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Scream 4 (2011)
The Better Sequel to Scream
Scream 4 proves to be a wholly unnecessary and surprisingly intriguing sequel to the original trilogy. It is a nostalgic blast to see the re-teaming of Sidney (Neve Campbell) Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale (Courteney Cox) back in their roles as the main trio that has managed to outlive three elaborate killing sprees over the years. It's been eleven years since the original murders began in Woodsboro, California and now a psychotic slasher in a familiar mask is on the loose wreaking havoc again. Sidney Prescott, played brilliantly by Campbell in this installment, returns home to Woodsboro to promote her new autobiography. Along with a snooty publicist assistant (Alison Brie), Sidney, Gale and Dewey come back together for a happy hello, but it's not long before Ghostface begins slashing his way through a new host of teen victims and Sidney is forced to relive her own nightmare all over again.
The interesting thing about Scream 4 is how long the gap is between the last installment in 2000 and now. The film wisely draws upon character development to create a sense of familiarity with the main trio, and also throws in a talented mix of new kids to balance out the proceedings. I particularly enjoyed the appearance of Hayden Panettiere, and Emma Roberts is also impressive as Sidney's younger cousin Jill. There's a lot going on story-wise in Scream 4, as we are introduced to a whole new group of teenagers associated with Jill. As well, there are also suspects in the form of the local wisecracking cops, including Anthony Anderson, who is seriously misplaced along this kind of material, not to mention Mary McDonnell makes an appearance as Jill's mother.
Anybody who has seen the first 3 knows Sidney's background well. These bloodbaths have always been centered around her, and the killer (s) always reveal some motivation that ties in with the death of Sidney's mother. Another thing that is apparent in Scream 4's strive to be fresh is that the killer has a whole new agenda, leaving the mystery wide open and well concealed. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before too many people spoil the identity of the killer, but rest assured, you should try to steer clear of this information and see the movie with an open mind. It makes this kind of film much more enjoyable. Wes Craven has always been very successful with this genre, and this latest endeavor is no exception. Scream 4 is a graphically violent, side-splitting and well performed slasher movie with a brain, a heart, and a surprisingly decent amount of shocks and surprises that doesn't condescend to its audience... in short, it's another humorous, relevant and thrilling retread of the original that may not tread much new ground but makes up for it in laughs and scares.
Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003)
Decent Sequel Favors Action Over Scares
"Jeepers Creepers 2" trades the familiarity of creeping tension for in the face, well timed action sequences. Where it doesn't work so much as a straight horror thriller this time around, what with nothing new to be discovered about the startling "Creeper", returning director/writer Victor Salva ups the ante on the gore and stylized action, resulting in an enjoyable monster movie that doesn't skimp out on the bloodshed audiences would expect from a horror sequel, especially one that has to live up to such a frightening experience as the first film. "Creepers 2" jumps into the action as quickly as the first film did, and the Creeper is even more of an unsettling creation in this second chapter. He was dusty and ancient looking in the first film, here the makeup artists have had a field day and we can tell the creature has done a lot of feeding. Throw a diverse group of students on a cramped school bus that conveniently breaks down in the middle of nowhere, right in Creeper territory, and you've got a typical sequel that may not score points for originality but proves to be a great vehicle for suspense and graphic, shocking imagery. Salva keeps the plot (except the Creeper himself) at a reasonably believable boiling point, drawing an interweaving story between the group of kids trapped in the bus, their collective psychosis breaking down as the Creeper terrorizes them and picks them off one by one, and a toughened old farmer who's out for vengeance against the demon. Salva wraps it up in a neat package that stops just shy of wearing out its welcome and Bennet Salvay's rich score leavens the scares wonderfully throughout. Not as scary or original as the first, but a worthy and creepy effort nonetheless, with some riveting scares and decent performances from all involved. Where'd you get those peepers? Keep an eye out for the really great horror makeup effects, they stand out and give "Jeepers Creepers 2" some of its nastiest energy.
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Tense "Road Trip Gone Awry" Slasher Romp
I really enjoyed "Jeepers Creepers", a film that made its mark at the box office during a time when there seemed to be a lot of "road trips gone wrong" features churning out from studios. Where normally a group of teens would be stalked by a suitably scary psycho in an isolated country setting, writer/director Victor Salva decides to deceive his audience and go down a much darker, disturbing road.
Jumping right into the action, Salva pits a brother (Justin Long) and sassy sister (Gina Phillips) against a maniacal trucker who runs them off the road about five minutes into the film. Just when you've caught your breath, the siblings happen to pass the psycho again, this time spotting him throwing a body down an old pipe next to a decrepit church. It's at this point that (a.) the film is scariest and (b.) the screenplay is smartest. Like Wes Craven's classic "Scream", the characters directly reference themselves as being in a horror movie, in an intriguing exchange where they debate whether or not to check out that nasty old church and see if someone's alive, or take a queue from scary movies and just get out of there.
Seeing as this IS a scary movie, we all know what they end up doing, and this sets in motion a horrifying chain of events as they become targeted by a monster that's best left to your discovery, viewer, rather than giving away all the fun in this review. What I will let you know is that Salva keeps the film brimming with tension and shocks, right up until the rather clumsy and offbeat ending sequence. "Jeepers Creepers" is one of the best examples of that sub genre of road trips gone awry that seems to have been started by the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and Salva infuses energetic visual style and imagination into this violent monster movie, even at its most unbelievable moments.
Scream (1996)
Clever Horror Comedy is Craven's Best Work
Director Wes Craven delivers the best film of his career, based on a rather sly screenplay by Kevin Williamson, and boy did it pay off in 1996! "Scream" is the most sophisticated and well crafted work Craven has ever done, in terms of style, performances and, most of all, effective scares. The simple plot capitalizes on media influence to great effect, and the energetic script, not to mention the cast, brings what could have been a routine slasher to life with verve. A young girl (Neve Campbell of "Wild Things" and "Party of Five") named Sidney Prescott finds herself the main target of a psychotic slasher who appears to his victims wearing a Halloween ghost costume, tormenting them with sadistic phone calls before going in for the kill. Sidney, who has a tragic past involving the murder of her mother just a year before, is forced into a paranoid position of suspicion against everyone in her life. Aided by her best friend Tatum (Rose McGowan) and bumbling deputy Dewey (David Arquette), Sidney also has to deal with the likes of such shady characters as bitchy reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and affectionate boyfriend Billy (Skeet Ulrich). As her friends are picked off one by one, Sidney realizes the psycho killer in question has been inspired by a long slew of slasher films, and many are mentioned throughout the film.
"Scream" wisely draws upon the rules established by earlier entries in the genre including "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th", a clever gimmick to let the audience know that the film itself is aware of its place as a teen oriented horror film, therefore throwing the viewer off guard with a good dose of turning the expected clichés upside down and injecting some real character development, so that we actually care about these kids before they start dying. Self referential humor aside, "Scream" still manages to be dreadfully scary, especially the harrowing opening scene in which a young girl receives several calls that she first assumes are from a harmless prankster but gradually begins to realize she's not safe in her own home. The actors are wonderful, especially Neve Campbell as the smarter than average heroine and Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers. You want these people to live and it's all the more thrilling when they come face to face with the killer.
Williamson's script is chock full of references to other horror movies and unexpected twists, and Craven is at the top of his game, setting up the scares just right and keeping the mystery of who's behind the mask genuinely hard to solve until the surprise climax.
Scream 2 (1997)
As Good a Sequel as There Ever Could Be
Where Kevin Williamson's screenplay drew upon the rules of slasher movies as an inspiration for a teen killer in "Scream", his script for the sequel in turn recognizes the rules and traditions of popular horror sequels and references itself constantly as being aware of this status.
"Scream 2" isn't as well put together as the first but director Wes Craven manages to make a pretty scary and intriguing horror romp out of Williamson's script, cleverly mixing scares and in-joke humor together to rush out a sequel to one of the greatest teen horror satires ever. There are real moments of terror in the story, which finds Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) once again dealing with a psycho slasher in a ghost mask who is stalking her and her close friends in a pleasant Ohio college town. Courteney Cox reprises her role as reporter Gale Weathers, who turned out to be an unexpected hero in "Scream" and returns to gain more fame, capitalizing on the murders taking place at Sidney's school. David Arquette also returns as the funny Deputy Dewey and his scenes with Gale are some of the best comic moments in the film. The cast is better in this sequel, and besides the main trio of Campbell, Cox and Arquette, Jamie Kennedy returns as movie buff Randy, and you've also got appearances by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jerry O'Connell, and even the always delightful Laurie Metcalfe (of "Roseanne" fame) in a hilarious cameo role as an aspiring reporter.
Where the film is overlong, it proves itself to be an ultimately entertaining and clever retread of the first. "Scream 2" still takes the time to establish its characters and environment before people start getting picked off by the killer. Wes Craven has an eye for scary chase scenes and these are the highlight of the film. Among these are a jolting car chase, a clever revamp of the opening from the first film set in a sorority house, and even a surprise moment of horror in a crowded movie theater at the premiere of "Stab", ironically, a film within a film gimmick based on the events of the first film. It's touches like this that keep "Scream 2" above routine slasher material, but not for long. The twist (that is to say, who "Ghostface" actually turned out to be) was genuinely unexpected, even more so than the first, and echoes some classic twists from earlier films in the genre that inspired "Scream" itself. Craven is still at the top of his game stylistically but it doesn't get much better than the original "Scream".