From Deseret News archives:
Scream
Film review
Abetted by screenwriter Kevin Williamson, Craven grafts supposedly camp humor onto slasher movie cliches in an attempt to create a new genre of thriller. But this Frankenstein's Monster project isn't particularly funny, clever or scary, it's just insultingly dumb.
With this dopey and thrill-less slasher flick/black comedy, Craven - perhaps the most overrated horror director around (remember "The Hills Have Eyes," "Swamp Thing" or "Shocker"?) - may have finally put a stake in his 25-year career.
In fact, in light of "Scream" and "Vampire in Brooklyn" - the Eddie Murphy comedy-horror dud - there could be a case made that "Wes Craven" is actually an anonymous nom de plume for horror directors who don't want their real names on a project (kind of like the way directors use the "Alan Smithee" name for bad dramas or comedies).
The story is ripped from today's, er, yesterday's, headlines, as a serial killer is stalking high school students - after he practically bores them to death with menacing phone calls. His latest target is Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell, from TV's "Party of Five"), whose mother was gruesomely slain just a year ago.
The mayhem even spreads to the school campus, where the murderer manages to knock off the principal (Henry Winkler at his dorkiest). Naturally, that doesn't stop these horny, besotted teens from holding a huge house party, giving the killer a veritable smorgasbord of targets to choose from.
These situations might be interesting if any of the characters were even slightly sympathetic or if Craven didn't keep switching gears between humor and horror, seem-ing-ly without reason.
Of course, it helps that he's working from Williamson's inept script, which trots out every horror cliche imaginable - including the bit about a cat jumping out! - in hopes of getting a chuckle or scream. He even makes the mistake of having the killer stalk Sidney too soon, instead of building the suspense.
On top of the embarrassingly bad writing and directing, there are also some very amateurish performances, especially from Winkler, Courtney Cox and Drew Barrymore, who doesn't survive the film's first 10 minutes.
"Scream" is rated R for ample bloody violence and gore, some of it in a supposed "slapstick" style, profanity, some vulgar gags and references, and one somewhat discreet sex scene.
Recent comments
This movie was amazing, actually the whole series was amazing, Jeff...
Anonymous | July 28, 2008 at 3:02 p.m.
I would give this five but it only goes to four. Friday the
13th,...
Anonymous | July 22, 2003 at 8:18 p.m.
i think jeff vice should be careful about which movies he
calls...
keysersose | Feb. 18, 2001 at 4:54 a.m.
Cast: Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Henry Winkler, Drew Barrymore.
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