{2jtab: Movie Review}

Scream 4 - Blu-ray Review

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3 stars

News broke that the Weinsteins were bringing Scream back to the masses, ten years after the last one. It actually got a lot of folk excited. I had forgotten what a good film Scream was and just filed it in ‘don’t give a shit’ with most of the horror remake/sequel offerings announced. Then we heard Williamson was writing (he ended up out again), Craven was back, and the original three, who all had at some point swore they would not return, had signed to come back with a new cast full of Generation Y lambs to the slaughter.

It was this reviewer’s fear that the original actors would be token guests in an all new show of youngens. What a dang relief it was to see them take centre stage again.

Sydney Prescott is now a well-adjusted woman (considering) returning to Woodsborough for the first time in many years to plug her new novel. Of course, things turn to shit all too quickly, and Sydney’s cousin, Jill, and her chums, are terrorized by a new killer in town. Battle hardened Sydney tries to steel one of her only remaining family members against the carnage, and quickly bring to an end this new terror.

This is what the third film should have been. There is progression in the arcs of the characters we know and love; there are new, disparate supporting characters that are enjoyable to follow; and there are some good moments of tension. Unlike a lot of reviewers, I didn’t like the opening: it was all gimmick, no emotion, and had me expecting a pile of ding for a film. Thankfully, it improves quickly and steadily from there. I still pegged who the killer/or killers was/were before it was revealed, but on the whole, I enjoyed it immensely—far more than the third entry.

What the fourth entry doesn’t do is justify its relevance. It doesn’t triumph in capturing a fresh approach for a new generation, like the original did, because, well, it isn’t original. IPhones and a few referential mentions to the remake situation do not elevate this to a new type of horror film: it is simply more of the same with a new coat of paint. It’s enjoyable, but it’s hardly necessary beyond the fiduciary motives of its makers.

Unlike the first run of Scream films, this one didn’t fare well at the box office, so if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t expect to see another instalment… until they remake it.

{2jtab: Film Details}

Scream 4 - Blu-ray ReviewMPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language and some teen drinking.
Director
: Wes Craven
Writer
: Kevin Williamson
Cast:
Neve Campbell; Courteney Cox; David Arquette
Genre: Horror
Tagline:
New decade. New rules.
Memorable Movie Quote: "One generation's tragedy is the next one's joke."
Distributor:
Dimension Films
Release Date:
April 15, 2011
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
October 4, 2011

Synopsis: Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.

{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}

Scream 4 - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - October 4, 2011
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles
: English SDH, Spanish
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 0GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD); Digital copy (as download); DVD copy

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • Director Wes Craven and Stars Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts are featured

Special Features:

  • Deleted and Extended Scenes (480p, 26:02)
  • Gag Reel (480p, 9:18)
  • The Making of Scream 4 (480p, 10:29)
  • Scream 4 Video Game Promotion (1080p)
  • Digital Copy

{2jtab: Trailer}

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