Scary Movie Review

Image from: Public Domain Vectors

Mitchell Lickly ’23

Staff Writer 

Scream is considered one of the best horror slasher movies of the 90’s and it is one of my favorite movies in the horror genre of all time. With its R rating, it creates a chilling atmosphere.  Director Wes Craven delivers a hallowing and thrilling experience. He borrowed and used many ideas for the movie such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare On Elm Street. The movie makes mention of many cult classic horror movies.  This is one of Craven’s best along with “A Nightmare on Elm Street” which redefined the genre and Ghostface has become another popular slasher since. 

“What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?”  Scream follows a teenage friend group made up of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher, Rose McGowan as Tatum Riley, and Jamie Kennedy as Randy Meeks. There is also two adults in the mix; David Arquette as police deputy Dewey Riley, and Courtney Cox as nosy journalist Gale Weathers. The story begins after two high school students are murdered by a serial killer.  Sidney becomes targeted by a psychotic killer dressed in a Ghost mask who uses their obsession with scary movies to torment their targets. Dewey helps protect Sidney. Is the serial killer the same person who murdered Sidney’s mother one year ago, and now he’s terrorizing Sidney herself?

The production value is excellent with atmospheric photography and settings, and Craven’s direction is to date one of his best. The music is haunting and the sound effects unsettling. The acting from Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette is amazing, and GhostFace, as a character, iconic. Watching this 90’s classic, the thing that impressed me was how truly original Scream was, the story is fresh and while there are some funny lines, there are some genuinely scary, jump-out-of-your-seat moments too. Overall, brilliant. Final Rating 10/10