“Scream 4”, also known as “Scre4m”, knows its genre well enough to prove its superiority over the dumb horror films it proudly mocks, but it doesn’t come close to matching the quality of some of the great horror films it celebrates. Considering the franchise’s satirical nature, the past decade has provided director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson with much material to work with. Therk with. The movie succeeds when it sticks to the self-aware antics that it’s known for. Too bad this sequel often abandons this clever concept for ideas we’ve all grown familiar with.

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), one of the survivors of the first three “Scream” films, has returned to Woodsboro to promote her new book. She unwisely decides to visit her hometown near the anniversary of the first Ghostface massacre. Since it was death anniversaries and her surprise visits that triggered the massacres, you would think Sidney would keep a safe distance from Woodsboro, but no worries. Upon news that a new Ghostface has started a killing spree, Sidney re-unites with fellow survivors, Dewey and Gale, who are now married. The mature age of the three has granted them a major advantage over the new generation of students. We all know that, in horror movies, adults have a lower mortality rate than teenagers.

Read more here: http://localmoviereview.com/scream-4-movie-review/… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To start, I am ahuge Scream series fan. When I first went to see it I didn't know what to expect. But in the end, it turned out to be decent. The only problem was the ending. I mean come on. Neve Campbelle got stabbed twice with a hunting knife and lived. How does that happen when everyone else who got stabbed once died. I guess they just couldn't afford to change things up a bit. The performances were great though, especially Hayden Panettiere's.… Expand

Let's face it, when a film franchise makes it to a fourth film or higher, it usually sucks. What else can they really do with it and what's left of the story to tell us that we don't already know? That was my thinking going into Scream 4, but when it comes to Wes Craven, you really never know what you're going to get. After pumping out three movies in four years, Craven took eleven years off before taking another crack at Scream, thinking why not make what's old new again, and it works! Scream 4 continues the legacy of the series by combining a classic slasher film with the technology and youth of today, who are still making a mockery of the whole situation. The screenwriting is absolutely genius, as is evident by the opening scene, which actually rivals the scene in the first film. In Scream 4, we see a grown up Sidney Prescott return home to Woodsboro a changed woman. She's there to promote her new book and catch up with her old friends, Sheriff Dewey and his wife Gail. They're all having a nice reunion, on what turns out to be the anniversary of the first killings, when all of a sudden things turn ugly again. You know the characters and you know the actors playing them. They're a little bit older, they're a little bit wiser, and they're every bit as energetic and interesting as they were in the first three films. The old school Woodsboro family meets the current Woodsboro family and what you get is something that's very similar, but oddly different. Scream 4 is witty, clever, and updated. Wes Craven was right, what was old is new again and it reminded me of just how much I loved the original films.… Expand

'Scre4m' is totally hot, showing us more than smart dialogues, scenes of great persecution, great deception, followed by great revelations, and a big, BIG, final act.

The ever-growing popularity of the Horror remake has not escaped the tragic town of Woodsboro, and Sidney Prescott's return home sparks a new series of murders that have been fashioned after her first encounter with the Ghostface killer! SCREAM makes a surprising comeback after a decade away from the screen, teaming series creator Kevin Williamson with Wes Craven once more in what is easily the best sequel in the franchise. The new script is just as sharp as Ghostface's knife, never missing an opportunity to poke fun at modern Horror trends or the series, itself. Some of the greatest moments are achieved by exacerbating the concept of the metafilm to the point of lunacy, essentially creating a film about making a film about a film about films. The tagline promises a "New Decade. New Rules." As we have come to find out from the previous films, the only New Rule is that SCREAM breaks all the rules. Plot contrivances aside, the film legitimately keeps the audience guessing until the very end, never knowing which cliche will be the next to suffer. Williamson has taken a clever approach to the remake as only the SCREAM films can, using the remake as an integral plot device towards something wholly original. While it is still as sappy and pretentious as each of the earlier entries, SCREAM 4 is equally entertaining for fans of the series. Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette are each at home in their returning roles, and even the newcomers earn passing grades. One can only hope that the inevitable sequels continue to uphold the same level of intelligence and humor shown in this fourth film.

-Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies… Expand

I liked this movie and I didn't.. But for some reason, it didn't feel like a "Scream" film. However, I loved how Sidney's character how she matured for the better; as well as Gale's whom has stayed true to herself throughout the whole series. I didn't really like the idea of introducing a new group. But It's a new beginning, so you gotta do what you gotta do. But it just didn't feel like a Scream film sadly. It ill probably grow on me, I've only seen it three times.… Expand

I was surprised that "Scream 4" didn't suck, it was very good, actually great! I loved it! Good effects, great music, nice twist and some horror with a lot of fun!

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is like the MW3 of scream the movie sucks balls Emma Roberts seriously who gets her in it she is Nickelodeon ancient dusty vagina plus the plot was bull **** just cause the dumb butch **** wanted to be like cindy I left the theaters after Hayden panettiere died in it seriously left then… Expand

You start with a bad idea. Then you write a terrible script. Add some horror cliches,but so its not at all scary. Add some blood to show you mean business. What do you get? Scream 4.

The best movie of the saga.

As it turns out the only Scream movie I have seen until about a month ago was the first one when it came out on DVD or TV one of the two. I just watched the 3rd one yesterday and the 4th today. I really liked the 2nd one when I watched it a month or so ago and as of yesterday thought it was the best one out of the three. This one however, takes the cake. It may not try to achieve any ground breaking concepts for the franchise or the horror genre but, it delivers where it counts. The writing and filming are even better in my opinion then for the other three films. People say it's not scary but the scenes are just different enough from film to film that I think anyone afraid of jumpy scenes will get plenty of shock value. I don't think that it's just more of the same. A "Who Did It" plot is always exciting no matter how many times it has been done, as long as it's done so well like in this movie. All that being said, I think if done correctly there could be two more successful movies for the franchise. That being good actors playing the right characters. A good story driven plot and some new twists and turns we all want and expect.… Expand

I know most critics don't love "Scream 4", but I believe it saved the franchise. "3" showed the series was dead, but with a great use of humor and very clever kills, "4" is great entertainment. Assuming you can find the horror in bloody slashings. The usage of new characters along with returning favorites works well, and the twist at the end is satisfying. This isn't classy, or even that memorable entertainment, but it should inspire several viewings.… Expand

You do feel like you have seen all of this before, but Scream 4 ultimately proves that the franchise still delivers quality material something unusual for a sequel nowadays. First of all, the movie starts in a really clever and funny way and it immediately gives you a glimpse of what you're going to get. The dialogue was clever and smart and the satire of parody is back thankflully due to Kevin Williamson's return as writer. Wes Craven delivers well handed direction and the new cast seemed to have a lot of fun playing with movie clichés and ending up falling for them. The surviving cast was alright, they didn't stood out that much but you can see this movie was made entirely focused on the new cast. The death and chase scenes are also well elaborate and do entertain it's target audience. There are also a lot of twists throughout the movie, including the killer's idendtity, a perfect revelation but that doesn't end up being that surprising if you have noticed Sidney's relationship with the previous killers. Everything you've come to love in the original trilogy comes in greater quantity: the body count, the humor and the twists. A satisfactory chapter that works as a strong series ender and overshadows it's predecessor easily even if it doesnt quite meet the standard set by the original movie. Think of it more as a Scream 2 type of movie.… Expand

This isn't up to the same standard as the first Scream film but it is still enjoyable and well worth a view. I actually enjoyed the ensemble cast and thought that they all did very good jobs. Hopefully they won't make a fifth one as that may just be a step too far.

One of the best horror movies, comedies and horror mixed in a way unsurpassed. A great script, great performances. No more words, a great movie without taking nor by.

Scream 4 is one of the worst films I've ever seen: it is not clear if it is serious or a comedy. Indeed, often funny, but simply because it's ridiculous.

This Is The Biggest Step Up From Scream 3..
Still Not Scream And Scream 2 Good.. But Its Good...

This movie was amassing it was the best scream installment yet and I really hope they make more because they get better and better. But the one thing i didn't like is you never find out what happend to her dad

This movies plot was terrible how a girl wanted to take Sydney's place and she was behind the whole thing ghost face should be a guy not a girl. .everyone hers a tip this movie is a waste of your time.

A wonderful exciting movie that took me by surprise. It was so creative and adaptive to this time period and the best Scream yet. I really hope there is another one. It was scary and funny which makes it stand out.

This Scream is a lot better than the previous piles of crap. Little more scary and funny at the same time but the killer caught me by total surprise which was really refreshing for a horror picture.

Scream 4 does exactly what is expected, roll the first three movie together, add a twist (although hardly a surprise when it does happen) and let the body count rise. Worth a watch if you enjoyed the first three.

When it was first released in 1996, the original 'Scream' was an intelligent, and fun horror film that gave the slasher genre a big boost of much needed energy. 'Scream 2' was an entertaining sequel that cleverly built upon what the original film started. 'Scream 3', although not as bad as some people say, was admittedly a bit of a let down. So after more than 10 years of horror films in between, we have 'Scream 4', ready to dissect and poke fun at recent horror films (and the state of the horror genre in general) once again, and it turns out, it's pretty good! If you thought this series couldn't get any more self-aware, you were very, very wrong. 'Scream 4' is a hall of mirrors to the horror genre. It is arguable that this film is self-aware to a fault (with constant references not just to other horror movies, but to past 'Scream' films as well). And this time around the comedy is turned up a few notches, which does take away a bit from some of the bloodshed. But, if taken with a small grain of salt, this can still be a fun movie. So enough about the cons, and onto the pros. Although not as good as 'Scream', 'Scream 4' is about on par with 'Scream 2', and is admittedly an improvement over 'Scream 3'. For starters, it has a decent amount of fresh faces to liven things up (Hayden Penattiere and Rory Culkin are two standouts). Like before, the characters in the film all speak with clever, self-aware dialogue. There are also a few reasonably suspenseful set pieces, and the who will get it next/whodunit angle still works well enough to keep you guessing throughout the film. If these movies are not your thing, I would be surprised if this one changed your mind. But if you do enjoy the 'Scream' films for what they are (entertaining and suspenseful horror-comedies), then give 'Scream 4' a try.… Expand

Scream 4 isn't a total loss, as there is some fun nostalgia to be had in it's viewing. That said, all the clever in movie talk about the predictability of sequels / remakes ends up feeling very apt. Been there. Seen that. All the staples are present and accounted for, but are blandly delivered without much innovation or suspense. That said, it could have been a lot worse. Worth a look if you're a fan, then.… Expand

A great sequel-remake, Scre4m or Scream 4 is really awesome, the intro, jaja is very funny, Emma Roberts, David Arquette, Courteney Cow and Neve Campbell are awesome. This is a great example of sequel.

It started off better then I expected (I am a huge Saw fan and I found it rather funny and kind of pathetic that they diss Saw in the intro of the film) but it took a huge turn for the worst. The entire film was just a remake of the first film when it comes down to it and its terribly acted. The last 20-30 mins (the climax of the film) was enjoyable and probably the only actual good part of the film.

Overall, It was really just a re-imagining of the first film and at times it was good but most of the time it was just terrible. Only made to try and attract a new generation of fans and imo it could have been a lot better.… Expand

I was really quite surprised at how much I liked Scream 4 - I was honestly expecting another Scream 3, or worse. The franchise is probably never going to equal the heights of the first installment again, but miraculously, it still remains a hugely enjoyable series. Wes Craven thankfully got the three main players back again (four if you count Roger L. Jackson). Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott still makes a likeable protagonist (even if you wonder why, after all she's been through, she doesn't arm herself at all times) and David Arquette's Sherriff Dewey and Courtney Cox's Gale Weathers are still entertaining. The cast of young newcomers including Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin all serve their purpose, either by dying horribly or as potential Ghostface suspects. So it's business as usual in Wes Craven's Scream world, and while the plot's a little too predictable, some of the self-referential winks to the audience a little smug and annoying, and the run-time a bit lengthy, the film's energy and Kevin Willaimson's sharp script keeps you entertained throughout (bucket-loads of blood and some good jokes don't hurt either). So it's not as good as the original (something the film itself even amusingly points out at one point), but I struggle to think of many (if any) other fourth films in a franchise that are this decent, and that still have something to say. Horror films, after all, have evolved (or devolved, depending on your perspective) over the last decade, with handheld horror mockumentaries, torture-porn and the seemingly endless procession of remakes giving Craven an Williamson ample ammunition for affectionate parody. Scream 4 is a much more satisfying conclusion to the series than its underwhelming predecessor, but unfortunately, Hollywood being what it is, I doubt Ghostface is gone for good...… Expand

I was a bit hesitant in seeing this movie, because of the typical downfall of horror films that just keeping making more movies when it should have stopped way sooner, such as Saw, or Final Destination. But this movie surprised me. As always, and I won't spoil anything, the killer or killers at the end were totally unexpected. Courtney Cox and David Arquette were great in their parts, but then again, they always are. Emma Roberts blindsided me. I had no idea her acting abilities were to that standard, as I always remembered her from 'Unfabulous' or 'Hotel for Dogs'. She really played her part magnificently. The movie was every bit as good as the first three, or maybe even better.… Expand

As the critic Michael O'Sullivan from the Washington Post noted in his review of the film, Scream 4 does not care whether one laughs with it or at it. And I definitely laughed at it. It was one of the most ridiculous attempts at a horror film that I have seen. With no scares, and barely a few thrills (but 49 different plot twists to make up for it, unfortunately), Scream 4 just fails at being a horror and turns into a parody of itself and of the franchise it represents. Not remembering most of the previous Scream films, since I watched them a long time ago, I soon enough realised that there should not have been another Scream film in the first place. The desperation of the producers to get some more money out of the died franchise is obvious, when they are trying to "re-invent" the franchise through recycling old material but making it seem "original" and "different." I ended up laughing at most of the film (I guess, at least it was entertaining in that regard), but also found myself palm-slapping myself a number of times because of how poor the screenplay was. It is basically a comedy and has nothing what a horror ought to have. It is a failed attempt to rejuvenate the franchise, which in my eyes, has utterly failed. Hopefully this will be the last of the Scream films.… Expand

Hey Wes Craven I give you an applause for bringing the franchise back to form and earning its good reputation back again with solid scares, skilled kills, and laughs. Too bad it did bad at the box-office you could start another trilogy. I give this movie 71%.

is the best film in the Scream series, because the deaths are more real, the picture quality is better than the other three and also has more positive than anything else. Emma Roberts and to complete ta fantastic in this movie

The film is pretty terrible up until the last 30 mins then it got rather good. I did enjoy the twist at the end. The acting was horrible through out, the kills were boring and too generic, the entire film just sucked until the twist happens then its enjoyable for that part. Sadly though, It doesnt make up for the trash before that.

Highly anticipated new slasher by Master Wes Craven. Lots of gore and an intriguing case of the murders. As always we seem not to know who the murderer is up to the end of the movie. Obviously, there's nothing in the movie we can't expect, nevertheless this is just a two-hour-long thrilling journey with Neve Campbell in the leading role. Looking forward to the next episode. Good 8 from me!

Who could forget the first time Drew Barrymore met her end after being hunted down by ghost face in the original scream film some 15 years ago. Its been a decade since scream underwhelmed everybody with its lacklustre third instalment and with a fourth on the way I was sceptical about how the fourth would go and how it would affect the introduction to the review I would to write about it.

In my second paragraph, I can now write about how much I enjoyed the film and how I can now use my summary in that Scream 4 (or Scre4m)was "great fun and I was pleasantly surprised". I can't begin to tell you how true this statement is, the plot manages to weave a tidy little knot of a mystery that comes to a surprising and comical climax. The body count is large, making killings in this instalment come thick and fast. Though with a reduced age rating, scream 4 is far more gruesome than the previous threesome and a lot more in keeping with the current horror movie gore fest. To finish off the second paragraph of my review I will conclude that Scream manages to stick to its guns, but modernise itself not unlike the remakes it satirises.

Paragraph 3 contains scenes of critical nature. Now the film is paced very well, however there are a lot of characters to get through. And despite its self aware nature the two-dimensional characters are so underplayed that its hard to feel much for them as they quickly get stabbed to death. The only characters you feel much dread for is Gale, Dewey and Sidney as familiar faces that you don't want to meet there bloody doom,however the new cast have so little characterisation that you really couldn't care less if their stabbed to death and left to dry on their parents lawns. The film also wasn't as scary as the original and despite the "kids" knowing the rules of the horror movie they were starring in they all seem to go outside to investigate a strange noise when they know they're all being hunted by a killer. Whether this is done on purpose, as to mock other horror films is a possibility, but to be honest it would make the film a lot less predictable if they didn't make there predecessors mistakes.

So my conclusion is gonna be as sharp and concise as a horror movie should be. Scream 4 is entertaining, funny and thrilling. And one of the last lines of one of the survivors is bloody great.… Expand

Scream 4 is a welcome return to the franchise, reuniting old favorites with Ghostface, who is targeting unsuspecting victims in a mad ploy to get to survivor Sydney Prescott. The plot is pretty solid with a few blatant winks to the first film. The acting is mostly stellar (some hamming-it-up moments detract from the impact of the film in some instances) and the gore does not disapoint. Where does the film go wrong? Well, the opening sequence, in trying to be spectacular, kind of falls flat and turns out to be the weakest opening yet. It tries to take a stab at the ridiculous franchises out there that seem to fall apart as a new installment hits but doesn't take itself seriously enough in the moment, thus rendering it more of a Scary Movie type spoof than an actual slasher flick shocker. Still, the film delivers in thrills. And the pop culture references serve as a fun interlude to all the killing.… Expand

The entire plot in this movie reminded me of Scary Movie, which made the movie seem like a big joke to me. But there is a huge plot twist towards the end, so the movie isn't completely futile. I'm not a big fan of horror movies but this was actually a good one. It wasn't great, but it was good.

Not as bad as Scream 3, but doesn't come close to touching 1 or 2. With Kevin Williamson behind the pen I had high expectations going in. While some of those were met, overall it felt like maybe they (Craven and Williamson) should step away from the Scream movies and work on something new.

I wanted to like Scream 4 more than I ultimately did, however, a few issues with the outlandish nature of some scenes, such as Alison Brie's parking garage bit and several other moments had me rolling my eyes a few too many times. It was really great having the main characters back and to delve back into the world of Sidney Prescott who is as stubborn as a mule, why won't she just die?! Nah, I jest, the tongue in cheek nature of these films alone is alone to set them above, say, Friday the 13th sequels which ultimately serve no purpose other than to kill off big titted women. Scream 4 has always featured familiar names getting killed off in simpler ways than, say, Freddy Kruger. The real-world, grounded nature of the human serial killer is a scarier notion than any ghost story so when these films go OTT like in Scream 3 and now 4, it ruins the film series. The original Scream still remains one of the scariest films because of the "this could actually happen" feeling which comes with a non-supernatural villain. Not that the villain in Scream 4 has any powers (Scream 3 certainly seemed to have whacky **** going on, dunno what but it's methods didn't make sense like in 2 or 1). Scream 4 was an attempt to fill the void left by Scream 3, bring the saga back into line whilst going off into a new, modern day horror comment. Unfortunately the lingering nature of Scream 3 stuck around therefore loses it a few points. As I said before, some familiar names here to get hacked off, and in true Scream tradition they're all from popular TV shows, which only makes the hacking more fun. Unfortunately the end twist was a little too predictable, however the very end, the last few lines were a clever nod to how we as society praise the good and the bad, even if we don't have all the facts. 7/10, I was hoping for a 9 at least.… Expand

SCREAM 4 is the best of the sequels! It's the best since the original! It's definitely the bloodiest, the funniest and the most entertaining out of all of them. LOVE IT!!!

Really? This is what one of the most acclaimed classic, horror movie series has to offer me? A bunch of teenage girls getting hacked up? It may appeal to other people, (for reasons I don't fully understand) but that is not what I would call a good horror movie experience. I realize it's just suppose to be a fun scary movie to take your date on, but that is just to much for my liking. Acting performances were fine. But the whole plot was just stupid.… Expand

i loved this film. all i will say if your a scream fan i highly recommend this addition to the series. Oh and wes craven is back to prime form as is kevin williamson

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. the opening of the movie was great, creative, and kind of funny. and i really like the whole story, it's pretty predictable, but still shocking. i love the idea of "usually, in a movie, what will happen next is..." or something like that. it's creative and it makes the viewer to think and guess, who was the killer. the characters were pretty much classic, Neve Campbell was predictable, Hayden Panettiere as well, but Emma Roberts was awesome. it's a joy to see her acting as a psycho, not just a sweet good girl like i always see on tv. she has proven the viewers that she is a great actress. the whole movie was entertaining to me and i enjoyed watching it.… Expand

I would have to say that this movie is way better than the 2nd & 3rd, but that's probably because its a lot like the first. There were a lot of similar scenes where at times it was kind of hard to tell if the were continuing the story or trying to re-make the first. Besides that this movie wasn't too bad. It kept me entertained but I feel like they didn't take this one too seriously. The ending caught me by surprise and I thought it was the best part of the movie. That's my two cents (:… Expand

Not the best this year by a long shot, but not the worse either. I've seen a few of the others in the franchise (so I wasn't expecting something heavyweight in the brain area) and I more-or-less got what I paid for. The performances were mostly solid, the exception being that of Emma Roberts who seemed out of her depth (even in such a shallow movie). The blend of comedy and jumps was okay and the plot was daft enough to stay true to its predecessors. I think if you're not a fan of the genre, you should probably stay well clear - and if you are a fan, try to take it easy and not expect too much from a critically ill horse.… Expand

Scream 4 was a huge surprise. Sure, there was all the hype, but I never thought it would pay off. It definitely did, 100%. Well, that's what I thought when I saw it in theatres. Upon the second viewing, Scream 4's flaws are more noticeable, such as a bit of predictability and a few disappointing moments. However, the pros are all there: The characters are all distinct and interesting, the film actually has suspense and tension, and it was just a bloody good time. It's the perfect film for the Halloween season.… Expand

Scream 4 is a dull and one of the least thrilled thriller movie . it wasn't scary at all and The story pretty much sucked . All the positive point goes to the awesome ensemble cast members . Cortney , David , Hayden did the best work , Emma and nave seems a little of but its okay ! Except for the cast the whole movie would probably be a non watchable movie . The way people die here that was so funny . my whole 5.5 point goes to the cast specially the names above !… Expand

I wasn't expected a reboot of the series but I was surprised by how "Scream 4" doesn't take itself so seriously and still knows how to play with the banalities of the horror genre.

SCREAM 4 is a funny, violent, twisted and bloody sequel to the SCREAM film series. It's the best since the first and it's the funniest and the bloodiest of the sequels. Bring on SCREAM 5!!!

I have been praying for a year that this film would be good. Or should I say, whenever my love of the scream trilogy and my knowledge of #4 coincided. Well, I loved it.



Acting/characters: Well, it had the cast that we all know and love. Plus some additional members like Rory Culkin. The acting was almost as good as it was in the original two for me. Well, at least it was once it all got going. The start of the film went a little too slow and wasn't as well done as the rest of the film but once it got going I highly enjoyed it. The big three lacked a little of the original charm that they all had in the first one, but I still enjoyed their characters. The rest of them were okay. You could kind of tell who was going to get it and when but that's an unavoidable part of the slasher genre. Nothing you can do about that. Unfortunately, they still kind of went for Ken and Barbie with a lot of the characters. But, I wasn't incredibly distracted by that once it all got going. 8/10


Plot: It had what the third one didn't and what the first two nailed: satire. I really loved the satirical elements of the film overall. Like I said earlier, the whole thing had a slow, not very well done start, (past the first 10 minutes or so) but it's kind of the ending that counts because that's what you remember. It had some good jumps in there but it didn't completely rely on them like so many other slashers of the Third Age. But it did very well in satirizing the giant remake and reboot craze that is going on. Well done there. But it was kind of predictable at moments. But like I said, it's nearly impossible to make the whole thing a surprise with a genre like this. But it did well for me overall. 8/10


Screenplay: Like most slashers, this was the weakest part. I did not like some of the lines that Wes Craven put in there. But it wasn't all completely horrible. It just started out that way. I suppose that once the action got going I didn't really care what they were saying because I was engrossed in who Ghostface would butcher next and how. It was overall good and fit with the story nicely. Not perfect though. It needed some tuning. 7.5/10


Likableness: If I had the money, I would go out and see this one again. And again. I loved it. I had a grand time watching this one and while it wasn't quite what the first one was, I would put it roughly on the same level that the second one achieved for me. I had a blast. Good thing I went through that modern slasher phase of my slasher marathon or I wouldn't have gotten a lot of the jokes and references that they made. Of course, there are still a lot of references to the good old original ones. I will buy this film as soon as I can. I really loved it. 9/10


Final Score: 32.5/40 81% (N)



TRIVIA TIME: 1. Scout Taylor-Compton and Shane Dawson auditioned for roles in the movie.

2. At a table read on June 25, 2010, the actors were told to stop reading at page 75 to prevent those already cast in the film from knowing the climax.

3. With four installments, this landmarks the Scream franchise as being one of the only horror franchises to have its main characters return for all its sequels.… Expand

Scream 4 flies past Scream 3 as a better film. Seeing Neve on the big screen again was an absolute pleasure. It is by far the funnest Horror Movie I've seen in a long time. Was great to see a horror movie use its brain and not rely on blood spurts, hacked body limbs and torture porn. While it's not a solid 10, it's way up there. But Scream 1 and 2 still reign supreme

Scream 4 is a fun, modern horror movie that seems much more comfortable with the tone of the franchise than its two predecessors.
Read my full review at: http://themuddoctor.blogspot.com

I have to say, I was impressed with this little reboot. I was eager to see it, but was not expecting much, boy did it surprise me. I don't think they could have done better at trying to bring the franchise back, I would almost say I like this better than the first movie, maybe not as good but I still really liked it. It was entertaining and had some good twists and the ending was very pleasing. I couldn't have ask for more from this movie. If your a fan of the franchise i would suggest giving this one a shot, just remember its not the original! its still a sequel and will never have the cult following of the original, but it is still a great installment and it will be added to my movie collection the day it is released on dvd.… Expand

Scream 4 is an alright film. There were very good stab scenes in the film and the story can be interesting at some stages. The problems with this film is the movie trys to be way too funny but it dosent reach it goals and as much as it does improve from the third one, it stills dosent reach the goal that 1 and 2 did. I would give this a high rental.

The movie inside the movie, inside of the original movie, in conclusion it was **** omg.! not long ago that crap was tremendous, everything, absolutely everything was lousy.

Scream 4 recaptures the tone and intent of the first film in this franchise perfectly. All the major players are back and boy, are they in for the ride of their lives! Go see this if you love a good scary movie, but check out the original three films first, if you can. A real fanboy (and fangirl) treat here! Careful, the theater is dark. Better take a friend to keep you company. Plop down full price on this one, and be proud.… Expand

This movie was watchable and the plot was good enough, but it just doesn't live up to Scream 1/2. Sometimes the acting was just horrible, especially from Sid's cousin.

This movie was excellent! It was clever, scary, and the acting was great especially Emma Roberts and Hayden P. What was unusual was how it definitely beat out the 3rd movie right off the bat. Worth to watch.

Pleasant surprise coming by from this. Scream 4 is the continuation of the franchise that best know how to relate to the original film through a script that manages to be creative, intelligent and fun most of the time. The opening sequence can now rival the great original film by making a joke of metalanguage in creative ways, something that the applicant in the franchise. Here the screenwriter Kevin Williamson can (de)construct a remake with new characters while giving prominence to the old characters, can play with the cliches of the genre, but can be stressful enough to function as suspense. In the collective ideas, those who work are more numerous than those who donâ… Expand

Never watched the trilogy before (it's new trilogy by the way).Clever kills although the suspense reduce along with duration, but let's forget that and another minus, I love the dialogues, satire, so funny, entertaining overall.

Scream 4
A Review by Chris Camz of UnfashionablyLateReviews@blogspot.com As a newcomer to the scream franchise, I required a considerable amount of convincing before paying $6 for a ticket. After seeing the movie, I can say with confidence that I could have used the money for 12 packs of pop rocks and probably would have been happier with the results. Like I said, Iâ

SCRE4M is a step up from its predecessor but it isn't as grand as the 1st and 2nd entry in this series. Theres blood and gore but like its passed on-traditional style, its also self-referential and has a comical outlook on horror cliches.and one liner puns. Still, I had a bloody good time! Its really nice to see the three back in action even though they don't have enough screen time.

Kevin Williamson's crazy arguments and Wes Craven's auto-parody make the highest fun from 2011 until now: The perfect remix of 1996's Scream and the perfect satire around the teenager horror genre. There is a lot of narrative problems too, as some exaggerations in the bloody joke and self-references, but it really takes the saga from the almost below ground. Just don't get so serious, and you will be surprised.… Expand

I was completely blown away by the ending. Wes Craven has redeemed his name after the garbage that he put out in October, My Soul To Take. Easily that was his worst film in his long career. But Scream 4 redeems his name and its addition to the Scream franchise. The film paints many people as suspects and i was able to call who one of the killers was but the 2nd killer was what blew me away

So 11 years on after the 'SCREAM' franchise was seemingly brought to a close Wes Craven is back with a fourth instalment of the horror series with the return of the original protagonists as well as a new generation of characters. This time around its a "new generation" so "new rules." As always theres a few cameos in the opening sequences and Scre4m is no different, and this one is actually a pleasant surprise. And this makes a returning Sidney Prescott a murder suspect as she is returning to Woodsboro on the anniversary of the orginal murders to promote her new book. Before long the Ghostface killer goes on the murder path and the bodycount rises. As a fan of the original trilogy I was concerned that Scream 4 was nother more than a cash stunt but im glad to say its not the case. It's true it's not the scariest film, far from it but it does have some great, typical Scream moments and surprising certain parts are genuinely funny. Without spoiling the ending all I can say is I was really satisfied with the finale to Scream 4 and completely bought the motives of the killer which I suppose was a bit of a surprise given the circumstances. If it is to be the start of a new series of films then the signs look pretty good because it is a promising start to a new trilogy. As always the performances of the original cast are ever reliable with Neve Campbell is good as always as the victimised Sydney, David Arquette is funny as Sheriff Duey and Courtney Cox is fantastic as the minipulative Gail Winters who is suffering from writers black and not to be forgotten Hayden Panettiere who is awesome as the sexy-horror geek Kirby! In conclusion Scream 4 is a promising start if it is to kickstart a new set of movies and it bodes well for future outings but it's nothing to to fans of the horror genre and newcomers might struggle to understand all the fuss as it does nothing to raise the bar but nonetheless is immensly enjoyable and a worthwile watch.… Expand

Wes Craven proves his genius once again, with this excellent "reboot" of the Scream series. This is an excellent slasher movie. It doesn't try to innovate, it incorporates clichés found in over three decades of horror movies and updates them for 2011. Not a 10 obviously, but it will give you a couple of good scares while also making you laugh.

FINALLY!! A horror movie that does not blow. If you want to see a movie that will scare you to death, then this is not the movie you want. But this movie does provide the scares, the laughs, and makes you think also. It is the smartest horror movie i've ever seen. It catches all the modern cliches of horror movies. It brings the same genius writing that was in the first and second installment. The acting was god, and believable. With a great ensemble cast, Legendary director, and a horror savy writer, this movie tops the list of must sees.… Expand

Scream 4 is the horror movie i have ever seen.

This sequel hopes to outsmart the audience by turning the tropes upside down, but it's more posing that payoff. It's the tenth anniversary of the original massacre and the town's teens are celebrating, even the original trio is back (Campbell, Cox & Arquette). Naturally, Ghost Face starts stabbing and provides plenty of bloody blows. There are a few mild jumps, but updating it to the social media slant isn't really that original.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The cinema club leaders of Westboro High are pretty uninformed about the genre they profess to admire, or maybe it's a matter of the two fanboys placing restrictions on what constitutes a horror movie; a matter of tastemaker-sanctioned genre staticness. During a meeting, in which the rules for surviving a horror movie are being dissected, Charlie says, "To be the new version, you know, 2.0? The killer should be filming the murders." With this heedless declaration, John McNaughton's "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", and more importantly, "Man Bites Dog"(the original meta-horror movie that meant serious business), goes unacknowledged, especially when Robbie puts in his own two cents, adding that "it's the natural next step in psycho slasher innovation," as if the murderers in "Scream 4" are pioneering a new methodology in the killing business. Benoit Poelvoorde, playing "himself" in the 1992 Belgian production, is the subject of a documentary film that profiles the day-to-day travails of a serial killer. To paraphrase and co-opt Robbie's proclamation in its proper context, "the psycho slasher innovation" of "Man Bites Dog" is how the filmmaker shifts the focus away from the cult of personality surrounding the homicidal maniac and more towards the person he's putting under life-threatening duress, so that the moviegoer identifies with the inevitable victim and not some hillbilly with a chainsaw, or a knife-wielding goalie. Ben doesn't have the sex appeal of an anti-hero; he has no gimmick. With the cameras rolling, this no frills psychopath, at one point, suffocates a young boy in his own bed, the culmination of a home invasion gone awry. The hands that hold the pillow steady over the smothered child's face are ordinary hands, all-too-human ones, without the accoutrements of knives extending from the fingers. The vicarious thrill of harmless bloodlusting people get from watching people die is largely absent, made strange by the film's straight-faced mockumentary form, in which the horror is the end-result of a slaying, and not the creative spectacle(the incident that prompts the arterial spray and all manners of bloodletting) leading up to the latest casualty in Jason, Michael Myers, or Freddy Kreuger's killing spree. The content is self-reflexive. It confronts the moviegoer with this burning question: Why do we like to watch people die in grisly fashion for fun? The "Stab" franchise, the movie series within the movie series, is used in "Scream 4" to exemplify the fandom behind slasher flicks in the form of an impromptu film festival, a "Stab"-athon staged by Robbie and Charlie. Playing to a capacity crowd in a barn house, "Stab" open just like "Scream", but with one significant change in the film-within-the-film adaptation of "The Woodsboro Murders", the Gail Weathers bestselling book that gives the "real-life" account of the Ghostface Killer , whose fictitious handiwork is transformed into non-fiction by "Scream 2". Heather Graham, playing the role of the girl who gets murdered at the outset of "Scream", disrobes in the bathroom, an outright deviation from "actual" events leading up to the crime. To us, the actual moviegoers, the nudity is implied, but to the "Stab" audience, the partygoers at the "Stab"-athon, the suggested nudity from their diegetical perspective is frontal, and gratuitous, since the character Drew Barrymore plays, never endeavors to shower, therefore deconstructing the slasher pic trope of topless nubiles, because the bathroom scene in "Stab" is indeed superfluous, which is proven by the put-upon historicity of the original "Scream". In "Stab", just like many slasher movies of its ilk, the young woman shows us her breasts, then sooner or later, she shows us her blood. "Man Bites Dog" knows the trope well, and is more blunt about the interconnectedness that binds sex and violence together in all its R-rated glory, by replacing the usual display of exhibitionism(or consensual sex) found in most dead teenager movies with gang-rape as the prelude to the woman being murdered. "Man Bites Dog" brings to the foreground the seeming disinterest in sex that is common to all the major figures in the annals of horror cinema. Like "Man Bites Dog", the killer has sex on the brain in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", when Otis sexually assaults the woman that he and the titular character kills(along with her husband and son), and videotapes. These two seminal horror films are real in a way that "Scream" can never be, even with the advantage of the film-within-the-film device. As the Ghostface Killer records his attempted murder of Gail in the hayloft, the juxtaposition between the "true story" and "based on a true story" reveals nary a difference in form and content, especially since the homicidal videographer never shows his true face. He hides behind an iconic mask, a signifer of entertainment, purveyor of cinematic violence.… Expand

Before I watch the movie, I thought it was going to be so bad, because the 3rd movie wasn't so good as the 1st too, and by this time, it gave me the sensation this would be even worse. There are so many movies like this today, that I simply thought they couldn't innovate.
I was definitely wrong. The movie doesn't try to scare, it kind of jokes of itself and other movies in this genre, so it gets interesting. I laughed so much with Kirby and Gale, and there are epic one-liners.
And even better, ghostface identity was unpredictable, unlike the first 3 movies (except 2, I wasn't expecting one of the killers in it).… Expand

This is postmodernism at its finest, with a pure lack of inspiration, and iteration after iteration.
This movie actually builds upon all the parodies that ever came out for this franchise, and sadly it has lost its old values along with it.

Do not waste any money on this movie.

Very average, i was a fan of the originals of course, to me the best being 1 and 2. In any case, I think the producers / director tried to do too much here and tried waaay to hard to make it "hip" to the whole new media / internet / social media generation.

Has a few genuine scares, and also some funny moments, but overall the cast just looks like they are there going through the motions and the whole film loses a lot of its feeling this way. Again, i did enjoy some parts, but the plot really let this one down for me, along with the weak actors performances.… Expand

Plain and simple, if you want to have fun at the movies, you should see this movie! It is both, funny and scary. It may not be perfect, but it is the best movie theaters have at the moment.

I thought the first Scream was very good, but as for two and three, it's like they said i this one, "They keep recycling the same **** over and over again..." but I think the fourth redeemed the series. I didn't love this film, but I didn't hate it at all.

Scream 4 is a return for the original cast members and director Wes Craven..... but it seems that a lot has been lost in the transfer to a more modern horror. While I applaud Scream 4 in originality (the old satirical humour is still very much alive) a lot of tension, for me at least, was lost to half arsed dialogue, lack of build up and a predictable structure. It just wasn't tense enough. I really didn't care about the new characters they brought to the franchise. In fact, the only reason Scream isn't getting a lower score is because I was nowhere near guessing the killers identity. That and I have a soft spot for slashers, a genre of horror films that has nearly dried up. And it was good to see ghostface.
But unless you're a hardcore fan of the franchise, I suggest a rent at most.… Expand

Scream 4's awkward pacing in the middle and some sometimes bad dialogue are very small prices to pay for a good movie. A clever script, a consistent cast, and the ways that Wes Craven refreshens the franchise are satisfying. Whether you think that this is better than the original Scream or not, it is the best since the original and is definitely worth checking out.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Scream 4 was an absolute disaster. It bored me through out almost the hole film. There was only two points in the film when I noticed anyone laughing and even then it was more likely they were laughing at and not with the films writers and directors . My initial comment seems slightly unfair when you consider that I didn't work out who the killer was until quite far through the film. Still the film did contain some half decent actors but they all got stuck with unimportant or unnoticeable roles. All the scream films are terrible anyway but scream 4 really set a standard for all of the worst films out there to live up to because lets face it you need to be an absolute moron to genuinely enjoy scream 4.… Expand

Not bad not good. Could be a renter. I went for free and had fun. It pokes fun at itself and the genre. I come from the T&A school of horror comedy. So, I guess I wanted more of that and less dutch angles. Oh yea I read books too.

Scream 4 had many suspenseful scenes and had some really funny moments and remarks. This film was not scary but I don't think it was trying to be. In my opinion it was the best scream film yet, the 1st one would be 2nd of the series. I really enjoyed this film and the bonus is that Hayden Panetierre blessed us with her appearance in this film.

Scream 4 has its ups and downs -- it is at times both fresh and formulaic -- however, fans of the series will be more than pleased. Pros: Lots of meta humor; likable characters with hilarious dialog; it feels like a classic slasher film. Cons: Formulaic; predictable; adds nothing fresh to the series; a hit-or-miss twist.

i found scream 4 to be hilarious, with its sudden outbursts and random comments, just adding some blood and guts to it makes it all the more weird. but what made this movie funny is that all the actors constantly try to avoid there inevitable death with their knowledge of scary movies that they've seen. If wes craven and kevin williamson thought this movie was gonna be scary they were far from right. suspencful maybe. scary not close.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This review will be relatively spoiler freeâ… Expand

Scream 4 is a very good movie, both as part of the franchise, and as a standalone. It also stands as a good slasher flick. In my opinion nothing was overdone in the film. The script and plot where very inventive, and will keep you guessing until the end. I will admit, I feared that SCREAM 4 was just another cheap cash-in. What Williamson and Craven did here was impressive and ingenious. Some rare moments in the film were even mind-blowing! The cast is great and the film is hugely entertaining. Needless to say. Definetly 10 out of 10!!!!… Expand

speaking as a HUGE fan of the first 3 films Scream 4 was just as good as the first i thought it was amazing with a ending that surpassed all the other movies

This movie was decent although I did not think it would ever end with the plot twists. It was entertaining but it pretty much sticks to the Scream formula and there isn't any new ideas here but the writer and director knows what works and the film is above average because of that. Wes Craven is very good at these kind of movies and I look foward to seeing the upcoming Scream sequels (if there are any)… Expand

I went to see the film yesterday, expecting to see a Scream movie. And do you know what I saw? A Scream movie. A damn good one at that. This movie does what a slasher horror film is supposed to do, make you scared, make you laugh, shock you, and give you a great plot. If your debating seeing this film, do not for a second longer. GO NOW!

Scream 4 was definitely forth the wait. It had that old twist from Scream 1 for the old generation and the new twist for the new generation. So this was well thought out. It is a well rounded movie for the family to go and see. i think the parent and kids will be talking about this movie for months. I would recommend to anyone who just wants to sit down and watch a good movie not just horror fans.

I first went in the theater expecting to see a half @ss remake , oh boy how wrong i was.. The first hour of the movie was setting all for the ending.. the killing , the story with sidney and her family, and then everything when crazy. The last 30 min where like mind blowing.. even though i love scary movies not in a million years was i expecting what happen at the end. Overall a really entertaining movie, and it is worth the ticket .. i would go to see it again!!!..… Expand

WOW! Scream 4 was just another masterpiece of Craven. Wes Craven, and Kevin Williamson prove once again that they are a strong team, and that the horror/comedy genre isn't dead, yet. Scream 4 is full of laughs, scares, and suspense!!!! I loved it!

It's a damned fun movie. Had a little something for everyone - jump-out-of-your-skin moments, fresh commentary on other horror movies and social media obsession, classic characters from the series, and not one, not two, but three opening "phone" sequences. In my immediate vicinity, there were no less than 4 people hiding their eyes throughout the film, which is always a good sign. Probably the best cast of any Scream film - no offense to Jamie Kennedy.… Expand

I really enjoyed this movie. The first half, I had mixed opinions since it was all the new characters and no actual action, but once things started to bounce in, I loved it. I also didn't expect the killer(s) to be who they were. Overall great movie and it definitely has revived the series!

Although scary in a less haunting way than the first 'Scream' (which actually had you scared to fall asleep in case GhostFace came for you), 'Scream 4' manages to keep fans on the edge of their seat by using meta humour, shocking twists, and even a couple of genuine scares, both of which make up for the lack of emotion present and over-the-top body count.

Very Entertaining. I was shocked when i saw a fourth was coming out after 11 years. But i couldn't resist to watch it. This movie was awesome. It wasn't trying to scare you, it was trying to entertain you. Which it did greatly with a hilarious opening, and a great ending. A shocking twist at the end which definitely catches everyone off guard. I lost faith in Wes Craven with 'My Soul To Take', which was garbage. But Scream 4 won't get anywhere near the garbage can.… Expand

a movie empties into emotions
a way of wasting time, all you gave me is shame.
although I could see that were trying to be ridiculous not ridiculous funny
palicula is not afraid to laugh or gender is ridiculous

From the giddily familiar image of â

I'm a HUGE Scream fan. Scream 2 has always been my favorite for some reason. I think at this point it's purely nostalgic. For some reason as a kid I was obsessed with these movies, which is strange, I know. Any way, long story short, if you like the original trilogy, you'll like this one. Better than Scream 3 by far! Probably the most gory Scream movie yet and in my opinion, although none of them are all that scary, this is probably the scariest. Check it out!… Expand

I was bored for most part, never really scared or terrified and kept thinking where are they going with this script? A lot of missed chances to make this one interesting unfortunately. I hoped this one would be more scary again, bring something new. But it went to go down the funny road instead and also repeat the all-to-familiar self-citing and irony, which I found just lame and uninteresting. It's 2011, Wes Craven... Also I thought the movie wasn't clever like the first or parts of the second. Too many moments where you ask yourself if your intelligence as a viewer is being regarded at all. I would have loved this one to come out better, it's been 10 yrs and it seemed like they might just have had some great new takes on the series. But they didn't deliver that. More of the same old, which was great, even brilliant in part one, but doesn't drag out well in a forth installment. I rank this one as not as bad as the 3rd, but not as good as the 2nd film.… Expand

pure comedy plain and simple, not a moment of horror..just the same old lame cliches and stupidity. Besides a decent twist at the end the rest made me laugh