Welcome to the Second Union 31 Days of Horror event! Every day leading up to Tuesday, October 31st, (starting Sunday, October 1st) we will post a review of one horror film.
Today’s Film: Scream. Enjoy!
Scream is directed by Wes Craven and follows a group of teens who become the subject of gruesome murders in the town of Woodsboro, California. Wow, a 12-year article jump and two Wes Craven films in a row? I must be crazy! But Scream is one of my favorite horror films, and one of the best of all time. It begins with a call and becomes one of the smartest and most fun murder mystery films ever made. Wes Craven’s stellar direction and the bloody overtones make it one to remember. The opening scene is an iconic piece of horror movie history, throwing the audience a huge and gory shocker as somebody’s murdered within the first ten minutes.
The actors portray their characters perfectly. When I first saw this film, I was blown away because the performances didn’t give away who the killer was. I won’t spoil it because I think that this is one of those films where you just need to go in expecting nothing. Though, I will say this: I’ve never seen a single movie that has a better twist than this film. The writing is also amazing. It’s funny, fast-paced, thrilling, and most of all: believable. There’s not a single moment where I couldn’t suspend my belief about something. It makes sense. It’s coherent.
Ghostface isn’t as iconic as other horror villains like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, or Freddy Krueger. However, it’s the silence, the long-awaited reveal that makes him a staple in the genre. He’s scary because he’s a mystery. Sometimes the best killers are the unknown ones.
THE VERDICT
Scream is the perfect horror movie. The perfect slasher movie. With amazing writing, a darkly humorous take on horror films, and an ending you’ll never see coming, this is the flick you want to watch over and over again. It’s an overdose of fun, and I’m going to give it an A+.
Scream stars David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Drew Barrymore. Directed by Wes Craven.
