Scream 4 (2011)

Director: 

Wes Craven

Plot synopsis: 

The fourth installment of the Scream series, the film follows Sidney Prescott as she returns to Woodsboro, ten years after the first massacre to promote her book. Now someone else has started killing off the towns teen residents, and Sid and her old friends Gale and Dewey have to hurry to solve the murders, whilst learning the “new rules” of surviving a horror movie from the new generation.

First thoughts: 

I watched this film when it came out, and many times since. But as it was shown on TV I decided to review it. I love the ‘Scream’ original trilogy so when this one came out I was excited, though since I was younger my Dad had to watch it first before I could watch it.

Rating: 4 Stars

Review (Unspoiled): 

Best of the quadtrilogy. It’s modern, cutting edge and has a fantastic narrative. It’s a refreshing change to all the other teen horror films you get that comprise of tons of unnecessary gore and nudity, all female of course, and stupid generic plot lines. It’s clever and successes in being just as new and fresh in twists as the treasured original. There are tons of new and famous faces that bring new talent to the screen.

Bottom line: 

New rules, new scares, new blood. Quite literally.

Recommend: 

Absolutely, I recommend the whole series, though the third does falter to meet the grade of the rest.

Spoiler Section: There’s a lot to be said about this film. First, the opening sequence. It was amazing. In the original, the most famous star died with the first ten minutes. In this, four stars bite the dust in five. Watching Kristen Bell stab Anna Paquin in the stomach was beyond superb. Not cause I hate her, ‘Fly away home’ is one of my favourite childhood films of all time, but it was such an interesting scene. Then it got into the ‘present’ and things really got started.

Personally I found each death was perfectly planned, to build the narrative and by the killers. It left you guessing who the killer was. The new rules made everything much more interesting and left everyone out for picking.

I was shocked by the big reveal, I was hoping it wasn’t Charlie but I never thought Jill would be one of the killers. Her character was demented and watching her cut and throw herself into a glass table was cringey and sickening. I was so glad she ultimately bit the dust, and in such a good showdown.

Best Character: 

Kirby.

Worst Character: 

The publicist. I was happy she died.

Best Moment: 

The opening sequence and the end face off.

Worst Moment: 

Kirby’s death. She was my favourite character, and I love the actress. Her death was sad, because she really didn’t want Charlie to die. She only trusted her instinct, and it was right about him being the killer, or at least one of them.

Please feel free to comment your own views on the film if you've watched it, I would love to know how others felt about it.