SCREAM 4 — Page 2

I just rewatched the trailers and didn't really notice anything that wasn't in the movie. What bits did you notice?

In the trailers they also edited out Anna Paquin opening her soda just before Kristen Bell says, "Snaps!" which in the movie got a lot of laughs in the crowd I was in. Rory Culkin did say what he said around the fountain at a later point in the movie.

Now onto the movie. I really enjoyed it and agreed with Jordan that this is only second to the first movie. I was not in a large crowd but everybody was into it and howling and clapping. The fake-outs at the beginning were hysterical, it even hit some of the people who had never seen a Scream film (and there were people around me who had not and I knew there were under-aged teens trying to get in to see the film) to get adjusted. Loved the references to Peeping Tom, the whole 'final girl' phenomena, the Stab films suddenly getting meta just like the Scream films, and even Sidney feeling like she saw her life relived through her cousin.

I really enjoyed Hayden Panetierre, Rory Culkin (something about those Culkin brothers), Kristin Bell (duh!), Marley Shelton, and even Emma Roberts warmed up to me.

I do not get why the fanboys at AICN were so hostel in two of their reviews, including that Craven (and also Kevin Williamson) hate the millennial generation. Speaking as that generation who can be too self-aware when a film patronizes/criticizes her age group, it felt more like Craven/Williamson target the people behind all of the 'trends' of horror film and popular culture as they had done before. I felt that Craven hitting on the 'final girl' phenomena hit on his own works just as much as he wants to attack those stupid nitwits who remake his films (that remakes line got the loudest cheers).

**spoilers**

I was annoyed how hopeless Allison Brie's whole situation was in her death scene (people seriously groaned when she got out of her car). I wish there was more to her. She reminded me of Laurie Metcalfe's persona in Scream 2.

Also felt aside from Anthony Anderson saying, 'F*CK you, Bruce Willis' there was no point to Adam Brody and Anthony Anderson as the hopeless cops.

Mary McDonnell also felt a bit 'off' (I cannot think of another word) but she either intentionally or unintentionally played her bit pretty close to Ronee Blakley in A Nightmare on Elm Street (minus the alcohol).

Totally loved Dewey and Gale having no clue what meta means.

**end of spoilers**

Re: Jordan on the Scream reviews:
There is a review up on youtube of how Siskel & Ebert were split on the film (Ebert liked it, Siskel did not). Siskel, while he never much cared for horror films, spoke for a lot of critics who felt the violence and snarky commentary were not in good balance (Interestingly enough, he did come around to Scream 2). I can understand that when we go from such a pitch perfect, agonizing opening scene to Principal Fonzie getting offed next but I think critics came around by the second film that got equally strong reviews.



Siskel & Ebert review Scream

Updated On: 4/18/11 at 08:25 PM

Spoilers

We had seen the knife in the head in Scream 2 opening scene, it still got to me though.

The girl hanging in the picture they released was clearly Marnie from the opening scene. In the film the cops race over to the house but it never shows them there, i guess that was a scene that was cut.

The best death scene by far was Olivia, it was so brutal but shot with real style.

I could have done without the Bruce Willis line or the 'im Gay if that helps' line.

I thought the killer could have been the aunt at one point because of how she played it lol.

---

Right, but in SCREAM 2 it was through the wall in the ear. I just meant a knife right in the forehead. It actually made me gasp. lol

I liked the "I'm gay....if it helps" line. Ghostface's tilt of the head made me laugh really hard. SPEAKING OF THAT... I don't know if I'm the only one but from the beginning I thought Hayden Panettiere was a lesbian (maybe it was the haircut) so when they set up the new rules about gay people not dying I thought she would definitely be the sole survivor of those kids.

You know they what?

Whoops, my ipod must of cut me off. Anyway, I know they did make up a house to look like Sidney's.

I was there midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning.

Honestly, I couldn't have asked for more. It's pretty perfect in my book. A few more sassy one-liners for Cox perhaps. But really, this is an awesome movie and absolutely works as a fourth installment.

EXTREMELY smart casting as well. Very, very good choices in every role.

Just loved it so much. So happy to say that!

---

I went again this morning and loved it just as much this time. I wanted to watch it again to catch some things I might have missed and one thing I missed that cracked me up was Anthony Andersons name. When Adam Brody is goin to the car he calls his name "Perkins?...Anthony?..."

Really made me laugh.

I agree Cox needed just s little bit more. I understand the need for her to be out of the story for those twenty minutes or so but it would have been nice to see her a little more before that. I also realized there wasn't enough Sidney. One or two more scenes with her and Dewey & Gale would have made it just a bit more satisfying. As a whole it still holds up as being the best sequel in the franchise but I'm hoping in part 5 we can get a lot more of those three.

Updated On: 4/16/11 at 02:56 PM

I just read that it is already underperforming at the box office and will open at Number #2 most likely. Maybe 11 years was too long to wait. The demographic that saw the original films has aged and the prime moviegoing demographic hasn't seen the earlier films.

---

-"what kind of knife does one need to be able to stab someone through their door?"
She wasn't stabbed "through the door" she was stabbed when the knife went through the mail slot into her back.

-"was because the writers are trying to "hand off" the franchise to a new generation"
Williamson's intention was to revive the franchise with the original cast making it a continuation of their story. i don't believe he or Craven wanted to ever do anything with this story with an entire new crop of people. What would be the point? It would be exactly what they were mocking with the STAB movies.

-"Where was Sid's dad, huh? "
I don't know. Why does it matter? Sidney is 33 years old in this film. Maybe he moved away. It's not as if she was still living at home or that her Father was ever a really important character in the films.

-"But really, were they just estranged?"
Yes. Sidney talks about how she never sees them.

-"Why was the hospital deserted? And DARK?"
It was the middle of the night. There were nurses working, one passed right by Emma Roberts when she was hiding. The darkness was in rooms that had the lights turned off since it was nighttime. Also, I'm sure it wasn't as bright as it normally would be, but this is a horror movie.

-"There's really not place for a 5th, 6th, 7th movies..."
Actually there is. There's plenty of room for future character development with Sidney, Gale & Dewey. It's going to take Williamson and Craven working together to pull it off, but after thinking "What could they do in a part 5 or 6?", I definitely think it could and pray God, WILL work.

Updated On: 4/16/11 at 07:19 PM

To the person who said Emma was awful in this i could not disagre more. Im not a fan of her at all but she blew me away in this, especially the finale. Her performance was perfect, Hayden was also perfect.

As for box office (im gonna sound like a know it all now but as well as a critic and playwright in also write a small column for a film site on the subject of movie box office data)

Scream 4 was always predicted 2nd spot after Rio so that is no suprise.

The problem the film has it that Fridays are normally the best days for genre films on opening weekend, that’s where they make the biggest amount. Saturdays are good, Sundays not so much.

The predictions about the film making around 20 to 23million on opening weekend sound about right now we saw the film made an estimated 8/9 million on Friday. I would be SHOCKED if it got up to 30 million this weekend.

I predict the film will make around 60 million in the US once it falls out of the box office and pick up a further 50/60 million from worldwide, i think it will end around 115 - 120 million for its final box office gross.
The film will also do great business on DVD adding anywhere between 35-50million (very pos higher) in DVD sales and rentals bringing its total to around 150 million.

A film making that kind of money can’t be considered a flop (especially on a 40 million budget), its not performed as predicted (which i always thought was hugely optimistic when sites and Dimension were predicting 40 - 50 million opening). It's not a case of Scream has underperformed though, Rio also has with only making 10 million on the Friday. That film was predicted around 55 million for weekend gross and it will probably end around 35 - 40 million.

Box office has been down for weeks, people were hoping these 2 films would turn the slump around but it has not.

I think other things that have impacted Scream 4 are illegal downloads and spoilers. The other 3 Scream movies would not have made as much if downloads were around then. Everyone knows by tomorrow a download will be available for Scream 4. Also spoilers have kinda killed the film for many making it less urgent to rush out and see it because people know what’s going to happen, unlike the first Scream films where you had to go and see it to know the ending, kills, twists etc.

Many of the older audience from the original movies will probably have kids now and be taking them to see Rio or hanging out with the children on weekends, those people will probably pick up a copy on DVD when the movies comes out.

It's not the best opening for them but the simple fact is the movie will make its budget back and a tidy profit meaning the film will be classed as a financial success.

---

Plus her character's name was Kirby and not really a name you associate with a girl. If not a lesbian (it did cross my mind as a possibility) she was completely de-feminized until she made a move on Charlie, albeit self-aware and drunk.

As for the gritty realism lacking in this film, the third movie is the most egregious and out of nowhere in the whole franchise. At least Sidney has established family members and not yet another sub-plot that shames her mother any further than what Sidney fought against among her peers (and also killers) in the first two films. Damn, Ehren Kruger!

I do know there was a 5th film in development before this came out and I expect it to do fine at the box office to ensure its development.

I felt like the message of the film was what was happening has been done before, even to the whole shocking 'let's film the murder scenes' (Hello, Peeping Tom reference). But people have short memories and attention spans, despite Sidney's book out and getting publicity. The final moments of Scream 4 show how now that focus/message is taken away from her and the ending is even a little cynical despite the fact 'you cannot beat the original'.

Updated On: 4/16/11 at 11:23 PM

This is the only Kirby I know.

And yeah, it's online already. I'm laying in bed watching a little of it before I go to sleep. So so good.