It's a Scream, baby!
Dusting off the ol' el jay to write my comments about the new "Scream" movie (I don't know why it isn't just called "Scream 5", tbh, because it obviously is)
THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW!!
I've got to say I had been getting pretty excited about this "requel" over the past few weeks - and even did a rewatch of the original four in preparation - and in the most part, I think it kinda delivered.
First of all, I was a little bit disappointed with some of the new, young, characters. I thought there were slightly too many of them and by the end of the movie I'd forgotten some of their names. They just weren't fleshed out that well - I know they probably wanted to increase the possible suspect pool but some of them didn't seem to even do anything. Mindy and Chad (who I just had to look up the names of) were hardly involved after the "rules of requels" speech and his girlfriend who I also just had to look up the name of (apparetly Liv) didn't seem to do anything at all - apart from look a little bit suspcious once and then die. I did like that Mindy and Chad were connected to the events of the original (namely Randy) and seeing their Mum for a little while was good. I just wish they'd done more with the characters but maybe they're saving them for the potential sequel (they survived, right?).
I thought Wes was quite a good character (kinda like Dylan Minnette from other things I've seen him in) so I thought it was a shame that he had to die (along with his mother - who we all know from "Scream 4", nice nod to the lemon squares, btw) but I did think that scene was really well done and having Judy Hicks murdered on her own door step in a nice suburban street in broad daylight was really scary. And the build up to Wes's untimely death was very well done. At one point I even thought he might survive somehow.
Another actor I've liked in other things is Kyle Gallner and I expected him to have a more sizable role in this but he barely had one scene (and hardly any lines) before he was dispatched, and someone mentiond he was connected to the original murders. Was his role originally supposed to be bigger? Did he end up on the cutting room floor? Excuse the pun.
I really liked this washed up version of Dewey and thought the scenes between him and Sam and Richie were good - it was nice to see him trying to help them. It's just a shame he had to die while doing it. I had a feeling one of the original (legacy?) characters wouldn't survive this one and as soon as Dewey told Sidney not to come to Woodsboro (and she agreed that she wouldn't want to go there anyway) I thought it would be him as his death was only thing that would bring her back to Woodsboro and I knew she's end up coming back. Shame he had to go but I guess compared to Sidney and Gale, he was the most expendable.
I loved all the references to the original (and, by extension, "Stab") - which is why can't see this as anything more than "Scream 5", I just can't image anyone that hasn't seen the previous four really knowing all that was happening. From connections to old characters to the final setting in the old Macher house (everytime anyone went to get some beer I was going "don't go there! Tatum died there!") and even scenes from the "Stab" franchise this movie was just so connected to the other four in a way I didn't really expect, to be honest. It almost felt nineties but also kinda modern at the same time which is a really hard balance and I'm glad they pulled it off. Lovely reference to Tatum and Randy with their memorials being shown (in Dewey's place and in the siblings house).
The opening scene was very well done (almost spoilt by the cinema forgetting to turn the lights off. After about ten minutes someone must have gone and told them because they went off) and I actually really liked that she survived. I assume that wasn't intended by the killer(s) as they then came after her in the hospital afterwards. I also like the relationship between Tara and her sister Sam which was obviously strained by previous events. I thought the reveal that Sam was actually Billy Loomis' daughter was interesting - and means she must be around 25 or 26? Which is making me wonder who her mother is. I wonder if that's also something for a potential sequel? It's also fun that she kinda sorta ends up being Sam Loomis.
I thought the big reveal at Stu's old house was really fun. I suspected Amber early on but, to be honest, I suspected everyone at some point. Although, I kinda suspected but then discounted Richie because "it's too obvious if it's the boyfriend" so I guess I fell into the trap. Although, when he started coming down the stairs after Sidney shot him I had a lightbulb moment and said "it's him" but seconds later he revealed himself as the second killer anyway. I thought their motives were very modern but also very "Scream". And the scenes where they tried (and failed. Yay!) to kill Sidney, Gale and Sam were very entertaining and satisfying when they obviously got theirs at the end. Although, I have to say Sam looked like she enjoyed killing Richie a little bit too much but as she said "don't fuck with the daughter of a serial killer!".
I thought Jack Quaid was good - I liked his scenes before he was revealed as one of the the killers (I think he had some of the best lines) and after the reveal he was suitably crazy.
The final scene of the reporters outside the house was very good. And "For Wes" was perfect (I also liked it when they had the party and had the "For Wes" banner up).
I think in my ranking of "Scream" movies it's better than 3 (obviously) and maybe even slightly better than 4. Not as good as 1 or 2 though but definitely a strong addition to the franchise and I'm looking forward to watching it again - and noticing all the little things I missed.
Trailers:
"Unwelcome" - Looked okay but nothing amazing.
"Nightmare Alley" - I actually wrote this down in my phone as a trailer I saw but now thinking about it, I don't remember it at all.
"Jackass Forever" - No interest in this at all. I can't believe they're still making this stuff.
"The Batman" - I'm just so over the whole comic book thing these days. They've oversaturated the market here. Although, I understand why as loads of peope love them.
THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW!!
I've got to say I had been getting pretty excited about this "requel" over the past few weeks - and even did a rewatch of the original four in preparation - and in the most part, I think it kinda delivered.
First of all, I was a little bit disappointed with some of the new, young, characters. I thought there were slightly too many of them and by the end of the movie I'd forgotten some of their names. They just weren't fleshed out that well - I know they probably wanted to increase the possible suspect pool but some of them didn't seem to even do anything. Mindy and Chad (who I just had to look up the names of) were hardly involved after the "rules of requels" speech and his girlfriend who I also just had to look up the name of (apparetly Liv) didn't seem to do anything at all - apart from look a little bit suspcious once and then die. I did like that Mindy and Chad were connected to the events of the original (namely Randy) and seeing their Mum for a little while was good. I just wish they'd done more with the characters but maybe they're saving them for the potential sequel (they survived, right?).
I thought Wes was quite a good character (kinda like Dylan Minnette from other things I've seen him in) so I thought it was a shame that he had to die (along with his mother - who we all know from "Scream 4", nice nod to the lemon squares, btw) but I did think that scene was really well done and having Judy Hicks murdered on her own door step in a nice suburban street in broad daylight was really scary. And the build up to Wes's untimely death was very well done. At one point I even thought he might survive somehow.
Another actor I've liked in other things is Kyle Gallner and I expected him to have a more sizable role in this but he barely had one scene (and hardly any lines) before he was dispatched, and someone mentiond he was connected to the original murders. Was his role originally supposed to be bigger? Did he end up on the cutting room floor? Excuse the pun.
I really liked this washed up version of Dewey and thought the scenes between him and Sam and Richie were good - it was nice to see him trying to help them. It's just a shame he had to die while doing it. I had a feeling one of the original (legacy?) characters wouldn't survive this one and as soon as Dewey told Sidney not to come to Woodsboro (and she agreed that she wouldn't want to go there anyway) I thought it would be him as his death was only thing that would bring her back to Woodsboro and I knew she's end up coming back. Shame he had to go but I guess compared to Sidney and Gale, he was the most expendable.
I loved all the references to the original (and, by extension, "Stab") - which is why can't see this as anything more than "Scream 5", I just can't image anyone that hasn't seen the previous four really knowing all that was happening. From connections to old characters to the final setting in the old Macher house (everytime anyone went to get some beer I was going "don't go there! Tatum died there!") and even scenes from the "Stab" franchise this movie was just so connected to the other four in a way I didn't really expect, to be honest. It almost felt nineties but also kinda modern at the same time which is a really hard balance and I'm glad they pulled it off. Lovely reference to Tatum and Randy with their memorials being shown (in Dewey's place and in the siblings house).
The opening scene was very well done (almost spoilt by the cinema forgetting to turn the lights off. After about ten minutes someone must have gone and told them because they went off) and I actually really liked that she survived. I assume that wasn't intended by the killer(s) as they then came after her in the hospital afterwards. I also like the relationship between Tara and her sister Sam which was obviously strained by previous events. I thought the reveal that Sam was actually Billy Loomis' daughter was interesting - and means she must be around 25 or 26? Which is making me wonder who her mother is. I wonder if that's also something for a potential sequel? It's also fun that she kinda sorta ends up being Sam Loomis.
I thought the big reveal at Stu's old house was really fun. I suspected Amber early on but, to be honest, I suspected everyone at some point. Although, I kinda suspected but then discounted Richie because "it's too obvious if it's the boyfriend" so I guess I fell into the trap. Although, when he started coming down the stairs after Sidney shot him I had a lightbulb moment and said "it's him" but seconds later he revealed himself as the second killer anyway. I thought their motives were very modern but also very "Scream". And the scenes where they tried (and failed. Yay!) to kill Sidney, Gale and Sam were very entertaining and satisfying when they obviously got theirs at the end. Although, I have to say Sam looked like she enjoyed killing Richie a little bit too much but as she said "don't fuck with the daughter of a serial killer!".
I thought Jack Quaid was good - I liked his scenes before he was revealed as one of the the killers (I think he had some of the best lines) and after the reveal he was suitably crazy.
The final scene of the reporters outside the house was very good. And "For Wes" was perfect (I also liked it when they had the party and had the "For Wes" banner up).
I think in my ranking of "Scream" movies it's better than 3 (obviously) and maybe even slightly better than 4. Not as good as 1 or 2 though but definitely a strong addition to the franchise and I'm looking forward to watching it again - and noticing all the little things I missed.
Trailers:
"Unwelcome" - Looked okay but nothing amazing.
"Nightmare Alley" - I actually wrote this down in my phone as a trailer I saw but now thinking about it, I don't remember it at all.
"Jackass Forever" - No interest in this at all. I can't believe they're still making this stuff.
"The Batman" - I'm just so over the whole comic book thing these days. They've oversaturated the market here. Although, I understand why as loads of peope love them.