THE SETUP
Ten years have passed since the original Woodsboro Murders occurred and Sidney Prescott has left the life of a victim behind her. Having survived the machinations of her insane half-brother, her ex and his best friend, and a vengeful mother, there is seemingly nothing she can't handle. But when Sydney returns to her hometown for an exclusive signing of her new book on the very anniversary of the original murders, someone else has once again taken their love of scary movies too far.
But this time, Ghostface is fully intent on ensuring that everyone Sidney loves will die brutally before bringing a final, bloody conclusion to the national survivor icon known as Sidney Prescott.
Directed by: Wes Craven
Cast: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, Hayden Pannettiere, Alison Brie
Written by: Kevin Williamson
THE GOOD
Scream 4 has many strong elements that will certainly prove the film a success in the horror genre. As I have long awaited the return of Sidney Prescott and the Ghostface Killer, I did worry somewhat that the fourth installment would come out hackneyed and lazy but I am ecstatic to report that this was not the case. First and foremost, the film's writing provides a strong foundation for the entire film, Kevin Williamson capitalizing on what he does best: creating intelligent dialogue for teenagers interlaced with snappy pop-culture references. With this creating the basis, Wes Craven scores a win for his seamless and top-notch direction. His vision once again captures the visual appeal and horror that made the first three films a success but again ensuring a fresh and somewhat original feel.
This feeling I will attribute primarily to the leads who shine in their roles. Not only have the years and the stress obviously taken their toll on the trio, but there is also a natural sadness among them all. Dewey Riley, no longer the hero, has resigned himself to small-town life. Gail Weathers, having slipped into obscurity after her marriage to Dewey, now suffers from restlessness that affects their lives. Sidney however has shed the victim mentality to become a quiet and focused survivor, dependent upon no one, but still willing to help others. She's retains the instincts of a battle veteran and its always obvious why.
Combined with classic visuals, sound effects, and excellent practical effects, the original fear of being chased by a madman with a knife is captured and well-received, the tried-and-true formula still fresh after all these years.
And as the film speeds towards its climactic ending, while some aspects were hindered by simple predictability, there were some surprises carefully concealed that proved to save the day.
THE BAD
Predominantly, the worst parts of the film fall on the ensemble of murder victims that surround the leads. While all of the actors at hand have worked extensively in their own rights, none of them possess the chops of the veteran stars leading the charge.
Hayden Panettiere, Alison Brie, Marielle Jaffe, Rory Culkin, and Nico Tortorella, while very attractive, simply cannot rise higher than their roles allow. Each tries so hard to be the mature intelligent subjects of Williamson's writing but fails to bring more than the bare minimum and while this may have been intended, it's a shame to see the screen time go to waste.
Also of particular note is the total under-use of veterans Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody, and Mary McDonnell. Such talent should never go to waste and their limited work almost breaks the suspension of disbelief as seeing them brings to mind visions of actors cast solely to bring credibility to the production.
THE SCORECARD
Acting: The strength lies in the returning cast members. But the ensemble behind them proves without a shadow of a doubt that great looks does not necessarily mean great talent. Fortunately, the veterans at the front are able to carry them.
Directing: Being a fan of Wes Craven through both his successes and failures, it's always good to see a strong director return to a franchise he obviously loves. It is more than obvious that his actors trust him, believe in him, and through this rapport, he brings out the best in those capable of delivering it.
Writing: Kevin Williamson has always been a strong writer and though he has faded a bit in the past ten years, it's nice to see him back in waters he knows. While there are some hiccups from time to time, the script is strong, though it's the less-then-experienced ensemble actors that ultimately do the most damage.
Sound: Classic horror score and sound effects bring both tension and the obvious sound-induced jump. Par for the course.
Visuals: The classic visuals established by previous films is retained and while the feel of the franchise is successfully maintained, they may seem outdated to audiences that are not as familiar with the standards of practical horror films.
OVERALL
Bringing horror films to this current generation faces numerous hurdles, some of which have proven the downfall of any projects attempting to enter the limelight. From the growing awareness of poor CGI to mindless plots and even worse acting to the total desensitization of current moviegoers, its a wonder that horror films as a whole can even work.
But it must be the spirit that goes into true horror that makes such fare terrifyingly enjoyable. Craven and Williamson, having created the series, have that necessary spirit and have brought it back full bore. Though some parts of Scream 4 lose their edge due to simple predictability, I was pleased to have been caught off guard towards the end.
While the movie as a whole takes elements from all three of its predecessors, the film retains a somewhat fresh and original feel that I attribute solely to the returning original cast members, Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette. The actors themselves are far stronger than their co-stars and remain true to their form. It is this simple combination of top-notch direction, solid writing, and good acting that brings success to this fourth installment.
The only thing that remains to be seen, despite the obvious win the film will have during its opening weekend, will be if this combination can carry it the distance.
I give Scream 4 a 7 out of 10.
And be sure to jump over to the TMP Database and let us know what you thought of Scream 4!
-Jarod
