gale. After Randy remarks that horror film killers revive for a final scare, Billy sits back up and Sidney shoots him in the head, killing him. As dawn breaks, Neil is rescued, Dewey is taken away by ambulance, and Gale provides an impromptu news report about the night's events

## Cast

See also: List of Scream (film series) cast members

David Arquette as Dewey Riley: The goofy and hapless deputy sheriff

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott: A strong and resilient high-schooler traumatized by the murder of her mother

Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers: A snarky and ruthless investigative journalist

Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher: The eccentric and clumsy boyfriend of Tatum, and Billy's best friend

Rose McGowan as Tatum Riley: Sidney's spunky best friend and Dewey's sister

Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis: Sidney's boyfriend, who possesses a passion for horror films

Jamie Kennedy as Randy Meeks: A horror film fanatic

W. Earl Brown as Kenny: Gale's cameraman

Joseph Whipp as Burke: The town sheriff

Liev Schreiber as Cotton Weary: The man convicted of killing Sidney's mother

Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker: A high-schooler

*Scream* also features Roger L. Jackson as the voice of Ghostface, and Kevin Patrick Walls as Steve Orth, Casey's boyfriend. Lawrence Hecht and Lynn McRee portray Sidney's parents, Neil and Maureen. C.W. Morgan appears as Hank Loomis, Frances Lee McCain portrays Mrs. Riley, and David Booth and Carla Hatley appear as Casey's father and mother. Leonara Scelfo portrays a "bitchy" cheerleader in the school bathroom. *Scream* features several cameo appearances, including Henry Winkler as principal Arthur Himbry, Linda Blair as Obnoxious Reporter, casting director Lisa Beach as a reporter, and director Wes Craven appears as Freddy the janitor, an homage to iconic horror character Freddy Krueger.