Scream (1996)
A new thriller from Wes Craven
Hitting up the classics this time! I originally had the plan to do all of these this October, but kind of went a little off track at first. Back on track now - got a three pack on sale! Yep, that means you can look forward to at least two more Scream movies before we hit the end of the month! Beware the phone call, it might be a killer waiting to make you Scream.
I don’t think I really need to worry about spoiling the story of a movie this old, but I probably won’t get too far into spoiler stuff anyways. Our basic story boils down a mysterious killer on the loose, his stalking victim is our lead, and it revolves around if or how the killer will get her. Sure, there’s some sub plots about characters relations or backstories, and most the non-killer part plays out a bit like a teen high school drama riddle with tension and horror, but the killer and his antics are probably the most standout point of the movie. Of course, by the end you also get to know the killers motives, but it’s in the moment to moment that the movie is going to excel.
The movie knows what it is, and honestly it plays it more riding the 4th wall then most of it’s kin before being super-aware was a really big thing to do. Despite this, it still sticks with a lot of the tropes as it pokes fun at or calls them out, which I imagine might be a weird disconnect to some. It works really well as a bit of a deconstruction of the slashers that by now had become quite the easy and cheap to produce rage for the genre. Yes, I know calling something out doesn’t make much of a difference if you are going to just do the thing anyways, but it adds a level of awareness to some of the actions taken by characters whilst also providing that level of commentary on things that many can find enjoyable and more fulfilling than just another stabby-grabby blood soaked murder fest. It’s also quite amusing how well it steers your expectations by simply calling out these tropes during it’s run, effectively making red herrings where there previously was none and instilling that feeling that there really are no rules when it comes to safety around this killer who seems to already know all the rules.
The actors all do a great job here. When you watch is so far away from when it was made, some of the impact of the actions in the movie are a bit less noticeable - killing a character early on in the movie is no rare thing these days, and Barrymore isn’t in the center stage as much to be such a shocking thing when you realize that she isn’t the main character. Of course, the time’s technology also plays into it - not everyone walked around with cellphones in their pockets, and we live in a time when robots can call us over the phone through someone else’s phone number and tell us about our car’s extended warranty. Some of the actors are a bit… over the tops perhaps. It’s not really a horrible thing, usually adding to some amount the entertainment value of the movie - but I’d be remiss to not point out the few times someone went nuts. On the flip side of that, some of the lines feel almost naturally ad-libbed, which really just adds an extra level of awesome.
Peek-a-boo!
Effects wise the movie is done great. Yes, it’s nothing super crazy as far as effects go - largely just some stabbings, cuttings, or aftermaths. It’s sufficiently violent for the folks who come to the genre for it, but not so off putting that it falls into an anatomy video or zombie gross out fields. It’s believable enough that you aren’t finding immersion broken, while also not being so realistic that you worry someone is actually getting hit. There rest of it comes down to costumes - and for the most part there isn’t a whole lot to talk about given most people are in modern outfits people would wear. I can’t tell you if that cheerleader outfit was regulation, i can’t account for a specific brand or anything of that sort - but it all looks like stuff that people would wear. In the terms of the killer, the fact the outfit is something you can find in any old store becomes coincidentally or not incredibly accurate given you really can find the outfit of Ghost Face popping up in every Halloween store.
You may find it funny to find that this movie also has a lot of jokes. Maybe some of them aren’t intentional funny moments, but some totally are. The liver pun, for example - totally intended. The nod to other Wes Craven franchise Nightmare on Elm Street totally meant to be there. In fact, most the stuff you’ll laugh at is totally meant to be fun I’d wager. The killers inability to not be beaten by practically every door he comes across - maybe a little less intentionally funny. In fact, there’s a good amount of the movie that’s the killer getting the crap kicked out of them - which does a good job of placing them firmly into the category of “actual human” and not immortal killing machine like most their competition. Poor killer got blasted in the balls by at least three different counter-attacks, but at the same time if we are being honest they kind of had it coming considering all the murder they were doing.
That killer is also probably where most of the more iconic things from this movie comes from. Lines, phone calls, stalking, even the “everywhere” look of the ghost face. The thing took off as a pop icon - even landing in parody movies and video games. The franchise also took off of course, giving us three more current at the time of this movies, and one brand new one on the way. It’s a killer that speaks to a different kind of way, a hero that doesn’t just make bad decisions constantly, and a whole lot of unfortunate friends. At times the comedy might make it feel much more like a funny movie that happens to have some brutal stabbings in it - but the nice part is it really does add to re-watchability. Between that and taking a new look at the movie after you learn the identity of the killer to further place out the events in your head.
Just a couple of school kids here.
It’s good stuff. I mean, it’s a classic, so obviously people have found things to latch on to for it. It is still a horror movie, so folks that don’t like movies with murdering and spooks won’t be particularly fond of it. Some of the more comedic elements might also put a bit of a tonal divide on the folks who just want a straight-faced murder story to make them hide under the covers. All in all, I’d say the thing is a good old time, and I know for sure my cousin is going to be looking forward to a lot of quotes when he next takes his turn playing as the Ghost Face killer in the Dead by Daylight game.