Sunday 4 September 2011

ONE TO WATCH: SCREAM 4 (DVD)


"After the disappointing Scream 3 it would've been understandable if this particular franchise decided to just stay dead. But with Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson hardly delivering the chills recently, a return to Woodsboro was always on the cards. Luckily, with its familiar setting, familiar cast, and postmodern quips about remakes, chance of success wasn't merely a stab in the dark.


Sidney is back home, the last stop on her book tour, promoting her new self-help best-seller, where she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey and Gale, who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill and her Aunt Kate. Obviously, her appearance also brings about the return of our favourite clumsy villain, Ghostface, putting them and the whole town of teenagers in danger (seriously, where are the parents?).

Still a bit too silly to give you proper chills, the forth is so much better than the previous you'll forgive the, by now, slightly annoying well-versed characters, the lack of standout set-pieces and its overall smugness. It's nice to have the guys back in Woodsboro, and nostalgia certainly makes for a more interesting evening, while the characters, even the new ones, are far more likeable, but you still won't care when they finally meet their maker.

Campbell still challenges Langenkamp as the greatest slasher heroine, the cast acquit themselves well, the setting is used to good effect, even if there's little new on offer, and there are some good jolts and a great deal more of the red stuff. Sadly, the real stars aren't the murders, but our loveable threesome as they revel in the absurdities in a most enjoyable way. Seriously though - no more, please?"


DW


  

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