Spoiler Free! Scream 4 (2011): Another Tiresome Reboot?

First off, I love the original Scream trilogy, especially the first one. So there is a part of me that is glad to see that there’s possibly another trilogy on the way even though there is absolutely NO NEED to have another film. The original Scream trilogy wrapped up so perfectly! But they did it anyway, so I gave it a chance. After all, the director and writer of the first three, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson, reprised their roles.

Not to anyone’s surprise, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) goes back to Woodsboro and people close to her start showing up sliced and diced to death. It’s the 15 year anniversary of the original murders by Billy and Stu (Scream), and now there’s another Ghostface killer out there. The new element in Scream 4 is that Sidney’s cousin, Jill (Emma Roberts), and friends are now being threatened by the killer and are subsequently getting killed. Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale Weathers-Riley (Courteney Cox) also return to help Sid figure out who the killer is. Who will survive this time around? No one’s safe, not even you, SIDNEY!

In a nutshell, there are some definite problems with the film, and it’s so formulaic you can predict who’s going to die next, but I still enjoyed it. Scream 4 was still fun and gory, and even provided a few startles here and there. They definitely increased the number of kills, keeping it fast paced. Newbie Emma Roberts did a terrific job, as did the veterans Cox, Campbell, and Arquette. (Sidenote: Was Cox just really well rested or was that botox?) If you’re a Scream lover and are willing to let the small unrealistic and formulaic things go, then Scream 4 would be at least a rental.

Beware Minor Spoilers Below

Time Until Action starts: ~ 3 minutes

Baddies: Ghostface

Best Line: “If you want to be in the hospital, I’d be happy to put you there…in the morgue!” Aww, isn’t Ghostface so thoughtful and sweet. He’s just trying to help.

Best Kill: One reason to reconsider having a mail slot on your door: Jill’s mom, Kate (Mary McDonnell) is helping Sidney close the front door against Ghostface. Kate sits on the floor with her back to the door and starts pushing against the wall with her foot. Slice! A vacant look comes over Kate’s face. Ghostface stabbed her in the back through the mail slot!

Action Rating: 2 ½ Ghostfaces, out of 5.

Illustration by Alex Langley. Rocket Llama World Headquarters.

This is the Action Flick Chick, and you’ve just been kicked in the ass!