The Scream Movies Thread

I mean, I wouldn't trust a random rumor like that unless it was confirmed by one of the big 3 trades, but it also seems like a very safe bet. They have one of the biggest young stars in Ortega to help center the franchise on the Carpenter sisters and the last movie was a huge success. Horror movies are one of the safest genres in Hollywood.

Another film is also a chance for them to try and bring Campbell back to tie up loose ends if they want.

Just got out of Scream VI...

I would say that the series is starting to show ring rust, if it wasn't doing so two or three movies ago. Great and subversive opening, meh to everything else. No clue why they set it in New York, other than as marketing gimmick; Montreal never convinces as an stand-in and they almost never use the new setting for anything interesting, save the scene spoiled in the teaser trailer.

It's kind of a bummer because I really enjoyed the previous one, despite thinking it was too derivative; I actually look on it less favorably thanks to the new one.

Just saw it and love it.

Just watched this Friday. Overall, it's a very fun addition to the series (I happen to prefer Scream 4-6 over Scream 1-3). That being said, I do feel the film wasted a potentially cracker jack premise.

See, the opening kill shows Ghostface actually unmasking himself on camera, revealing that he's an embittered college student who happens to know Tara and, presumably, the other "Core Four". And we follow this guy for a good couple of minutes, as we get a good look at his odious personality. All of this gives the impression that this time, we're going through a Scream installment where we already know who the killer is, while the main cast are none the wiser.

This could've been an ingenious set up for a Scream movie! But no, the college student and his partner are killed by the real Ghostfaces of the film, and the story proceeds to be a fairly traditional Scream Mystery.

The movie itself is very fun, and I liked the mystery itself. I just think the opening scene provided a much more interesting concept.

Edited by 1upmushroom on Mar 11th 2023 at 8:19:49 AM

They seem to be pulling ideas from the scripts now.

The idea of Ghostface being a trio rather then a duo was in the original script for Scream 2. Before Nancy's 2 accomplices were fused into Mickey. It makes sense, especially sense this film is largely a reflection of Scream 2.

It was a minor thing, but I loved the Call-Back of Chad yelling "beheadings!" after bringing it up at Mindy's (second) Rules Monologue.

Wednesday and scream VI spoilers.

If I had a coin for every time a crazy serial killer seemed interested in a character played by Jenna Ortega, I'd have two coins, which isn't much, but it's funny that it happened twice.

Just caught this (2 year old) video on who performed what kills between the original Ghostfaces, Billy and Stu:

Interesting detail with Stu always holding the knife with two hands, and Billy being more of a stabber. I never caught that. I don't know how right he is about how often they switched, but it's some interesting stuff. I haven't thought about the original in years, but I'd love to hear if anyone else has some theories about who was doing what and when. Outside of it obviously being Stu after Billy's fake death, I doubt I could guess.

Billy killing Tatum makes sense in hindsight. Even if you caught the detail of him arriving after Tatum was killed, at that point you'd be seeing him as the Red Herring he was being set up to be so figure it had to be someone else.

I dont really believe in the whole 'kill style' theory. It's the thing that led people to believe Billy must have been the one to kill Casey, when Williamson himself later confirmed it was Stu who killed her.

I think that may have just been a quirk from the stunt doubles.

I mean, it makes sense that there'd be subtle differences in how Billy and Stu do things, doesn't it?

I didn't know they confirmed Stu killed Casey (though that makes sense considering she was his ex).

Have they given a play by play on which of the two did what kills?

Some are kinda obvious like I said, but still.

Realistically there probably would be differences, but nothing really indicates those making the movie map out who kills who and ensures there are subtle differences in the kill style.

Eh. I think the idea that they had some difference in how they did things adds an interesting wrinkle to the film. Sure it doesn't change much, but when you think about it, even with all the coordination Billy and Stu had (at least until near the end), there's still be difference in body language, but since they're in the middle of chasing people who are fearing for their lives, most of their victims wouldn't notice it anyway, which preserves the mystery.

But that's my personal thing. I won't push the issue.

Scream VI is coming to digital April 25th.

I was spurred to revisit the original trilogy after VI left me cold, and was reminded of just why it did. There's a noticeable empathy that Wes Craven felt for the victims when it wouldn't slow the movie down, and that's mostly lacking from the new ones; it pops up fleetingly in 2022 and it's wholly absent in its successor. Nobody in VI seems to care if their loved ones live or die.

This was also something a thing in 3, where there's not a single sympathetic victim, but I think it was deliberate on Wes Craven's part; he would have spent his career in a place that rewards the combination of pretty(or at least crafty) and sociopathic, and as such, he spares little sympathy for the shallow or predatory Hollywood idiots who catch the knife in that one.

4 also feels somewhat cynical in regards to who lives and who dies(and its one shocking/sad moment is stolen by the existence of the latest film), but I think that it's a sign of where Wes's head was at the twilight of his career; the man who made New Nightmare is deliberately pointing out how over a decade removed from the original Scream, its iconic status has somewhat robbed it of its power, and the ability for new viewers to feel anything for the people who die. And indeed, Jill and Charlie plainly don't care for the humanity of the victims, just the images that their struggles and deaths provide.

Wes was a genius.

Edited by Prowler on Apr 7th 2023 at 2:48:42 AM

Having just seen Scream 6, I have to say they need to drop the "what kind of horror movie is this/the rules to survive" scenes. It's something that was clever and fresh in the beginning of the franchise but now is just there because it is required, regardless of how diminished the return is.

I think a great Final Boss Ghostface would be one that doesn't give a shit about horror movie conventions and will kill anyone.

I'm actually surprised they haven't gone with a "There are no rules" approach for one of the movies.

Personally, I think it works fine when they have a new type of horror movie to comment on like with 2 with horror sequels, 4 with reboots, and 5 with requels. But it did feel a bit awkward with 6 since it's more of just a continuation of 5. And 3 since horror trilogies weren't really that common at the time.

I'd say it starts to go downhill at 3. Horror (especially slasher) trilogies aren't really a thing traditionally, but it seemed to be the last movie of the franchise so it is easy to give it a pass. 4 is not a reboot, even though they claim it is, it is still a continuation of the original characters' stories. 5 is more of a reboot, bringing in fresh characters that will get the continuing focus while relegating the originals to supporting roles. By 6 it seemed they just needed a scene where the characters use a movie term and list some rules so they went with whatever was left, because that's required in a Scream movie, even if it doesn't make sense.

Eh, it's not a literal remake/reboot but it's commenting on it by presenting itself that way, so it works for me, personally.

On another note, I've been reading through all of the available online scripts for the movies. Seems to be one for all of them but 4, though I've only heard mention of one for 6. Couldn't find that one. Pretty interesting comparing the changes and what did and didn't make it through. Wish I could find that alleged fake Scream 2 script Kevin Williamson mentioned where Dewey was the killer.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have been replaced by Christopher Landon of Happy Death Day fame for the coming seventh installment.

Edited by Prowler on Aug 3rd 2023 at 1:52:04 PM

Confirmation here

Chris Landon's a great choice. Aside from directing the Happy Death Day movies and Freaky, he also co-wrote Disturbia too.

I’d love to see a Scream movie that takes place during Scream VI where we see what Sidney is dealing with over in California. In the meantime, we got this. Haha.

Also think that as great as Samara Weaving was for the brief bit she was in Scream VI, I think she was still underutilized—and that it felt a bit like a favor to Radio Silence rather than being as developed as it could've been. I'd been them, I wouldn't have made Laura the opening kill.

Edited by futuremoviewriter on Aug 3rd 2023 at 8:49:21 AM

Sooo I need to review the rules each film produces but I don't know if Scream VII can happen

• 1 to 3 are subversions of a trilogy
• 4 is a modern remake that reverses the rules
• 5 is a requel/remake plus a sequel that's meant to not upset older fans obsessed with nostalgia
• 6 is we're in a franchise and everything that was true before is now the opposite

So apart from maybe Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street there aren't many franchises that Scream 7 can base itself from.

I think we're really past the point were the rules make any kind of sense, its just a requirement of the franchise.

I'm honestly tickled to see how they'll frame the next movie. The rules are the most entertaining part of each film for me.