Scream 2 (78%)

Director: Wes Craven     Cast: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox     Genre: Horror/Comedy

Runtime: 121 minutes     Release Date: December 12, 1997     Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Scream 2 was a blast in the theatres back in 1997. Coming a year after the first film, it had a lot to live up to. Scream was an original slasher film that payed homage to the slasher films that came before it, played with the audience and their expectations and re-invigorated the horror/slasher film for new audiences to enjoy. Back in 1997 I thought they did a great job following up on that premis with a film that was just as good.

Wes Craven had returned to direct the film, Kevin Williamson had returned to write the script and the entire surviving cast had came back to reprise their roles. Joining them was a slew of up and coming young talent and a few veterans too boot; a young Timothy Olyphant, Laurie Metcalf, Jerry O'Connell, Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Fucking Warner! It doesn't get much better than David Warner in a horror film let me tell you.

Watching it again, for the second or third time since it's initial release, I was surprised at how many of the young cast are still around today. I was also surprised at how much I enjoyed the film. It plays on sequels well and works as a pretty damn good follow up to the original. Of course, as is usually the case, it wasn't as good as it's predecessor, but it was still a fun ride that was better than a lot of the films that were ripping off Scream around the time.

It's one year later and Sydney (Neve Campbell) is now in university. She has a new boyfriend and a new set of friends, who have also accepted Randy (Jamie Kennedy) into their pack. It's not long before a new killer emerges and it is up to Syd and the rest of the returning cast to figure out who it is and stop him or her or they before they turn into corpses at the morgue.

The Good:

Like I said the film plays on sequels very well. Besides the fact that all the key players have returned for the sequel the film plays well into the original films ideas. The opening of the film is a blast as it takes Scream and turns it into Stab, a film within the film that is really the first film played by actors speaking movie dialogue. Heather Graham plays the Drew Barrymore role and Tori Spelling (who Sydney said would play her if a movie ever came out) plays Sydney. Awesome! The fake movie is littered with dialogue that is similar to what we heard in Scream but sounds like scripted and faker versions of the real(?) thing.

Like the first film, there is no nudity to be had here. In the first film it was a tease and a let down but worked in it's favour. Here it works even better. Using Heather Graham in a role where she steps into a shower is pure genius  She is always naked in movies and you wouldn't expect anything less of her here. Only just before you see anything the camera cuts away. It's another tease and with the casting it is not only perfect but hilarious too.

The deaths are good, there is enough blood to satisfy and once again the effects, the look and the music all succeed very well in capturing and creating a mood for the film. And like the original it is scary (not as scary though) and funny (just as funny). There are great little jokes about sequels and just great jokes in general. 

And did I mention David Warner? I did? Well I'll say it again. David Warner's in this film!!! Enough said there.

The Bad:

In the film, Randy sets and states the rules for sequels. I am paraphrasing here but two of them say that a sequel must be gorier and the kills must be more elaborate. Sadly, that is not the case with Scream 2. It's just as gory, if not less so and the kills are virtually the same. It's not a bad thing this in itself, but based on those rules that the movie sets up it is a slight disappointment.

There are also too many red herrings in the film. They try very hard to keep the audience guessing who the bad guy will be. To that extent they succeed but they also throw in too many scenes were characters pop up in places they couldn't of been or shouldn't be and there are two many shots of characters looking menacingly at the camera or at something off camera. This was way overdone and takes away from the quality of the film.

And then there is the ending. Once the killer reveals him/herself the film loses it's originality and takes a downward slump into predictable slasher fare. It becomes very far fetched and  unbelievable and overall feels a lot worse for wear than the rest of the film. Trust me when I say that the ending really makes very little sense and it tries to hard to tie in the first film's story into this one. It never really ends up working as well as it should and although enjoyable, it is the worst part of the film.

The Ugly:

Like the first film, the really isn't much that is ugly about this film. So let's just skip to the verdict shall we?

Verdict:

While not as good as the first film, Scream 2 is still a fun and scary ride that will have you guessing, laughing and jumping till the end. The story is a little weaker, the plot points a little contrived but the returning cast and crew and the inclusion of a solid new cast makes the film better than it would of been otherwise. Throw in some awesome cameos, a great film within a film and David Warner and you have a film that comes highly recommended. It may not be the greatest horror movie ever but it's still one hell of a ride.

Recommendation: Friday the 13th Part 2

           Re-playability: 8 out of 10     Directing: 8 out of 10     Originality: 7 out of 10                 

Costumes and Make-up: 9 out of 10     Acting: 7 out of 10     Editing: 8 out of 10

Cinematography: 8 out of 10     Music: 8 out of 10     Script: 7 out of 10

         Production Design (Sets/Locations/Special Effects): 8 out of 10                  

Total Score = 78%