Scream (2022): A Primer to the Series
Tomorrow, the newest entry in the Scream series comes out. Titled Scream (and labeled here as Scream (2022)), the new sequel is a return to the more linear timeline of the original trilogy.
Now seems like a good time to go through the history of one of the most influential horror films of all time.
The original Scream is a cultural touchstone. This 1996 slasher film from writer Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven unleashed the very modern meta horror film to the mainstream. Scream is a slasher film that knows it’s a slasher film. The killer introduces themselves by calling a teenager and challenging her to play a game. That game is answering a horror trivia question correctly to save her life. This opening sequence, featuring a should have been Academy Award-nominated performance from Drew Barrymore, would be enough to cement Scream in the horror history books.
Then Williamson’s screenplay constantly references horror films to establish the universe and foreshadow the various deaths and twists in the story. The second most iconic scene in the film (do you know how few horror films truly have two?) sees Randy (Jamie Kennedy) breaking down the rules of slasher films. This is a meta analysis of the genre, pointing out the various ways characters are punished in slasher films. If you have sex, use alcohol or illegal drugs, or announce that “[you’ll] be right back,” you’re likely not going to make it to the end credits. Every film in the series so far expands on these rules depending on its placement in the series. The rules of a sequel (Scream 2) are different than the rules of a slasher on a film set (Scream 3) are different than the rules of a found footage/shakycam slasher (Scream 4). The characters, heroes and villains alike, know the rules and play by them. It’s brilliant and game changing.
One of the hallmarks of the Scream series is the surprise killer reveal. Every entry has a twist ending where we discover the actual motivation of the unexpected killer. I will not spoil them here. The original film has the best reveal because it set the template for the series. I’m a big fan of Scream 4 and think the killer twist is a breath of fresh air for the series; this is not a popular opinion. It worked for me and I stand by my positive review from when it came out in 2011.
I mentioned near the top that Scream (2022) seems like it’s supposed to be a return to form. The big change in Scream 4 was Sidney Prescott, the iconic survivor girl played by Neve Campbell, was not the star of the film. The next generation of teenagers split focus with Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) as they fought against a new killer who posted their crimes on social media. Scream 4 commented more on society than horror, though the slasher sequences themselves reflected the found footage/shakycam horror that was just starting to fall out of public favor.
Then there’s the MTV TV series. Scream (later Scream: Resurrection) is a solid teen horror series. MTV actually did some strong horror for a YA/New Adult audience with the Scream series and Teen Wolf. I’m not the target audience for the show, but I would’ve loved it if the show came out in the late 90s/early 00s. Seasons 1 and 2 are a new storyline set in a new town with a totally unrelated cast. Season 3 (Resurrection) is a fabulous six episode mini-series with another brand new plot. These shows have no bearing on the film series, but are an entertaining spinoff. Think Freddy’s Nightmares as related to A Nightmare on Elm Street. Same tone, same style, same world view, entirely different stories.
I’m excited for Scream (2022). This series can be called a lot of things, but it’s never boring. I’m aware that Scream 3, for example, is messier than the other entries. I don’t care. The cast is great and the entire concept is camp. Wes Craven directs a slasher film about the story of his original slasher film being turned into a big Hollywood slasher film. It’s meta commentary on his own film Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, where the Freddy murders are being turned into a slasher film, only the fictional version of Freddy comes to life and starts doing what Freddy does.
What I’m saying is Scream (2022) just needs to toss me a meta horror bone and I’ll be giddy when I see it in a theater tonight.
Scream (2022) officially releases in theaters tomorrow.
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