Scream 2

1997’s Scream 2, directed by Wes Craven.

Starring Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Liev Schreiber, Elise Neal, Timothy Olyphant, Laurie Metcalf, Jamie Kennedy, Jerry O’Connell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rebecca Gayheart, Portia de Rossi, Heather Graham, Luke Wilson, and Tori Spelling.

What is it about?

Set after the events of the Original, Scream 2 returns Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott as a college student, trying to blend into her campus’ social scene and enjoy her boyfriend (Jerry O’ Connell), old friend (Jamie Kennedy), and room mate (Elise Neal). With the release of the movie, Stab (based off of the events of Scream), a copycat killer begins to circulate through the campus, killing its students. Always hungry for a story, reporter Gail Weathers (Courtney Cox) returns for a scoop, Deputy Dewey (David Arquette) reunites with the gang to help catch the killer, and the exonerated Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber). Will Sidney be able to avoid the rule of sequels having bigger body counts?

Why is it worth seeing?

Scream 2 reunites horror director Wes Craven with teen horror writer Kevin Williamson. Seeking to duplicate their brand of self aware slasher pastiche that they introduced in the last feature, they bring back most of the surviving cast members, the ghostface killer (and hidden identity antagonist), and the 4^th wall breaking conversations that seek to implicate its audience members for enjoying the genre. Unfortunately, it forgets a large amount of thrills, and has challenges copying itself when it comes to competency.

In the film’s opening scene, we feel a question arising from the sight of a movie theatre packed full of zealous fans in ghostface masks and dress- how are these pathological weirdos any different from Star Wars fans camped out on sidewalks? It really highlights the issues inherent in making fun of the genre, while still celebrating it- and how great (or merely good) openers translate into formulaic mediocrity.

Clocking in at a mere 9 minutes longer than the original, Scream 2 feels hours longer. Initially it was a challenge to figure out why the film was so inert, with scenes that go nowhere and are largely absent of suspense. But then I learned at the time of production that Williamson’s script was leaked out to the internet, and as a result he and Craven had to create scenes on the fly. It makes sense. It’s just a bummer that at times it can’t even copy itself- instead resorting to using 1996’s Broken Arrow’s Han Zimmer composed score for a number of Arquette’s scenes. It’s a little baffling- instead of using perfectly competent Marco Beltrami to compose more original (and tonally matched) score, why is the antagonist theme of a forgettable movie played so many times for a character whom the movie can’t figure out if he’s a suspect or merely one of the heroes? By accident- it almost feels like Twin Peaks. Ditto for Arquette and Cox’s relationship, which the film seems to have forgotten their gains made in the previous film.

With the script needing to be changed on the fly, the antagonist equally suffers. The ghostface killer continues their bumbling ways, but when the mask comes off, I haven’t felt that underwhelmed and un-invested since Friday the 13^th pt 1. It’s a difficult slog, when you miss Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard. It doesn’t help that Sidney fights her tormentor with curtains, paper mache blocks, and lightning follys- diminishing her stoicism. Really, the only character who gets the chance to grow is Jamie Kennedy’s poor unrequited love nerd- but that takes a backseat to cheap (not) thrills. You know what they say in show biz- the show must go on. Only 2 sequels to go.

Rating:

2.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.