Can the SCREAM franchise be resurrected?
SCREAM 4 certainly takes a good stab at it by trying to redefine the genre’s slasher story which was successfully launched in 1996 and ground to an end in 2000.
Original survivors back for the reboot include Neve Campbell again as Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers and of course bumbling Sheriff Dewey Riley portrayed again by David Arquette.
SCREAM 4’s storyline is a simple one, as popular self-help author Sidney returns to Woodsboro for a book signing and while in town connects with Dewey and Gale who are now man and wife.
But Sidney’s homecoming: BAD IDEA!
Ghostface is back as well, again doing dirty deeds all over the small burg—but with the teen angst updated courtesy of streaming cameras, smartphones, apps and other technological doo-dads.
(Remember we didn’t even have Facebook when the series ended!)
It’s almost as if Ghostface is following the script of fictional horror flick STAB 4, 5, 6 or was it 7?
(Damn those sequels….)
But somehow he misses being an integral part of the genre.
"Don’t fxxx with the original," someone says.
A couple of non-spoiler hints: Don’t over or underestimate new additions to the cast including Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Emma Roberts, Kristen Bell or Anna Paquin as they zig-zag through this stab-a-thon brimming with cynicism, wit and cliches.
Oh and for those of you who were hoping for nubile nudity before the sacred motto of ‘Virgins Die’ is played out in this reboot, sorry to disappoint.
They get stabbed with their clothes ON!
Obviously the producers are hoping SCREAM 4 will be the beginning of a second, bankable trilogy.
And it probably will be—especially on video.
My only question is will the 18 to 25 year-olds who supported the first Screams – and are now in their early to mid-30’s – still support this stuff?
You’d think that other than the geeks, they’d have outgrown these sort of teen-screen screamers by now.
And as for today’s teens, some of the material here may seem pretty lame, tried and tired.
SCREAM 4: I’m forcing 2-1/2 out of 5 fingers for this copycat slasher tribute satire.
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES on Radio: Friday mornings on KMBZ AM FM and RADIO BACH, Kansas City’s HD Classical Station. And Friday afternoons with Tanna on the new 99.7-THE POINT.
On TV: Anytime on Time-Warner Calbe’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.
Super Dave Screams Enough Is Enough!
Sequel, sequels and then more sequels.
And Hollywood wonders why the movies they make lose money and nobody goes to see.
Huh?
“Don’t over or underestimate new additions to the cast including….”
OK, I will neither over or under it – I will simply “estimate” it.
Hint
Read between the lines Jill—then ‘estimate’ the guilty party.