Can't believe this film came out 6 years ago. Such a shame it didn't make the box office splash it deserved, thereby killing any chance of Screams 5 and 6, and Craven's tragic passing finally puts the nail in that coffin.
This was a smart, punchy return to this great series with all of the major players from both sides of the camera returning after 11 years and giving it their all.
Craven's mastery of suspense is on full display. The way he builds sequences, including finding great details in the performances, is Hitchcock-worthy. He works really well with a young cast despite being in his 70's, and he works with Neve to make Sidney a scream-queen with real compassion and resourcefulness - always emotionally anchoring a series that geeks out on layered meta-narratives, is stuffed with in-jokes, and is jam-packed with deranged psychopaths stabbing, slicing and gutting young people in often farcical 'third-act blood baths'. Neve may be the ultimate scream queen, and is ably supported by Cox and Arquette.
I never understood why this film didn't get more praise, or the kind of box office enjoyed by its predecessors. Were its damning observations about fan-farming internet narcissists a little too accurate..? This review from blu-ray.com is a rare one that does it justice.
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Reply by tmdb43737777
on September 12, 2017 at 11:32 PM
On the old site most of the complaints were this of it helps:
They should've used the deleted scenes
Kerby only had a small role
Emma was annoying
Sidney should've been the killer or they should've had them keep Emma alive and go with her trillogy
Dewey and Gale survived yet again
Reply by JustinJackFlash
on September 13, 2017 at 8:07 AM
From what I remember, the satire was taken to the extreme in this one and felt very forced to the extent that it no longer felt natural or fresh. Self awareness has become such a trend in our culture that the only way Scream 4 could stand out was by being self aware of self awareness. Which I don't think it pulled off.
I can't really remember much of the rest of the film. Just that I didn't enjoy it much.
Reply by gspgreases
on September 13, 2017 at 10:13 PM
The movie was good. As for Scream 5, id rather they just reboot the franchise. Give a new take and really go for a darker scarier take.
Reply by Irina
on November 7, 2017 at 11:08 AM
I love this film but not as much as previous 3
Reply by stugood
on January 17, 2018 at 8:26 AM
The first 30 minutes sucked, but a fun joyride from then on. A marked improvement over Scream 3 for sure
Reply by tmdb15214618
on May 29, 2018 at 11:04 AM
I think this is probably the best one after the original. The other two sequels are just retreads, whereas this one has something new to say.