SCREAM (1996) RE-VISIT!!!

Initial release date: December 20, 1996

Studio: Miramax/Dimension Films

Tagline: Someone Is Playing A Game, Someone Who Has Seen Way Too Many Scary Movies

Plot: The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There's a killer in their midst who's seen a few too many scary movies. Suddenly nobody's safe, as the psychopath stalks victims, taunts them with trivia questions, then kills them. It could be anybody ...

Cast

Neve Campbell - Sidney

Skeet Ulrich - Billy

Drew Barrymore - Casey

Courtnry Cox - Gale Weathers

Rose McGowan - Tatum

W. Earl Brown - Kenny

David Arquette - Dewey

Joseph Whipp - Sheriff Burke

Matthew Lillard - Stu

Jamie Kennedy - Randy

Liev Schrieber - Cotton Weary

Writer: Kevin Williamson (Peacock original movie 'Sick')

Director: Wes Craven

Rated R for strong graphic horror violence and gore, and for language (111 minutes)

With the new release of Scream VI finally in theaters, I wanted to give the series another look. I did this with the release of the 2022 sequel and wanted to get pumped to watch the new movie since I generally watch these movies every year. And, before I give an updated take on the first movie, make sure to check out Scream VI. A great sequel and a rare sixth entry that's really awesome. I say that since usually if a horror franchise makes it this far, they typically get stale.

The 1996 movie gave the slasher genre a breath of fresh air and raised it from the dead so to speak. This self-aware horror movie delivers plenty of scares and fun chases. Seeing the killer chase some of the characters can be fun since a few of the chases make fun of some known horror cliches in a way.

The opening scene is really iconic nowadays and no other opening scene in the series could top it ... well honestly except for the opening of the new one. The new movie's opening is different and it works! The casting of Drew Barrymore as the opening kills is the best move yet since you don't really expect a big name actor/actress to appear in a movie knowing they're only going to be in it for a short period of time. And the killer reveal is completely unexpected for first time viewers. Yet, if you've seen this many times like I have and paid attention, you can pick up a few clues here and there about who the killers are.

The entire Scream series is currently available to stream on Paramount Plus!!

Here are some interesting tidbits for the 1996 movie Scream:

• The party scene near the end of the movie runs 42 minutes long. It was shot over the course of 21 days from the time the sun set to the time it rose.

• Lillard was cast as Stu Macher by chance after accompanying his then-girlfriend to an unrelated audition taking place elsewhere in the same building. Casting director Lisa Beach saw Lillard in the hallway and asked him to audition for the part.

• Drew Barrymore shot all of her scenes in the first five days of production.

• Jamie Kennedy was chosen for the role of Randy because he would often improvise humor into his lines, which made director Wes Craven laugh.

• The use of caller ID increased more than threefold after the release of the movie.

• Barrymore and Campbell didn't meet Roger Jackson, the actor who played The Voice, before filming commenced. Whenever they are talking on the phone to the killer, they are actually talking to him. In fact none of the cast met him. Craven that it would be better to bring out the shock reactions he needed for everyone when they heard that voice.

• Originally titled Scary Movie, which was later used for a parody of this movie, and other pop culture horror films. the term "scary movie" is mentioned five times

• There was a five page treatment for Scream 2 at the end of this screenplay, written by Kevin Williamson. It was written into a full-blown script after the movie became a hit.

• The special effects artists used about fifty gallons of blood.

• The movie was sent to the MPAA over nine times for re-consideration, as they were going to slap the movie with a NC-17 rating. With each time the MPAA made Craven cut out more of the movies gore heavy shots. Bob Weinstein eventually had to step in, which secured the R rating. Craven wanted to know what Bob Weinstein had said to the MPAA to get them to give it an R rating, he told them to view it as a comedy and not a horror movie. This completely changed the MPAA's viewpoint.

• The house where the third act is set was built by a couple who died within a month of each other. It was basically abandoned as the couple's children wanted no part of it, so they were easily convinced to rent it out for filming.

• Henry Winkler, who asked to go un-credited because the producers didn't want to detract any attention from the younger, lesser known actors, only ever appears in three scenes in the movie, all of which takes place in his office.

• Williamson's appreciation for previous horror films became evident in the script, which was inspired by and references films such as Halloween, When A Stranger Calls, Friday the 13th, Prom Night and Nightmare on Elm Street.

• The studio ordered that the movie be released on December 20, 1996, a date others were critical of as it was the Christmas period where seasonal and family films were more prevalent. The studio argued this fact was in the movie's favor as it meant that horror fans and teens had something interesting to watch during the December period.

• When the movie's first weekend takings amounted to only $6 million, it was considered that this release date gamble failed, but the following week, takings didn't drop but increased and continued to increase in the following weeks leading to a total US gross of $100 million and praise.

https://youtu.be/i3J6ACKQ7K0