The Freak's Rating: C+ : Not too long ago, as I was managing a small video store in my college town, the movie Scream was released. Horror movies consistently do well when released on video. There is something about the public not wanting to be afraid in front of others that puts horror films on their "I'll watch it on DVD" list. Scream was one of the most popular horror movie releases on video in history. Even then, however, some would disregard it as a normal horror title and the movie lover in me had to interrupt their train of thought. When I'd hear a customer saying something like that, I would say, "I challenge you to watch the first 10 minutes. If you do, and you don't want to see what happens next, I'll give you a movie of your choice for free. Otherwise, rent Scream and I'll give you a second movie for half off." I easily rented the film a hundred times with this tactic, strange as it might have been.
Wes Craven is a master of horror, putting together some of the best scares I've ever experienced. Scream 4 is his latest project and sadly doesn't live up to the hype. Though the opening sequence is creative per usual, the film is too much of a retread to garner much originality in the reviewer department, so it has to drop to a C+. I am happy I saw the film. I will definitely line up for more when Scream 5 is released (should it be). I will consistently applaud Wes Craven for anything he does. That said, there just isn't enough here for me to tell others they should do the same. I am a movie freak, without question. I see practically everything and live and breathe movies. As much as I wanted to love Scream 4, and don't get me wrong...it is a WONDERFUL departure from the torture movies like Saw, I didn't. It has a few good lines, a few good scares, and that is it. Courtney Cox looks much older as does most of the returning cast. With the exception of David Arquette, there is much lost in the lovability of the original characters. Deaths are also dissappointing at times. Though I get how scary the simplicity of a man with a knife wanting to kill people is, at many times the deaths are just too predictable. I'm excited to see what Wes Craven does with the franchise next. This had better not be the sendoff for it.
