In fact, it did so within the first few minutes of the movie with that downright genius opening sequence. There’s no leaving the trauma of her past behind Sidney will carry all of it with her, and that includes falsely accusing Cotton of her mother’s murder. And then there’s one of my favorite creative choices, keeping Cotton Weary ( Liev Schreiber) in the mix. Is Derek ( Jerry O’Connell) another Billy or does he really have a heart of gold? Gale Weathers ( Courtney Cox) is finally forced to see the difference between star-making sensationalism and respectable, game-changing journalism. You’ve got the film turning the tables on Sidney as far as the boyfriend goes. There are tons of smart threads all throughout the film that keep you guessing, and take the main ensemble a major step forward. Within the rules of the Scream franchise, it makes all the sense in the world for both of those things to motivate others. That’s two sources of inspiration right there. (Not create them, but make them more creative, according to Billy Loomis.) So now in Scream 2, not only do you have the high-profile news story covering what really happened to Sidney and her friends, but you’ve also got a movie based on their experience with Stab. One of the core ideas of the 1996 original was that horror movies could influence killers. It’s staying within the confines of a formula (a very specific formula), but isn’t that the point in a sense? But what still makes Scream 2 a stellar sequel is the time and care it takes to embrace and build upon the foundation started in the first film. And that exact point is stated multiple times in this movie. Let’s get the obvious out of the way first it’s nearly impossible for a sequel to compete with its iconic original. For example, even though there is value to the plot digging deeper into Sidney’s ( Neve Campbell) family history, the uncharacteristic melodrama of that material, in particular, does take away from its impact and significance, especially when it comes to the Roman of it all. Whereas its predecessors nail the balance between sheer terror and meta humor, Scream 3 tends to spiral via its wildly different tone. It’s the installment that feels like it's trying to claw its way into the club. It’s the result of a Craven and Ehren Kruger collaboration, not Craven and Williamson. Her timing and delivery are spot-on, and she’s also the focus of one of the best set pieces in the movie - and one of the best of the franchise, for that matter.īut ultimately, Scream 3 is the Roman ( Scott Foley) of the series. Parker Posey, for one, is electric as Jennifer Jolie. Scream 3 does have many highlights though. Probably one of the most predictable spots on the list here, right? As much as I love the entire Scream film franchise, I must admit, it’s a challenge to defend certain elements of this one. But, as Craven and Williamson taught us in that first film, the killer always comes back and, sure enough, Scream 4 hit theaters in 2011, and then 2022 kicked off the Radio Silence era of the franchise with Scream 2022 followed by 2023's Scream VI. Only a year after the release of the first film, we got a successful sequel, and then soon after that came a third installment that stopped the franchise dead in its tracks. That 1996 film inspired countless creators to run wild with new possibilities while the Scream series itself continued to grow. Just when the slasher sub-genre felt like a dying breed, Ghostface came roaring in with his bowie knife and meta spin, paying homage to the icons of the 70s and 80 while also reinventing the formula with new rules, tools, and talent. (A sentiment that's just been reaffirmed by Scream VI.) The Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson collaboration was a genre game-changer back in the mid-90s. Remember when I told you Jurassic Park was my favorite film and one of my favorite franchises? Well, the first Scream movie is my second favorite film of all time, but the series overall is my #1.
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