Scream "2"

[The Terrible Grumbler]

I'd like to discuss this short sequel to the hit film "Scream", directed by Wes Craven in 1998.

I think it's a drastically underrated piece of cinema, and I personally find some of the themes and concepts quite interesting and relevent to contemporary cinema.

Back then, if you'll recall, we were still stuck in a very "postmodern" cinematic age before films like Blair Witch were made which completely revitalized the genre and moved us into fertile new ground.

However, I'd consider Scream 2 to be the last of the great "ironic" "teen" slasher movies of the 90s, the final swan song of a genre born out of culture and fandom, and for many of us an introduction into the horror world.

My mind goes back to the first time I saw the film having rented it from the local video store on VHS back in 1998 upon it's home theatre release. I had seen the first film just a couple of weeks beforehand on the same format, and was blown away like many others.

In some ways, this film is superior to the original Scream. The concepts of "more blood, more gore" hold true as this film delivers much more action and adventure than the first Scream, although this isn't a trilogy of gore films. The scene with Sidney finding the mutilated corpse of the butcher in the university kitchens stands out as a grisly highlight.

Part of the reason why these films are so popular is the characters: victim/heroine Sidney, reporter/opportunist Gale and the lovable but dopey Dewey. Also we were introduced to the iconic figure of Ghostface, who will no doubt stand alongside other murderers such as Leatherface, Michael Myers and Charles Manson.

It's a shame that Scream 3 lacked the aesthetic quality of the first two films, because they are shot so well. Director of Photography Peter Deming presents us with a wonderfully rich, deep palette and a remarkably subtle yet beautiful image that unfortunately didn't make it into the third film. And it is a shame, because the series lacks visual cohesion that would have otherwise made it a very consistent series of films. Although the first film still stands out as the best shot of all three, thanks to Mark Irwin's photography.

The visual quality in this film is particularly evident in the sequence with Gale and Dewey searching for a VCR in the university before being haunted by Ghostface. The subtle lowlights and claustraphobic sense of dread in that scene are matched only by the beautiful terrifying scenes of pain and euphoria in the opening cinema murder and the sequence where Dewey chases the redneck through the forest into the old cabin.

There's so much more I could say about this film, but I'll let you all go and revisit this classic tonight and remember for yourself what makes this such a great film. I haven't even begun to talk about the memorable dialogue and writing from Kevin Williamson (whatever happened to him?) and the legendary scenes in the casino with Ghostface disguising himself as a blackjack dealer whilst the others play some cards.

Thank you and good-nightz.

[Posher778]

She finds a corpse? Wtf....



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who are you?

[The Terrible Grumbler]

I'm the terrible grumbler.

[Posher778]

Yeah. You have inaccurate things in your review, fyi. Later

[alkytrio666]

I enjoyed reading an actual write-up on film, for once. Thanks for sharing, stick around.

[The Terrible Grumbler]

yes, there were inaccuracies in my review. Sorry. I wrote it off the top of my head having not seen it in quite a while.

Anyway, last night I had a chance to revisit the entire trilogy again and was quite surprised by the third installment. I managed to watch it in it's original aspect ratio for the first time - for some reason my disc automatically plays at a stretched up 4:3 so I adjusted it to 16:9 with the black lines and enjoyed it properly. I still think it looks different to the first two films; much darker, but it is better than I remembered.

I originally saw Scream 3 as a pirate copy back in 2000 which was very dark and barely watchable, so my memories may be tainted by that experience. This is why I don't watch or recommend pirate films anymore!

Anyway, I'm digressing. The first Scream is by far the strongest installment in the trilogy, but the second film is a worthy contender. Some nice set pieces (the theatre finale and the scene with the crashed car spring to mind), interesting characters and unexpected revelations. It's nice to watch all three films and reveal the Loomis/Prescott family relations.

[Posher778]

Originally Posted by The Terrible Grumbler

yes, there were inaccuracies in my review. Sorry. I wrote it off the top of my head having not seen it in quite a while.

Anyway, last night I had a chance to revisit the entire trilogy again and was quite surprised by the third installment. I managed to watch it in it's original aspect ratio for the first time - for some reason my disc automatically plays at a stretched up 4:3 so I adjusted it to 16:9 with the black lines and enjoyed it properly. I still think it looks different to the first two films; much darker, but it is better than I remembered.

I originally saw Scream 3 as a pirate copy back in 2000 which was very dark and barely watchable, so my memories may be tainted by that experience. This is why I don't watch or recommend pirate films anymore!

Anyway, I'm digressing. The first Scream is by far the strongest installment in the trilogy, but the second film is a worthy contender. Some nice set pieces (the theatre finale and the scene with the crashed car spring to mind), interesting characters and unexpected revelations. It's nice to watch all three films and reveal the Loomis/Prescott family relations.

The crash in 2 was really well done. I too, enjoyed the 3rd one.