Scream 4

Hard to believe that, with it being over ten years since the last film was released, there’s been much call for a further Scream film. So, with Hollywood’s creative barrel running dry again, Ghostface returns to fill it up with as much claret as possible. The storyline’s as simple as they come with Sidney (Neve Campbell) returning to Woodsboro during the anniversary of the original murders and, lo and behold, killing time starts up again. The first Scream film was smart and funny, the second passable the third forgettable. With this fourth instalment Wes Craven goes OTT in the self referential stakes meaning what felt fresh and original in the opening film comes across as just smug and annoying, particularly in this film’s opening sequence where the whole thing seems so pleased with itself you worry it’s going to disappear up its own backside. Once the slaying begins there are a few effective scare scenes, but nothing that will have horror veterans remotely moving in their seats. It’s interesting to note that this is actually a 15 certificate, I guess in order to increase the box office. Whilst the killings aren’t particularly gory, it’s certainly bloody (no doubt a response to the redness of other franchises that have appeared in the last ten years). On the acting front Campbell, along with Courteney Cox and David Arquette, are just there to pick up the cheque so it’s down to some of the new arrivals (Emma Roberts and Hayden Panettiere amongst them) to pick up the slack and they at least appear to want to join in the fun. Script wise there are a few new decent ideas but they are ended too quickly or aren’t expanded on and there are a couple desperately unfunny jokes that didn’t raise a single titter in the screening I was at. A couple of good things you can say about this is, despite the references to previous events, this can still pretty much be watched as a standalone, and the identity of Ghostface is well kept until the very end. The scariest things about this movie though? Cox’s face (what has she done to herself?) and the fact there could be two more films after this one….

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict

Despite a decent (if silly) twist the overriding impression is still “Haven’t we seen all this before?”. Rating: 5/10