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 | (Reviewed by Marco Beltrami) - Well I was always into Horror, me and my
best friend every Friday night would rent tons of horror movies and stay up
all night watching them until about noon Saturday. We absolutely loved
calling what came next, and enjoyed every minute of it. Then we rented
Scream.... We just assumed it was another typical slasher. When Casey picks
up the phone and yells "Listen asshole!" and its the killer, you
are expecting it to be her mother or something, as is typical. Right at that
moment we both exchanged a glance that said we realized we were into
something unique... we both instantly fell for it completely--we were hooked
for life, and he moved away to another city before Scream 2 came out. I took
the bus down with another other friend, and the 3 of us watched it then. Our
other friend said that no horror movie ever scared him, or made him jump,
and when the part in Scream 2 hit, where Cici is talking on the phone to
campus security, and Donna jumps out and scares the whole audience (My
friend included) it was so gratifying to lean over and say
"Nothing?" and he laughed. He now too was hooked. Come part 3 we
knew it was the last, so I spared no expense (i had an extremely well paying
job) and flew down to Grande Prairie (the city my friend had moved to). We
watched it together, and both agreed the final 40 minutes of part 3 are the
best 40 mins of the Trilogy, though we both rank them the same: Scream, then
just shortly behind is Scream 3, then very shortly behind is Scream 2.
Scream I loved for its originality, and it nullifying my ability to call
what was coming next. The mystery aspect was fantastic, especially that
there was two killers, whereas they never hinted at more than one (though it
made sense right after) I liked the guttings, they were disturbing mildly.
The comedy was fantastic, and the rooting the movie in reality--convincing
you beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was really taking place
somewhere--was fantastic. The countless references to other horror movies
was intriguing. The characters being wonderfully developed and not so cliche
as other series was a nice change of pace from typical horror. Because of
Scream's unconventional approach to horror it made each event that much more
terrifying. More than anything else I loved the fact that it scared me. For
no other series before had (though I still thoroughly enjoyed all horror
prior to Scream) and the witty, sarcastic, and often tongue in cheek
dialogue. I liked that it shows you (though subtlely) the aspects of
violence seen from an ordinary citizen (Sidney) the media (Gale) and the law
(Dewey) giving you a real look at how tragic violence to other can be. I
liked the fact that it was rooted so firmly in reality that it could
conceivable happen (Jason will never come after me, but he's still extremely
cool. Freddy will not be killing me in my dreams, but is still a fascinating
killer) and that the killer was terribly human. He trips, slips, and is
knocked around. The horrifying ending, where these two killers who have
dealt out violence and pain and suffering to those around them only truly
find out how terrible a thing they did to others, when they themselves are
sliced up (by each other) expecting it to just be a none-to-fun part of
their plan. They get a dose of their own medicine, and its terrible to
experience, they realize.
Scream 2 I loved for its original sequel aspect--while still being true to
the original (and directly referencing it at numerous points) it still
elevates the series to a new plateau. I walked in expecting to be treated to
another laughter filled then terrifying cinematic experience, with the
killings taken a little lightly (than what reality would have) but the
instant that Phil was stabbed in the head--such utterly reasonless violence
done by someone unto him--And Maureens murder in front of hundreds of people
who cheer and laugh until they realize its no joke. That felt all too tragic
and horrifying. The characters had all progressed in their lives, all
seeking out their new future (Gale to become a bigger star, Sidney to act,
Randy to write and direct or critisize--oh yeah and completely different,
but may as well mention it here; in Scream 2 everyone's hair is shorter than
part 1, everyone--For part 3 they have longer hair than they did in 2...
just a side note I always liked) and the deeper mystery, the more horrible
scenarios everyone is put through. The pure tragic notes of certain scenes:
Randy's death (honestly felt like I was watchin my best friend be murdered
before my eyes) and Dewey stabbed in the back (no! You can't kill him! He
survived part one only to be killed? How could you?) and the mind fuc kings
of Mickey to Sidney--by using her past to force her to doubt Derek,
insinuating that Derek is in on it with him, and will kill her if she unties
him. The past coming back to haunt her through her murder of Billy Loomis.
The horror of having a psychotic woman after her for the murder of her
son--who refuses to see reality; that Sidney did not kill him for sport,
that it was out of self defense, and they Ms. Loomis's son was deranged.
Mickey's brilliant references to Sidney's past mentioned in the original
Scream was one of my favourite lines ever in movie history, "Poor
innocent Derek. He was bright and funny. Handsome. Decent singing voice. And
he was going to be a doctor. This was just the kind of guy you'd like to
take home to mom. If you had a mom!" I thought it was pure brilliance.
Scream 3 I loved for it once again elevating the movie to a new level, and
bringing it to Hollywood. It still brought back all the necessary
characters, and filled me with dread the instant it opened on Cotton.
"The first character shown always dies first!" I was worried. Yes
Cotton died and I wasn't thrilled about it (though it wasn't as tragic as
losing Randy) and if I had to pick out of the four characters returning who
would die--Cotton would have been my choice. Sidney I just couldn't stand to
lose, nor Dewey. Gale I could, but wanted her to live only because of
Dewey's attachment to her. I didn't want to see him unhappy. Cotton's death
was tragic in the respect that he had saved Sidney in part 2, and she owed
her life to him. All he had sought in part two was to become famous. He now
is, but only because of his fame does he die. The irony and the tragedy are
amazing in that alone. Then seeing Sidney wholed up, alone, friendless
nearly broke my heart. Seeing this strong beautiful woman who had been put
through some terrible events; seeing her friends murdered before her eyes
time and again. Having other "friends" attack and try to kill her
was bad enough! But to see her finally weakened and desolate was saddening
to me. Then having Dewey back, and pissed with Gale created an interesting
dynamic not unlike the one in Scream 2, but with another love interest
thrown in to make it more maddening (Jennifer). The back story to Sidney's
mother was maddeningly intriguing--I desperately wanted to know why the
killer was leaving pictures of a younger Maureen Prescott. The ending was
perfect. I wrote myself a list of expectations before I went to see the
movie. I expected Sidney, Gale, Dewey and Cotton to survive, and that if one
of them died it had to be Cotton. That was a success. I desperately wanted
Dewey to be the hero of the trilogy. He tried and failed and was hurt and
almost killed in the first Scream... in Scream 2 again he tried, failed, and
was almost killed. He was such a nice and caring character that I wanted him
to get what he wanted; to be with Gale, and to be the hero. Success. I
wanted it to be an actual ending. Not just "the killer is dead"
lets fade to black--But to have an actual conclusion showing you that
everything was okay now, and that Sidney was safe from future harm. Well in
having it revealed that the only reason that any of this was started was
because of her half brother's vengeance, and killing him, it accomplished
that as well. He created the horror, it ended with his death. Dewey
proposing to Gale almost brought a tear to my eyes, and the love they feel
for each other in real life (as they are married) really shone through them
in that scene. Seeing Sidney comfortable and secure enough to be able to not
set the alarm as she entered was nice, then the door opening and Sidney
giving a half smile and walking away trustingly was perfect.
The Scream Trilogy to me was original, scary, funny, tragic, and above all
else re-invigorated the horror genre, while re-inventing it as well.
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