Scream 4

***Scream 4*** (stylized as ***SCRE4M***) is a 2011 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. Produced by Outerbanks Entertainment and distributed by Dimension Films, it is the fourth installment in the *Scream* film series. The film stars David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Anthony Anderson, Alison Brie, Adam Brody, Rory Culkin, Marielle Jaffe, Erik Knudsen, Mary McDonnell, Marley Shelton, and Nico Tortorella. The film takes place on the fifteenth anniversary of the original Woodsboro murders and involves Sidney Prescott returning to the town after ten years, where Ghostface once again begins killing students from Woodsboro High. Like its predecessors, *Scream 4* combines the violence of the slasher genre with elements of black comedy and "whodunit" mystery to satirize the clichés of film remakes. The film also provides a commentary on the extensive usage of social media and the obsession of internet fame.

The series was originally intended to be a trilogy, concluding with *Scream 3* in 2000. However, in June 2008, The Weinstein Company announced a fourth sequel was in development, with Craven confirmed to return in March 2010. Principal photography took place from June to September 2010, taking place in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan. During production, Ehren Kruger, who previously wrote the screenplay for *Scream 3*, was hired for script rewrites. Reshoots were filmed in early 2011, following test screenings.

*Scream 4* was released on April 15, 2011, and grossed $97 million worldwide on a budget of $40 million, becoming the lowest-grossing film in the *Scream* franchise. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise going towards the performances, direction and humor, and criticism for its lack of scares and reliance on clichéd formulas. However, many considered it to be an improvement over its predecessor. *Scream 4* was the final film to be directed by Craven before his death in 2015. It was followed by an anthology television series, developed for MTV, without the involvement of Williamson, Arquette, Campbell or Cox, although Roger L. Jackson returned to voice Ghostface in the third season.

## Plot

On the 15th anniversary of the original Woodsboro massacre, high school students Jenny Randall and Marnie Cooper are murdered by a new Ghostface.

The following day, Sidney Prescott, now 32 years old, returns to Woodsboro to promote her new book with her publicist Rebecca Walters. After evidence is found in Sidney's rental car, Sidney becomes a suspect in the murders and must stay in town until they are solved. Sidney's cousin, Jill, who is dealing with the betrayal of her ex-boyfriend, Trevor Sheldon, gets a threatening phone call from Ghostface, as does her friend and neighbor Olivia Morris. Jill and Olivia, alongside their friend Kirby Reed are questioned about their calls by Dewey Riley, who is now the sheriff, while one of his deputies, Judy Hicks, assists him in the case. Meanwhile, Dewey's wife, Gale Weathers-Riley, is struggling with writer's block and decides to investigate the murder instead.

Sidney stays with Jill and her aunt Kate Roberts. Later that night, Olivia is killed by Ghostface as Jill and Kirby watch in horror. Sidney and Jill rush in to save Olivia, but the killer injures them and gets away. Sidney fires Rebecca after learning of her plan to use the murders as a means to increase book sales. Rebecca is subsequently murdered in the parking garage by Ghostface. Gale enlists the help of two high school movie fanatics, Charlie Walker and Robbie Mercer, who explains that the killer is using the rules of movie remakes. Charlie concludes that the killer will likely strike at a party being held that night.

Gale goes to the party to investigate. Ghostface injures her but flees when Dewey arrives. Dewey takes her to the hospital. At Jill's house, Sidney discovers that the policemen assigned to guard the house are dead. She also discovers that Jill has left the house and gone to Kirby's. Sidney goes down to tell Kate, but the killer appears, kills Kate, and disappears again. After Deputy Judy Hicks arrives, Sidney rushes to Kirby's house to save Jill on her own.

Jill, Kirby, Charlie, Robbie and Trevor are at Kirby's house when Ghostface appears. Ghostface approaches a drunken Robbie, about to kill him, when he tries to save himself by saying that he's gay, before he is murdered. Sidney arrives at the house to leave with Jill, until they are both chased by Ghostface. Sidney evades the killer and calls Dewey. Kirby is forced to answer horror movie trivia to save Charlie, who is tied up outside. Meanwhile, Sidney goes upstairs to find Jill. After Kirby answers Ghostface's questions, she goes outside to untie Charlie. He suddenly stabs her in the stomach and reveals himself as Ghostface, before leaving her for dead. Sidney is confronted by Charlie and stabbed by a second Ghostface, who is revealed as Jill. Jill explains that her motive was out of anger and jealousy because of the fame that Sidney had received for surviving the murders, and that they intend to frame Trevor as Ghostface. Charlie then pulls Trevor out of a closet and Jill kills him. Jill then betrays Charlie and kills him as a means to pin him as Trevor's accomplice and make herself the sole survivor. Jill stabs Sidney in the stomach and mutilates herself to make it seem as if Trevor attacked her. Later, Dewey, Judy, and the rest of the police stumble upon the carnage.

Sidney and Jill are then taken to the hospital. After discovering that Sidney has survived, Jill goes to Sidney's hospital room and attempts to finish her. Dewey, Gale, and Judy intervene, having been clued by a detail about Gale's injury that Jill somehow knew. Jill subdues Dewey and Judy and holds Gale at gunpoint, before Sidney kills her with a bullet to the heart. Dewey calls in all police units, as media reporters outside confirm Jill as the "sole-surviving hero", a title that would be short lived once her true actions become known.

## Cast

* Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott
* David Arquette as Dewey Riley
* Courteney Cox as Gale Riley
* Emma Roberts as Jill Roberts
* Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed
* Rory Culkin as Charlie Walker
* Erik Knudsen as Robbie Mercer
* Marley Shelton as Judy Hicks
* Nico Tortorella as Trevor Sheldon
* Marielle Jaffe as Olivia Morris
* Alison Brie as Rebecca Walters
* Mary McDonnell as Kate Roberts
* Adam Brody as Ross Hoss
* Anthony Anderson as Anthony Perkins
* Aimee Teegarden as Jenny Randall
* Britt Robertson as Marnie Cooper
* Anna Paquin as Rachel (character in the in-universe film *Stab 7*) (cameo)
* Kristen Bell as Chloe (character in the in-universe film *Stab 7*) (cameo)
* Lucy Hale as Sherrie (character in the in-universe film *Stab 6*) (cameo)
* Shenae Grimes as Trudie (character in the in-universe film *Stab 6*) (cameo)
* Nancy O'Dell as Reporter (cameo)
* Roger L. Jackson as the voice of Ghostface