Scream 2 Remains the Perfect Slasher Sequel

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What a difference a year makes. After the overwhelming (and surprising) success of Wes Craven’s original Scream, which grossed a massive $173 million against a $15 million budget and effectively reinvigorated the long-dormant slasher genre, Dimension/Miramax Films managed to bring the whole gang back together for Scream 2 with even better results.

The sequel, released on Dec. 12, 1997 — exactly one week before James Cameron’s Titanic began its legendary voyage — and grossed a massive $32.9 million in its opening weekend en route to $101.1 million in the U.S. and $172.4 million worldwide.

Here’s the official plot synopsis: “Sidney (Neve Campbell) and tabloid reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) survived the events of the first Scream, but their nightmare isn’t over. When two college students are murdered at a sneak preview of ‘Stab,’ a movie based on the events from the first film, it’s clear a copycat killer is on the loose. Sidney and Gail, as well as fellow survivors Deputy Dewey (David Arquette) and Randy (Jamie Kennedy) have to find out who is behind this new murder spree, before they all end up dead.”

I recall watching Scream 2 on VHS in preparation for the yet-to-be-released Scream 3 my senior year of high school. And while none in the franchise ever truly blew me away, I enjoyed the sequel more than any of the others for its clever plot and reliance on sequel troupes.

Also, from a technical perspective, Scream 2 is leaps abound above its predecessor — even though the budget only grew by roughly $10 million — displaying more competence with its shots and action sequences. Even the acting takes a step forward, as everyone involved reacts more appropriately to the horrific events taking place around them.

RELATED: Looking Back at the Original Scream and Its Reinvigoration of Slashers

Scream 2’s opening sequence is brilliant, if not a tad long-winded. Before the title reveal, we meet a young couple, Phil and Maureen, played by Omar Epps and Jada Pinkett Smith, respectively, who anxiously await a showing of Stab, the film within a film based on the events of Scream. The pair debate the merits of slasher films, the lack of African American representation in the genre, throw some shade at the “Sandra Bullock s—” playing down the street, and give a call out to Entertainment Weekly, which represented roughly 90% of our pop culture news at the time.

Inside the theater, excited moviegoers dressed in Ghostface costumes and wielding fake, blood-soaked knives, run amok, showing very little reverence for Stab’s true-life events — clearly, a comment on audience fixation with violence as entertainment.

Stab starts and we are thrust back into the events that transpired at the beginning of Scream, albeit with Heather Graham standing in for Drew Barrymore, and the location now an exotic mansion boasting a swimming pool, its lights providing an eerie atmosphere. The events play out in a similar manner as the original film, albeit with more intensity and technical prowess — an aspect mirrored by Scream 2.

“B—-, hang the phone up and star-69 his ass,” Maureen hollers at the screen as attendees around her hiss. Maureen isn’t privy to slasher rules, and her inability to see past the limits of the genre’s creativity, in turn, limits her ability to appreciate the film, which, in turn, makes us less sympathetic towards her person.

Meanwhile, Heather Graham’s character undresses and the crowd, including Phil (much to Maureen’s chagrin), goes wild. This was an interesting bit because it plays to the notion that we, the audience, prefer the hyper-reality presented by film over the actual reality of life. Sitting right next to Phil is a young, beautiful woman who wants nothing more than a romantic night with her boyfriend. Except, he continually rejects her advances in favor of artificial entertainment; and we, the audience, are doing exactly the same thing waiting to see what sort of grisly demise awaits Phil and Maureen.

At any rate, Maureen goes to get popcorn (during the first scene?), gets scared by a Ghostface-wearing Phil, and then returns to the movie (which, surprisingly, has yet to move past the first action sequence) alone. Phil heads to the bathroom where he is quickly killed by the real Ghostface, who assumes Phil’s jacket and heads back to the theater and proceeds to stab Maureen in front of an oblivious audience so consumed with the events onscreen that they can’t discern reality from fiction.

This pre-credits sequence takes just under 12 minutes to unfold, and perfectly sets the mood for the remaining film, even if the rest of Scream 2 never quite reaches the same level of brilliance.

We see Sidney some two years after the events of Scream as she nonchalantly deals with a prank phone call (using the same Ghostface voice, no less) using Caller ID, which had become a popular household item during that time, effectively spelling the end of the prank-call era. We meet a supporting cast consisting of eventual stars, namely Sarah Michelle Gellar (who enjoyed massive success with TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Scream knockoff I Know What You Did Last Summer in March and October of the same year), Elise Neal, Timothy Olyphant, Jerry O’Connell, Portia de Rossi, and Liev Schreiber (expanding on his brief cameo in Scream).

There’s a great scene in which members of a film class debate the merits of the film sequel and struggle to find a follow-up that trumps the original — a bit only undone by Randy’s flub of the Aliens line.

After a lengthy re-introduction of the main characters — including Gale Weathers, whose book about the events of Scream led to Stab; Dewey, who now sports a limp and a disdain for all things media related; and Randy, who uses movies as a means to understand his own, real-life slasher story — we finally arrive at our second action scene. This time, we follow Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Cici as she tries to dispatch The Voice, but quickly comes under Ghostface’s blade, a bit that felt more obligatory than necessary.

This sequence gives way to another chase scene in which Sidney must evade Ghostface. Jerry O’Connell’s Derek, aka Sidney’s boyfriend, pursues the masked villain but sustains a cut to his arm. Naturally, after the events of the first film, in which Sidney’s then-boyfriend Billy pretended to die to throw her off his scent, we’re suspicious of anything to do with our main heroine’s admirers. Luckily, Sidney shares our thoughts and grows wary of Derek’s near-perfect charm, leaving the poor guy pining after her for the rest of the film.

At one point he sings to her in front of a packed lunchroom, and if the moment comes across like a cheap knockoff of a similar scene from Tony Scott’s Top Gun, well, that’s because it is — but Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson tell us it is … lazy or inspired? You decide.

We also get more Stab clips, featuring Luke Wilson as Billy and Tori Spelling (in a clever callback to Scream) as Sidney.

I love how Dewey and Randy watch a scene from their lives play out on TV. How weird would it be to see yourself played by someone else? Any number of shows and films have played with this idea, perhaps most memorably on Seinfeld, but too often we overlook the reality behind the fiction. Imagine a survivor of Pearl Harbor watching Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor, or Mark Zuckerberg watching David Fincher’s The Social Network … moments of your life played for mass entertainment. I imagine the experience would be equal parts thrilling and appalling.

Anyways, we get a bit with Randy explaining the rules of the slasher sequel, such as higher body counts and more elaborate death scenes, to Dewey, and there’s a humorous bit where the duo try to use their intellect to figure out who the killer is, effectively mirroring the audience’s attempts to do the same without much luck.

That’s because, really, the killer could be anybody. Ghostface doesn’t assume any specific trait that links him with any of the film’s characters, and mostly behaves like a supernatural entity. Since everyone has a realistic motive, Scream 2 could end with any cast member under the mask with minimal change to the story or climax — and the audience would happily continue to consume the product.

RELATED: Scream Promo and Featurette Bring Gale Weathers Back to Woodsboro

And really, that’s the downfall of this otherwise fascinating sequel — the ending. After all the buildup and carefully executed death scenes, including, memorably, Randy’s death-by-van-abduction, the film offers up two antagonists who induce more shrugs than gasps.

The first, Billy’s mother, played by Laurie Metcalf, appears throughout the film as a Gale Weathers knockoff named Debbie Salt. The second, Mickey, pops in and out of the plot without much to do other than foreshadowing his involvement by holding a video camera in every scene. Each has their own personal motives for doing what they did, but neither is as interesting (or messed up) as Billy or Stu at the end of Scream.

By contrast, the more we learn about Billy’s mother or Mickey, the less interesting they become.

Seemingly aware of this lackluster outcome, Craven goes for broke and stages a long-winded action climax atop a musical stage consisting of fake thunder and lightning effects that drags on for far too long. I did like the way Mickey goads Sidney into believing Derek is one of the killers, though, and thought Campbell did a stellar job in the sequence:

Otherwise, Scream 2 ends in a similar manner as Scream with the heroes wounded but ultimately victorious, which feels more redundant than reinvigorating.

Even so, up until that point, Scream 2 packs some heat thanks to intense sequences such as the bit where Sidney has to crawl over her attacker (rather than just beat him to death while he’s unconscious) in order to escape a wrecked car:

I also loved the moment where Dewey gets stabbed while Gale stumbles about in a soundproof booth:

I hated Randy’s death, as he felt like an essential piece of the Scream puzzle but I supposed that was the point — to shock viewers by killing off a main protagonist:

Finally, shout out to Liev Schreiber for his performance as Cotton, a young man trying to make the best of his dire situation. There’s a scene in which he confronts Sidney in a library that’s both chilling and kind of sad, especially when you find out he’s actually a pretty good dude:

Scream 2 doesn’t transcend the genre the way Scream did one year prior, but it certainly stands as a worthy sequel that actually surpasses the original in terms of quality — even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Neve Campbell’s Net Worth Includes Her Original ‘Scream’ Salary—Here’s What She Made Then Vs. Now

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Scream queen. Over 25 years after becoming a global sensation thanks to Scream, Neve Campbell’s net worth has continued to thrive. But her salary over the years for each of the Scream movies might surprise you.

Long before starring in Scream, Campbell—whose full name is Neve Adrianne Campbell—was born in October 1973 in Guelph, Ontario. She grew up in the Canadian town alongside her three brothers Christian, Alex and Damian. Her mother Marnie was a yoga instructor and psychologist from Amsterdam, while her father Gerry immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland to Canada to teach high school drama classes. While Campbell’s parents divorced when she was only two years old, she was still inspired by the pair’s creative pursuits. In fact, Campbell came from a long line of performers: Her maternal grandparents owned a theater company in the Netherlands, whereas her grandparents on her father’s side were also actors.

When she was six years old, Campbell witnessed a performance of The Nutcracker that would change her life. The budding performer enrolled at the Erinvale School of Dance to study ballet after the performance, before eventually transferring to the National Ballet School of Canada, where she trained and performed in productions of The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. But after suffering a series of dance-related injuries, Campbell decided to make another career-defining move at the age of 15, when she turned to acting instead. She went on to study theatre at the John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph, where she starred in local productions of The Phantom of the Opera.

In the early ‘90s, Campbell began branching out to film and television. Her on-screen debut came in 1991 after working on a Coca-Cola commercial. Later that year, Campbell landed an uncredited guest appearance on the show My Secret Identity. The following year, she appeared as Laura Capelli in an episode of The Kids in the Hall before landing her first lead role as Daisy in the Canadian drama series Catwalk. She later appeared as a guest on several Canadian TV series, including 1994’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.

After landing a number of roles in Canada, Campbell relocated to the United States to make her big break. In 1994, she landed the role of orphaned teen Julia Salinger on the Fox drama series Party of Five, which aired until 2000. She emerged from the series as a teen idol, earning a Teen Choice Awards nomination for Choice TV actress and a Golden Globe Award alongside her cast for Best Drama in 1996. While on the show, Campbell also landed her first feature film role in the supernatural blockbuster, The Craft, which premiered in 1996.

But Campbell’s biggest role to date has to be her role as Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven’s Scream. The film—which remains the highest-grossing slasher film in decades—launched an entire franchise starring Campbell and other original cast members such as Courteney Cox and David Arquette in a series of sequel films, including 1997’s Scream 2, 2000’s Scream 3, 2011’s Scream 4 and 2022’s Scream, otherwise informally known as Scream 5. For her role in the film series, Campbell has earned a number of awards—not to mention, a hefty boost to her net worth.

So, what is Neve Campbell’s net worth today? For everything we know about how much Neve Campbell has earned from her role in the Scream franchise and more, just keep on reading below.

How much did Neve Campbell earn from Scream?

Neve Campbell has starred as scream queen Sidney Prescott in every installment of the Scream franchise to date—and she has earned a pretty penny while doing so.

When Scream premiered in 1996, the film was an instant financial and critical triumph. The first film in the series generated over $173 million at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing slasher film until the release of Halloween in 2018. In 1997, Campbell reprised her role in Scream 2, which grossed over $170 million at the box office. Scream 3, by comparison, made slightly less when it premiered in 2000. The film brought in over $160 million and marked a temporary end to the saga until the franchise’s return over a decade later with 2011’s Scream 4. The fourth film in the Scream franchise earned over $97 million at the box office. According to TheRichest, Campbell’s take-home pay from the first film in the franchise ended up being around $1.5 million. Meanwhile, she reportedly earned a salary bump to $3.5 million for Scream 2 and $4 million for Scream 3.

After four Scream films, Campbell told Entertainment Weekly in 2016 that she would be open to reprising her role once more, but the decision would be “a tough one” following the loss of the franchise’s director, Wes Craven, who died in 2015.

“Wes was so responsible for the success of it and the brilliance of it, and he was a dear, dear friend and a mentor, and I just don’t know how I would feel at the moment if it came around again,” she told the publication at the time. “It would have to be something really special and really different. They’d have to be really convincing about who they decided to bring on as director, and I’d still have to do a bit of soul-searching on that one.”

Five years later, Campbell’s casting as Sidney Prescott was confirmed for the fifth Scream film, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and planned for release in January 2022. While she was first hesitant to participate after Craven’s death, she was eventually persuaded. “The new directors came to me with this beautiful letter saying that they’ve become directors and love film because of these films, and because of Wes, and they really want to be true to his story and his journey with these films, so I was really happy to hear that,” she told Variety in 2020.

Though Neve Campbell’s Scream 5 salary has yet to be publicly reported, we’d wager to say that she’s earning a significant paycheck based on the massive box office earnings and salaries from the previous four films in the Scream franchise to date.

What is Neve Campbell’s net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Neve Campbell’s net worth is $10 million as of 2022. This accounts for Campbell’s salaries from each of the Scream franchise films, including her $1.5 million, $3.5 million and $4 million paychecks from Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 3, respectively. While Campbell’s salary for Scream 4 and Scream 5 are unknown, it’s clear that the trajectory of her earnings is only going up from here.

Scream 5 premieres in theaters on January 14, 2022. You can get tickets here for your local showings. Plus, here’s how to watch the Scream movies in order for free.

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Kevin Williamson Details His Original Plans for ‘Scream 5’ & ‘Scream 6’! [Interview]

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In case you thought we had exhausted ourselves on all things Scream after spending four hours(!!!) discussing Scream 4 last week, think again! In a special Horror Queers bonus episode, Joe and I have Scream scribe Kevin Williamson on the line in celebration of the new film, which hits theaters today!

The Scream franchise, while beloved, is not without its share of behind-the-scenes drama in the 25 years of its existence. From a rushed production (and script leaks) in Scream 2 to a script that was taken away from him in Scream 4, there are plenty of unanswered questions about the behind-the-scenes workings of the films.

Since this is such a rare opportunity, we decided to ask him some of the questions you’ve been dying to ask him over the years about the Scream franchise, including but not limited to:

What exactly happened with those script leaks during the production of Scream 2?

How did he feel when he first saw Scream 3 (and when did he first see it?)?

(and when did he first see it?)? Which part of his Scream 4 script is he most bummed didn’t make it into the final cut?

Was Robbie really gay?

What part did he play in writing the hospital coda in Scream 4?

And just what were his plans for Scream 5 & Scream 6 had Scream 4 been successful?

In regards to the Scream 5 and Scream 6 plans that never came to be, Williamson reveals that Emma “Jill” Roberts would’ve returned in his original incarnation of a Scream 5 idea.

Williamson explains that concept, “Jill went to college, and then murders started on the campus. And it was a killer who knew she was the killer from the last film. So the killer kept trying to expose her, so she would have to kill to keep it covered up. So it was killer meets killer. And Sidney was a professor at that school.”

“Scream 6 was gonna answer whatever happened between Dewey and Gale,” Williamson continues. “Sidney was in it, but it was more focused on Gale’s storyline.”

Oh, and we also asked Williamson for his spoiler-free thoughts on the latest film so be sure to stick around until the very end to hear that! We’ve got the answers to these questions and more, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the screams!

Scream (2022) sees a new killer don the Ghostface mask twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro. The killer then begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.

Scream is currently in theaters everywhere.

Best Scream Franchise: Ranked Worst to First

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The entire Scream franchise has played an important role in developing my love and appreciation of horror films. Until 2011 when Scream 4 was released, I had only watched the other Scream franchise films in passing or as I was scrolling through what to watch on TV. After watching the fourth film at home, I was completely blown away by what I saw. Whether it was the gore, humor, my introduction to the “final girl” trope, or the ways the film was self-aware of what it was doing, watching Scream 4 instantly made me want to watch the rest of the series. From there, I delved deeper into the franchise and went on to watch various other horror films. Looking back after 11 years, I don’t think I could have chosen a better franchise to introduce me to the horror genre.

After Wes Craven died in 2015, it was hard to imagine another sequel to the film series would be made. Scream 4 wrapped the main characters’ arcs well and didn’t leave much room for a new story. While I feel that Scream 4 provided a worthy conclusion to the original series, I can’t help but feel excited about a new installment into the franchise. With Scream (2022) premiering this week, I wanted to look back at the entire franchise and rank both the films and tv series. Given that I normally make an effort to rewatch the films and tv series in the Scream franchise at least once a year, this was an ideal time for me to give my official ranking of everything to do with Scream.

For this ranking, I focused on various elements, including how the film was made. It’s also worth taking note of how funny and scary the films and series are since the Scream franchise is known for this. Because the films and TV series both have masked killers, I’ll be taking a look at how successful or not the big revelations were. The kills are an essential part of any horror film. which is something I considered while making this ranking list. Lastly, how entertaining the films were played a big role when making final decisions. You’re in spoiler territory now.

6. Scream 3 (2000)

Plot: While Sidney (Neve Campbell) and her friends visit the Hollywood set of Stab 3, the third film based on the Woodsboro murders, another Ghostface killer rises to terrorize them.

While I thoroughly enjoy everything about the Scream franchise and rewatch everything from it at least once a year, there are a lot of issues with Scream 3. The most blatant issue is how unrealistic the killer’s voice changer is. Completely replicating other people’s voices takes away any real sense of horror from the killer.

Up to this point, most of the killer reveals in the Scream franchise have had enough build-up to make a big impact on Sydney’s life while also following within the continuity that had been set up. Unfortunately, Roman’s (Scott Foley) was rather lackluster and had little buildup to make his motivations credible. Roman being Sydney’s half-brother completely contradict that the first film established and retcons the catalyst of the entire film series.

On a more positive note, there are plenty of elements in Scream 3 that are quite enjoyable. Parker Posey was incredible throughout the entire film. Her over-the-top portrayal of a Gale-like character is always entertaining to watch. The film also provides a great conclusion to the Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale (Courteney Cox) romance arc that’s been developing since the first film. Their characters were given the spotlight in this film and were able to finally be together. No matter where the story went after this, it was clear that Dewey and Gale will always be meant to be.

Scream 3 also features a small cameo from Randy (Jamie Kennedy), who explains the rules of the final film in trilogies. While I don’t fully like the scene itself, it’s nice to see one of my favorite characters in the film series make a return in the film.

5. Scream 2 (1997)

Plot: Two years after the first series of murders, as Sidney acclimates to college life, someone donning the Ghostface costume begins a new string of killings.

It’s clear from the opening scene that Scream 2 will have kills that are much more horrifying. Maureen’s (Jada Pinkett Smith) death in the movie theater is truly horrifying and brutal. Seeing her being stabbed in a room full of fans wearing the same mask as the killer was an interesting choice but also incredibly scary. Scream 2 also thrives with its heavy focus on Sidney and how she continues to cope with the events from the first film while being targeted once again. It does an incredible job in showing that she only has a few people that she can trust.

Scream 2 excels with its incredible cast. The chemistry between Dewey and Gale increases even more from the first film. Randy continues to be the metacharacter of the film series, this time placing heavy emphasis on sequels. Cotton (Liev Schreiber) plays a bigger role in this film and is given much more character development other than the man with who Sydney’s mom was having an affair. Special props have to go to Laurie Metcalf, who plays Billy’s mother but transforms herself into an unknown reporter. Her entire purpose is revenge, which isn’t necessarily a new motive, but her dedication is worthy of appreciation.

Unfortunately, Scream 2 suffers from quite a few questionable choices. The biggest mistake the film made was killing off Randy. I appreciate the film having the courage to kill off a central character but it doesn’t make sense to me as to why it had to be Randy. Also, making Mickey one of the killers was disappointing. With Randy being killed off midway through the film, it would have made bigger sense for Mickey to be the new metacharacter. His desire for fame would have worked had the film put more emphasis on this by having Mickey show up more in the film.

4. Scream: The Series

Plot: A serialized anthology series that follows a group of teenagers being targeted by a masked serial killer.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when the show was announced, especially since it was premiering on MTV and with a new mask being introduced, and the fact that it would be a completely new story. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the end of the pilot episode. The entire journey of discovering who the killer is in the first two seasons of Scream: The Series is full of suspense and several eerie moments. The show isn’t afraid to hold anything back in terms of violence and how gory kills can get. The killer’s mask adds to the mystery of their identity and what it means for those being targeted. There is more than enough world-building into the history of the killer to flesh out the motivations of the killers.

The new cast in Scream: The Series fits into what the demographic for MTV would have been around this time. While the acting isn’t always on par with what fans may have been used to seeing in the film series, the characters fit well into the roles and tropes that reflect what was set up in the original Scream. Emma (Willa Fitzgerald) is very much a modern-day final girl and does whatever she can to find out who the killer is. Audrey (Bex Taylor-Klaus) and Noah (John Karna) are what Randy was to the film series but are written in a way that doesn’t make them feel like a direct copy.

I definitely would have placed Scream: The Series higher on this list had it not been for its horrendous third season. The season was doomed from the start given the Weinstein affiliation. The new season got rid of the entire cast from the first two seasons and told a new original story. The entire season was released as a 3-night event, with 2 episodes premiering every night. Season 3 included the most diverse cast from anything that the Scream franchise had released up to this point, but nothing new was added to make an impression. The kills, killer reveal, and characters failed to make this season worth watching.

3. Scream 4 (2011)

Plot: Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.

One of the first things I noticed when watching Scream 4 for the first time is how much it stands out from the rest in the brutality and the gore. Olivia’s (Marielle Jaffe) death in her bedroom and the aftermath of the attack are incredibly brutal to watch. Since Scream 4 takes place in a new generation, it’s almost as if it’s expected for the brutality and gore to be elevated. It never seems forced or done for the sake of shock factor

The film also brings about a course correction for the franchise up to this point by bringing the film out of the 90s. With the rise of viral videos, live streams, and reality TV fame, it makes sense that all of these elements were included in Scream 4. It also makes sense that Jill’s (Emma Roberts) and Charlie’s (Rory Culkin) motivations for killing are rooted in elements that correlate with the time of the film’s release. Their reveals are built up well and provide a fresh look at what can motivate people in the modern age to kill. Major props have to be given to Jill for how far she was willing to go to prove that she was a legitimate final girl.

This isn’t to say that Scream 4 does not have flaws. For one, it’s clear that this is a different Woodborough. The original film established Woodsborough as a typical small American town that was rocked by horrendous murders. It makes sense for the town to have changed but from what is shown in the film, that small-town appeal is completely gone. I also wish that the film dared to kill off one of its main characters. Not only was a new generation of characters being introduced, but it would’ve shown its audience that it had faith in a new cast to carry the series. Kirby (Hayden Panettiere) would have been the obvious choice to take over as the series lead. Gale seemed to be the more obvious choice, especially after not showing up until the final confrontation.

Plot: Twenty-five years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new Ghostface emerges, and Sidney Prescott must return to uncover the truth.

There’s a quote from Spider-Man: No Way Home that best describes my thoughts when walking into Scream (2022), “If you expect disappointment, then you can never really be disappointed.” Knowing that the directors of 2019’s Ready or Not, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, were directing the film wasn’t enough to hype me up for the release of this film. However, the opening scene quickly reassured me that this film was in great hands. In the age of smart homes, it makes sense that this will be included as a way for the killers to manipulate their victims. Just like with the last modern age sequel, Scream (2022) brings the series into the new decade that its audience can relate to.

Scream (2022) paid homage to the original film of the series while also telling a story that fits well within the world that’s been established for quite some time now. Some moments lean towards nostalgia but also manage to not delve too much into it. The film stuck to its roots to show the impact that the murders had on certain characters of a new generation like Sam (Melissa Barrera). There were also moments where the film poked fun at the previous films in the series but didn’t completely trash what was established. The big killer reveals at the end were a bit predictable, especially since the film focuses on two specific moments where questionable actions are made by two certain characters. However, their motivations fit well within the commentaries that the Scream franchise is known for.

Plot: A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a new killer, who targets the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game.

It shouldn’t be surprising that Scream is at the top of my list. No matter what the other films or TV series attempted to accomplish, nothing could beat out the original. In my opinion, Scream helped define the horror genre for at least 10 years after its release. Horror films were once again a part of mainstream films and were getting much more attention. The film grossed well over $170 million at the box office by the end of its official run in theaters. Scream was completely self-aware with the amount of timely commentary that it made. The film shows that humor can blend well within horror films while being able to take itself seriously. It finds ways to put the heroine in danger while also making the “who done it” mystery incredibly entertaining.

The main characters of Scream are introduced and established very well. Campbell establishes Sydney as a true final girl and as the foundation of the Scream franchise. The Gale and Dewey relationship arc is built up well with multiple possibilities as to whether it could be taken in future films. Randy redefines what the surrogate horror character for audience members is while being able to rely on comedy to make his character stand out.

Scream is very much Sydney’s story but Matthew Lillard completely steals the show. He brings out the film’s humor even if it at times is overly exaggerated and dark. The scene where the main group of friends finds out about the first murder and Lillard’s character makes a joke about it comes to mind. His mannerisms in every scene are incredible to watch, especially when he and Billy (Skeet Ulrich) are interrogating Randy at the movie rental store. His motivation for murder is random but truly terrifying, which perfectly sums up what makes his character stand out from the rest.

Ranking the films and TV series in the Scream franchise was a lot harder than I imagined it would be. There is a lot about this franchise that I love but there are flaws that shaped my final decisions. My ranking may change depending on how Scream (2022) turns out but I can’t help but feel excited to see it. I have faith that the Scream franchise is in good hands if this film sparks new sequels and its directors return.

( Contributing Writer - Books, Film/TV ) Nicolas is a pop culture critic, focusing primarily on film, tv. anime, and manga. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, which shapes the way he analyzes his work.

“I’m the Thing Monsters Have Nightmares About” – Making the Case for Sarah Michelle Gellar as a Horror Icon

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The release of the new Scream movie has me in the mood to play games where you’re trying to evade a slasher/serial killer. My personal favorites when it comes to this type of mayhem are that of Puppet Combo’s games; in gems like Babysitter Bloodbath and Murder House, you must run for your life as a mad killer tries to hunt you and butcher you. It’s very much in-tune with a slasher gem such as Scream. But though such games give me a rush, there is something more I long for from titles involving serial killers.

For a long time now, I’ve been craving a serial killer narrative with greater depth. Something that doesn’t rely on just thrills, but conveys a story that disturbs and moves. I want a game to get under the skin much like how David Fincher’s Seven does in its serial killer story – presenting a narrative with grim, moral exploration. So, I wonder: What would a game like that involve? When it comes to mechanics and narrative, what would it take to elevate the serial killer subgenre of gaming?

A Puzzle With All The Pieces Just Needing To Be Arranged

Outside that of the Scream and Friday the 13th inspired slasher games, other titles have touched upon more of the Seven-like serial killer narrative. Heavy Rain and the Condemned games are the first to come to mind, each making for decent efforts to provide intense, emotional stories (to varying quality respectively). Mechanically, each game offers a strong quality that is essential in building an effective detective game where one hunts down a killer.

The obvious is that of investigation mechanics; the main means of interaction is the player moving about environments and striving to piece clues together. Much like we’ve seen in titles like the Batman Arkham games, this provides an immersive form of play if the player is to take on the role of a detective; this gets them into the dirt and grime of crime scenes, forcing them to be up close and personal when it comes to horrific violence. I’d love to see a game further expand upon this type of mechanic in greater detail; make us dig for evidence that leads us to our next destination; create an array of puzzles that revolve around discovering clues.

Another crucial element is creating a cinematic approach to gameplay exploration, much like that of Heavy Rain and Until Dawn. Providing investigative mechanics allow for players to engage with the world in an important manner – but besides that – I feel there needs to be a greater emphasis on plot outside of that, and not trying to layer on any other mechanics (i.e., combat). When you strip away fighting and only provide focus to exploration and investigation, one is left with a greater means to feel present in the story. There aren’t a bunch of enemies charging at them, no combos, or strategies to be mindful of, just the present in trying to find clues and absorb the atmosphere.

Though these games include elements of combat – to varying degrees – L.A. Noire and Judgment are titles that display a decent balance in juggling both essential qualities. However, both games lack any sort of horror element, making for fun detective games without a doubt, but offering little to make for unnerving experiences. So then, what would it take to narratively craft such a game?

Pain, Loss, And Anger – Feelings In Hunting Down A Killer

The general setup to any “detective hunts serial killer story” is relatively simple – it’s just that. That premise is the foundation to the plot. But to have such an experience make an impact on the player, it should involve some form of emotionality. While I’ve seen different games portray violence and emotional depth differently, what I don’t think works well are when these types of games get too “gamey” (i.e., relying on overt combat in trailing a killer), and opt for more play than plot. Such levels of engagement can create a distance and attitude of, “I’m going to get the killer, but these dead characters are just NPCs, so whatever.”

What would be a great countermeasure to such a mindset is creating a plot and gameplay experience where the player gets to take on multiple roles – such as that of the killer’s victims. Imagine a little side story where you are playing as a character you come to really like; you get to spend time in their shoes and see what their daily life is like. You develop a connection with them, only to find them in a situation where they are tortured and killed. This creates anger and a drive to push the player further into the story, making each action as the detective more important.

While completing objectives is crucial to help push a story forward, there needs to be just as much focus provided to the story. Imagine what it would be like to play a game where you felt super invested in catching a killer – like the game was really drawing upon you emotionally. If you’ve seen the film, think about Clarice from The Silence of the Lambs and how much her efforts make us root for her; think about how upsetting it feels to across the victims of Buffalo Bill. Now imagine yourself in the midst of such a story where everything depends on your actions – and you feel an emotional weight in all you do. This also applies to any detective character we may play as. Perhaps there is a side mission where the detective character is trying to celebrate a family member’s birthday, only for his thoughts to be clouded by horrible visions of what he has seen.

I also think it’s important for these types of games to pull us out of the heavier, more violent parts of the plot to (ironically), pull us deeper into the thick of things. These games could use moments of mundanity to emphasize the pain and suffering the killer has brought on. Think about the initial dinner scene in Seven where Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Gwyneth Paltrow are all sitting together; at this point in the film, Freeman, Pitt, and the audience have already seen some brutal stuff, but now we have a chill, friendly dinner gathering. The reason a moment like this works so well in the film is that – if the audience is to get constantly bombarded with violent imagery – there’s a chance they may grow distant from the characters and view the experience like torture porn. Having that dinner, having those quiet moments, allows us to connect and care more for characters, and that is a quality that serial killer video games could easily tap into.

There is so much room to create rich characters we feel for in these haunting dramas. There are whole layers of dark intrigue and gripping character dynamics that not only engage with the player on an entertainment basis, but also draw upon sympathy and empathy.

The Great Hunt To Come

I think when it comes to games that revolve around serial killers and slashers, too many keep things safe in presenting stories that only touch upon the aesthetics of gore and violence; like, “Look how crazy this killer is because he rips people’s faces off.” That’s cool and all, but I don’t want to just play around the typical beats of a serial killer narrative – I want to be on edge, uncomfortable, like being in the midst of a manhunt.

A lot of horror games have seen tremendous growth over the years, and such growth is possible for the serial killer/slasher subgenre. There’s plenty of room and need for more action-driven horror flair, but I hope we see developers craft narratives that lean towards somber exploration and uncomfortable emotional impact. Journeys of hell, vengeance, and revenge where we as the player feel sincere anger towards the monster we are trailing.