The First Scream

[Grim]

I don't know about you guys, but still today, I find the first Scream very entertaining, unfortunately most movies that followed were crap. It was like Hollywood did ten years worth of turning something original into a cliche in one year. Sad, but I think horror is finally coming back, slowly, but it's coming back. I'd like to know everyone's thoughts on this too, I'm open to all opinions and arguments.

[rhett]

MrGrim, be prepared to get flamed. Too many people today think of Scream as a sum of its influences. It is a bad film why? Because I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend: Final Cut, Scream 3 and Valentine sucked. As far as I see, people have not been able to look at Scream as a singular film. They instead see it as an agregate of the post-modern slashers that it inspired.

I think Scream is a great film. It manages to be both scary and funny throughout, a trait that few films can claim. Williamson's script is very witty, and its references to the slasher films of yore, including Suspiria, is inspired. It is great to see someone pay tribute to the films that most Gen Xers were raised on. Filmmakers like John Carpenter never get any respect, and finally when a film actually acknowledges his talents, people turn against it.

Like it or not, Scream has been one of the most important and influential horror films of the 90's, and in my eyes its authority is well deserved.

Hell, I love the first two Scream movies so I guess I got to get flamed too. I especially like the first one. I thought it was scary enough, witty, and very well done. Randy is one of my favorite horrror movie characters ever.

[hell ya!]

Scream is a great horror movie, the rest that followed were not so great.

[y2doublet]

I agree, the first Scream is a postmodern work of art. If people could just see through it's deliberate teeny-pop surface and see the substance maybe they would appreciate it.

Scream is great. From Drew's opening demise to the over-the-top finale, I loved every second of it. I had a blast watching this film... it had great horror references, witty dialogue, a great cast and a master director behind it all. It was just fun all the way thru.

[zombi3]

I don't like any bubble gum slasher films. I would say that out of the few I've seen, I dislike Scream 1 the least, but I don't see myself watching it again any time soon.

I loved Scream. It brought horror movies back. Just like Nu Metal is bringing metal and the crackers back from the rap side.

[Grim]

It's sad when something original comes out and Hollywood commercializes it. You notice that basically every horror film that followed has the same cheesy box art. Ya know, with the cast on the cover staring at you like, "We're serious and cool because we're in this movie" It's bullshit. Probably the most coolest box art I've seen in the past three years was Thir13en Ghosts.

[Grim]

heres one

[Grim]

another

[Paff]

Here's my whole Scream thing:

First of all, around that time, I wasn't as big into horror as I had been (or am now). This was before I had Laserdisc or DVD, so I didn't have a big horror collection. I usually rented new and indie films, and occasionally would rent an old fave like Dawn of the Dead. Thus, I wasn't "in" with the horror fans, like I am now. So if there was a Scream backlash at the time, I wasn't aware of it.

Scream got great recommendations from several of my friends. They knew I was once a big horror buff, and all of them said I'd love it. I finally got a chance to check it out, and was underwhelmed to say the least.

First of all, it was a parody, not a true horror film. I love to let myself get wrapped up in a movie, and believe it's all real. When characters keep looking at the camera and practically saying "It's just a movie", it took all the magic away.

Secondly, to me it was laughing AT horror and horror fans when it pointed out the cliches, not WITH us. I got an overwhelming sense that the writer was calling me an idiot for enjoying cheesy horror films. This movie talked down to me. Even worse, the cliches it was so "insightfully" pointing out, were already well known to anyone who's seen more than 1 slasher film. I saw a lot of 80s slashers in the theaters, and every time someone did something dumb like going off by him/herself, the whole crowd murmured "she's dead..."
It would be like a kung-fu movie, where the lead guy looks to the camera and says, "I'm outnumbered 10 to 1, but only one will fight me while the others just dance around in a threatening manner until I have to fight them too."

I really wanted to like it. I hadn't seen a good new horror film in years (not since Candyman I think), and all the good reviews had me hyped for it. But, bottom line, Scream insulted me.

Again, this was what I felt before even a single sequel or copycat film was made, and before I ever signed on to a Horror message board.

[zombi3]

Whew, I was beginning to think I was the only person who couldn't stand this movie. I didn't like when it came out and I like it even less now because of the trend it started. As much as I hate Scream, I think all the Scream ripoffs are a hundred times worse. (ie: I Know What You Did Last Summer, H20, etc.) It seems that good horror is a rarity nowadays and I think films like this have hurt the genre. I also agree with Paff that Scream mocks the horror audience with all the in-jokes and cliches. It might be a different story if the jokes were actually funny. Finally, I find the casts/characters in these movies extremely annoying.

I can see how someone would not like Scream, but I really don't think that it was the filmmaker's intent to insult, mock or offend "true" horror fans.

I would agree that the deification of Scream by the "screamy-boppers" does a disservice to all of the better horror films out there by stealing the limelight. Still, I'm not insulted by that; I just think it's unfortunate.

Personally, I think Scream 1 was ok; it's a fun one to watch with your friends who might not be down for hardcore horror. Scream 2 would have been cooler if Randy had lived, and Scream 3 sucked a phat dick, yo.

[mcchrist]

Secondly, to me it was laughing AT horror and horror fans when it pointed out the cliches, not WITH us.

That's my main problem is that it is too patronizing.