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 third sequel was in development, with Craven confirmed to direct in March 2010. In September 2009, Arquette, Campbell, and Cox were announced to be returning, after which the casting process lasted between April and September 2010. Principal photography began in June 2010 and ended in September that same year, 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.

Plot

On the fifteenth 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 31 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 Roberts, 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 his deputies, Judy Hicks, Anthony Perkins and Ross Hoss assist him in the case. Meanwhile, Dewey's wife, Gale Weathers-Riley, is struggling with writer's block and decides to investigate the murders instead.

Sidney stays with Jill and her aunt Kate. 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. At the hospital, 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 explain that the killer is using the rules of movie remakes. Charlie concludes that the killer will likely strike at a *Stab* marathon screening party being held that night. Gale goes to the party to investigate but Ghostface stabs her in the shoulder and flees when Dewey arrives. At Jill's house, Sidney discovers that Hoss and Perkins, who were assigned to guard the house are dead and that Jill has left for Kirby's. Sidney goes down to tell Kate, but Ghostface kills Kate, and disappears again. After Hicks arrives, Sidney rushes to Kirby's house to save Jill.

Jill, Kirby, Charlie, Robbie, and Trevor are at Kirby's house when Ghostface appears outside and kills a drunken Robbie. Sidney arrives at the house to leave with Jill until they are both chased by Ghostface. Sidney evades the killer and calls Dewey. As Sidney tries to find Jill, Kirby is forced to answer horror movie trivia to save Charlie, who is tied up outside. After Kirby answers Ghostface's questions, she goes outside to untie Charlie, who suddenly stabs her in the stomach and reveals himself as Ghostface, before leaving her to die. Sidney is confronted by Charlie and stabbed by Jill, his accomplice. 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 executes him. She then betrays Charlie and stabs him to death 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 arrive at the house, as Sidney and Jill are 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 Hicks and holds Gale at gunpoint before Sidney incapacitates her with a defibrillator and shoots her dead. Dewey calls in all police units, as media reporters outside confirm Jill as the "sole surviving hero".

Cast

David Arquette as Dewey Riley

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott

Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers-Riley

Emma Roberts as Jill Roberts

Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed

Anthony Anderson as Anthony Perkins

Adam Brody as Ross Hoss

Rory Culkin as Charlie Walker

Mary McDonnell as Kate Roberts

Marley Shelton as Judy Hicks

Alison Brie as Rebecca Walters

Marielle Jaffe as Olivia Morris

Nico Tortorella as Trevor Sheldon

Erik Knudsen as Robbie Mercer

Anna Paquin as Rachel (character in the in-universe film *Stab 7*)

Kristen Bell as Chloe (character in the in-universe film *Stab 7*)

Lucy Hale as Sherrie (character in the in-universe film *Stab 6*)

Shenae Grimes as Trudie (character in the in-universe film *Stab 6*)

Britt Robertson as Marnie Cooper

Aimee Teegarden as Jenny Randall

Roger L. Jackson as the voice of Ghostface

Survivors

Kirby Reed

Dwight "Dewey" Riley

Sidney Prescott

Gale  Riley

Judy Hicks

For this movie, 'Ghostface' turns out to be **Jill Roberts** and **Charlie Walker**, who explain that they committed the murders as a part of a remake of the first murders. Jill further reveals that she did it out of anger and jealousy of Sidney's fame and she wants the attention Sidney got for surviving the past killings. They also admit that they intend to frame Trevor as Ghostface.

1. Marnie Cooper - Stabbed off-screen by Ghostface.
2. Jenny Randall - Stabbed several times by Ghostface.
3. Olivia Morris - Stabbed repeatedly by Ghostface.
4. Rebecca Walters - Thrown off a parking garage roof by Ghostface.
5. Deputy Ross Hoss - Stabbed by Ghostface.
6. Detective Anthony Perkins - Stabbed in the head by Ghostface.
7. Kate Roberts - Stabbed in the neck by Ghostface through a letterbox.
8. Robbie Mercer - Stabbed 3 times by Ghostface.
9. Trevor Sheldon - Shot by Jill.
10. **Charlie Walker (Ghostface #6)** - Stabbed by Jill.