Film Review: Scre4m

I enter this review on a largely mixed mindset, not in terms of the film, because I know exactly what I feel about it. I find it occasionally difficult to judge a film based on its own technical merit as opposed to how much I enjoyed it. It really shouldn't be too hard to get to the bottom of this film, because it's altogether rather simple and straight-forward. I've taken the time to see the first three films in the Scream franchise this week, and my opinions variably match those of others. The first film is brilliance, the second film only slightly suffering from sequelitis, and the third one was just really bad. One could have fears of going worst with this next installment.

Thank the great fortunes that this film turned out to be just the right guilty pleasure to goad me into ignorant bliss. Any other film this year, I'd be able to pick to death for the many shortcomings in terms of narrative and execution. Somehow I just fell back on those standards this time at the theater. Scre4m, or Scream 4 to satisfy people of such a single mind, follows Sidney Prescott as she returns to Woodsboro on the anniversary of the famed killings. Suddenly, the murders start happening again, and it's all about who to trust, who not to trust, and what the new rules are for horror films. As put by Charlie and Robbie, the only real way for you not to be killed is if you're gay.

Even though I never really expected who would end up finally being the killer, that wasn't what made this one so interesting. I was just a sucker for how hilarious this installment of the series was. I feel like the earlier films didn't know how to balance the comedy and thriller elements, with the first one being the main exception. This one found a happy medium between the two. Another improvement that comes with the years is that the kills are much more gruesome, and we actually see the violence. Somebody is actually stabbed in the brain, and it takes him a whole minute to die. It's one of the most hilarious parts of the film.

For Your Anticipation: You're Smaller In Person

Seeing as I hadn't seen any films in the Scream series until just last night, I can't profess myself an expert of Wes Craven's more recent film franchise. What I can say is that it does not feel like a horror series so much as a comedy with emotional content. The first two films have a brilliantly demented and hip sense of humor, even if the third film does completely fail on any and all promises. It was an inglorious end to a previously interesting series, so a continuation isn't the worst thing in the world. Anything to get the bad taste of My Soul to Take out of our mouth. Craven needs to get some street cred back, and you always head back to your home team when you need it.

Theatrical Trailer & Poster: Scre4m

I didn't really pick up on this until just now, but I never actually poster the theatrical trailer for Wes Craven's Scre4m, otherwise (but less commonly) known as Scream 4. After seeing the original trilogy, I can say that I'm decently excited for this one. Not a single one of the first three films have had the guts to kill off any of the main three characters, and this one is setting up a tone to do just that. We have a few new cast members, but little knowledge of if they will survive on for the rest of this "new trilogy". I just hope they go back to the hilarious and horrific roots of the first film, and maybe give us something to talk about. Perhaps we'll actually have a good Kristen Bell movie for a change, but I have certain doubts. They've also released a new poster for the film, and I definitely love the style of it. Perfect for this series. I may have to adjust my hopes once initial reviews come out, but I hope not to deffer to that. Click on the poster for a larger version and take a look at the by now outdated trailer below!

Teaser Trailer: Scream 4

This is probably the only iconic horror franchise left that I haven't seen yet, though I've heard great things about it. Wes Craven has definitely lost some of his spark with the years, and no film represents that better than his recent release, My Soul to Take. I'm not at all sure what to think of this film, but the trailer for Scream 4 (or Scre4m) looks nice enough to follow to release. Check it out below and comment on your own opinions.