Scream 4 Review

Fifteen years ago rookie screenwriter Kevin Williamson and legendary horror filmmaker Wes Craven gave the world of cinema Scream. A slasher film that not only sent a shot of adrenaline to the heart of horror. But also rewrote the rules for the tiresome slasher genre. Scream was able to take the traits of the slasher and turn them on there heads. Making fun whilst also being original and scary. Scream was an instant horror classic.

Now in 2011, we are treated to the fourth installment of this bloated franchise. Pathetically titled Scre4m. This installment returns to Woodsboro on the anniversary of the first films events. Sidney Prescott, now a successful author returns to her old hometown to promote her new book. Hilarity ensues! Ghostface is back and apparently has new rules. Sidney, Doofy (I mean Dewey), his wife Gale and a slue of new pretty people set out to try and either capture the perpetrators or survive. Once again, hilarity ensues!

I went in to Scream 4 with an open mind and I wanted to be entertained. But I have to be honest from the outset. Scream 4 is a bad film. It's banal, bland and feels over bloated and tired. It's one of those films that is so bad its good. I laughed so much throughout this film. At moments I wasn't meant to. Hilarious deaths, cheesy lines and unbelievable and unrealistic happenings drag this film to hell. It just feels like a waste of time. As for new decade, new rules. That is purely a tag line. Nothing in this film seems fresh and new. Remember in Scream how there was a self referential commentary and subtle references to horror films or traits? Yeah, that is non existent in this film. Subtle? Not at all. The references are so forced that there may as well be subtitles on screen that briefly tell the audience what the reference means.

Now I'm not going to completely destroy this movie. Yes, its bad. But there are a few cool moments. The opening ten minutes is fun and great. But unintentionally hurts the film as it points out the cliches and unoriginality of horror films only to become the the film they are parodying. Another vast attribute to this film is the dialogue and conversations between Ghostface and the victims on the phone. Its very well written and for most of it is played seriously. In general the conversations come off very cool.

After ten years the Weinstein's have gave us a film nobody really wanted. Is it a cash grab? Yes. Is it as good as the others? No. The many problems with Scream 4 bring this film down. Pointless and cliched story, uninteresting characters and ending that is laugh out loud hilarious. The Scream franchise is rare. With it's debut it was responsible for the rebirth of the slasher. It was a classic. With Scream 4 it honestly feels like it has come full circle and became the stupid films it once parodied. Save your money, just watch Scream again.

4/10

Thanks.

Chris.