Scream (1996)

 

Genre: Horror/ Slasher

Time: 1h 40mins

Director: Wes Craven

Quick Summary: A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.

Now this is iconic. 

I shouldn't find this film funny, but man it was hilarious to me. It plays upon people's love of movies and their tropes and turns it on its head in such a clever way. Don't get me wrong, it is a slasher from the 90s so the plot is very bare and pretty standard, so you'll predict a lot of things throughout, until right at the end. The twist I found very clever, especially for the genre. Somehow though, it manages to only hit a few cliches.

In fact, the cliches don't hit, they use them as funny gags or references, pretty much tongue-in-cheek humour. It also references so many other horror films casually in conversations and little easter eggs which are always fun to spot. I think the dialogue is what also makes this so funny, as it's almost meta with what the characters say. Such as wanting to be in the sequel, not dying because they're a virgin, and how the killer will always come back one last time.

From the very first kill, they're honestly really brutal and gory. Each fight is really intense, with both members putting up a really good fight which you usually don't see in slashers. Each one is pretty unique too, playing up the "rules of horror movies" at times. Ghostface, now one of the most iconic masked killers, I found to be interesting as the look is so simple but incredibly terrifying. Mostly due to how they could hide absolutely anywhere and jump out at the perfect time.

The characters here are pretty good for a slasher film and a talented young cast do very well with their respective roles. Neve Campbell is young and cute here, likeable as the film's heroine and a really strong lead. David Arquette at first, I found him to be creepy and come across as a bit too strange, but he grew on me admittedly. Courteney Cox provides tough charm and charisma throughout this. Matthew Lillard walks a fine line between being annoying and amusing, but incredibly entertaining. There were times I wanted him to shut up, and then times I found him incredibly hilarious. I think something that makes him even more funny to me is that I know he improved basically all of his lines.

I did like the sheer amount of paranoia and suspicion this created within the group of people we are introduced to throughout. Anyone could be the killer in this, and admittedly I don't think I picked up any clues to the killer even through my second watch. The viewer knows nothing until right at the end, which I like but possibly leaves rewatches a little lacklustre.

Honestly, even though this does scream (*wink*) the 90s in a super dated way, it is still incredibly fun and a much-watched horror film. Lots of brutal kills and funny dialogue, as well as a tribute to the many horror films that came before it. Sadly a little bit predictable nowadays. 

7/10

" No, please don't kill me, Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel!"

"What's your favourite scary movie?"

 "You sick fucks. You've seen one too many movies!

 Now Sid, don't you blame the movies. Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative!"

"Casey: Who's there?

Ghostface: Never say "Who's there?" Don't you watch scary movies? It's a death wish. You might as well come out to investigate a strange noise or something."