Saturday, October 12, 2013

October Horror 2013: 12 - Scream

This is a short recap of movies watched during a weekend trip in which I wasn't able to write more full reactions in a timely fashion:


Scream is one of those classic horror revival flicks that tend to be hated on quite a bit, having done some good but far outstayed their welcome.  Horror in the 90's was often regarded as a bit of a dead and niche genre with the majority of releases being straight-to-video or sequels to existing franchises like the once incredibly popular Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm St.  Theatrical releases often having much lower budget than their predecessors.  Scream came out in 1996, directed by Wes Craven, who previously created the Nightmare on Elm St franchise.  Ironic, considering the film often lampoons horror movie "rules" than Nightmare had a hand in establishing.

Having seen Scream ~17 years too late, it probably didn't have as much of an effect on me as it would've had on the original audiences, but as a horror fan I really enjoyed it.  I feel like its self-aware nodding to horror tropes and formula is something that has allowed movies like Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, Cabin in the Woods, and even Grave Encounters to exist.  I did enjoy it, but it might feel a little cheap in relation to more modern movies.  Still well written and worth watching for the legacy, but don't expect to be amazed and blown away.  Amusingly, for being regarded as saving horror from the glut of long running franchises with endless sequels Scream spawned 3 of its own.

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