Scream 4 (2011)
Brief review: In this fourth installment of the 'Scream' franchise, Ghostface returns for Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together after many years, and is now an author of a self-help book. Although it plays out like a remake of its predecessors, "Scream 4" never feels new or refreshing, as instead of taking the franchise to another level, director Wes Craven uses the same tired plot formula and the same old twist gimmicks, and as a result, this third sequel offers nothing, but more of the same. The kills themselves are graphic and gory, yet too standard, and devoid of imagination or originality. On a positive note, "Scre4m" has its moments of nail-biting suspense and intensity, and its keeps you guessing who the killer is till the very end, and yet the conclusion, though unpredictable, is so hardly believable, it ends up being more ridiculous than shocking. Craven's direction is typically solid, and the editing is polished enough, but other than that, the movie can't boast with other technical qualities. The acting ranges from decent to mediocre, with Neve Campbell being dull and overly serious as she always is, and the beautiful Emma Roberts being the only real standout. Courteney Cox also delivers, though her screen time is very limited.
Overall summary: Passably watchable and mildly funny, yet too old-fashioned, somewhat pointless, not particularly scary and utterly ineffective, "Scre4am" ends up being nothing more than just another mediocre entry into to the extremely overrated "Scream" franchise.
Overall summary: Passably watchable and mildly funny, yet too old-fashioned, somewhat pointless, not particularly scary and utterly ineffective, "Scre4am" ends up being nothing more than just another mediocre entry into to the extremely overrated "Scream" franchise.
14 comments:
I keep seeing mediocre to bad reviews for this and now I'm not sure I want to see it. :) I am a Wes Craven fan and loved, loved the first one so I guess I feel like I should. Even though I did not like the subsequent sequels.
I have never been a big fan of Neve's. I thought she was bad in the first film and have only seen her in a half a dozen projects since the original Scream. Two of those were the sequels, which kept spiraling lower and lower.
The thing that gets me about the franchise is why do these people want to kill Sydney? The first one made sense, but the last two and this one, from your writing, did not make sense. I wish she would have bought in the first one.
Excellent, razor sharp review as always my friend. ;)
I didn't think it was so bad.
Yeah, I've only read negative reviews of this movie. Doesn't seem to revive the refreshing and daring fun of the first Scream. A big disappointment, so much so, I'll probably pass on a Netflix viewing.
looks like Scre4m is splitting the audience into the ones that love it and the ones that find it rather mediocre.
Next week it arrives in Austrian cinemas. I'm very excited although I have to admit that the trailer didn't impress me at all
I don't mind mediocre films either. Sometimes they're more fun than the 'good' ones ;) Not a fan of Wes, nor his "Scream" movies... I thought the first film was just okay, and the other 3 mediocre at best.
Mel, Neve was terrible - she was so stiff and emotionless, it was laughable. :)
As I said No.4 plays out like a remake of the previous films, so I guess that should make sense :)
Thanks, sweetheart. You know how important your opinion is to me :)
LoneIslander, well, I did.
Matty, I've had a love/hate 'relationship' with this one, but at the end of the day, I hated it more than I liked it. Didn't love the first "Scream" either. I found it to be nothing special and extremely overrated.
Maynard, if you liked the previous three films, you're gonna love this one as well. I hated all four installments. Well, not exactly hated them, but didn't find anything great about them.
I haven't really read any positive reviews but I still find myself wanting to watch it. I don't know why. I think its due to my initial fear of the original Scream. I think I will still have to see this one.
Nicole, and I haven't read any negative reviews for it over at blogsphere. I thought everybody liked it, except me :) I didn't like the original "Scream" either, so I kinda expected this sequel to sucks.
As long as it's better than 'My Soul To Take', I'm satisfied :)
oh man...how could you not like the original scream? great reinvigoration of the genre.
Maynard, OMG, My Soul To Take was dreadful, wasn't it? :) Believe me, it's way better than Craven's crappy 3D teen slasher.
-E-, sorry, dude, I hated all four films. I don't find anything special about them. S4 was mediocre at best, nothing more, nothing less.
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