Ciao members must now be realising I am somewhat of a Wes Craven fan. Scream 2 (1997) is the second part of an enjoyable, memorable, modern horror trilogy - directed by Wes Craven (US).
In this sequel to the 1996 classic Scream 1, a masked killer returns to get stab happy in copycat fashion. It has been two years since the events at Woodsboro and the surprising discovery of the original Killers identity. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and film nut Randy (Jamie Kennedy) are both students at the same prestigeous College, and are trying to get over the horrific events in which many of their friends died. Cotton Weary (now cleared of murdering Maureen Prescott) is out of prison, and is trying to cash in on his story. Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) has written a bestselling novel, "The Woodsboro Murders," which, like all US melodramas has been turned into a film, "Stab". As the film's play date approaches, two black film goers are murdered in a cinema screening of Stab in grisly fashion and Detective Dufus - complete with leg swapping limp - flies out of Woodsboro to try to protect Sidney as it soon appears the police have a Woodsboro copycat on their hands. And you guessed it he wants to finish what the original killer started and kill Sydney! (Aint life full of surprises)
In no way will Scream 2 ever surpass the classic Drew Barrymore opening of the original, however this film is querky, violent and very much tongue in cheek. The dialogue is, in parts a little cheesy but constant references to Courtney Cox's 'Friends' co-stars, and the ever crazy ramblings from wannabe psycho Randy, only make this film better.
The original cast returns - the wonderful Neve Campbell as Sydney, Courtney Cox as Gail Weathers and of course the apparently superhuman Detective Dufus - who survives getting stabbed AGAIN!
This film, though entertaining and elaborate in meaning does not display as many surprises as the original. With Scream 1 you felt that Wes Craven deliberately hid the masked killer from his actors in order to get the right reactions from them, with Scream 2 it seems the act has been done before only adding to the copycat feeling. The scenes however are original, Wes Craven likens Sydney's character and the films action to greek tragedy - a fantastic scene featuring Sydney in a theatre surrounded by drama classmates in greek masks (one of which is the killer who appears suddenly) really gets an audience thinking, is Sydney making herself a victim by dwelling on the past.
The ending is very unpredictable, though the identity of the killer is again (subtly) revealed earlier on - in Billy Lumous style. Though this can be a little frustrating, the tension builds as you wait to learn if you are right. But there is always one more surprise left. As usual, there is a bloodbath culmination - Gail (to rapturous applause from my sofa) finally gets injured.
At a running time of 120 minutes, this film does take some time to get going, but when it does - let the blood flow. As usual, at a certificate 18 this film does not let off the violence, in fact the body count goes up. Definately not one for children, or to watch alone in a creaky house.
Though I enjoyed Scream 2 hold no false illusions - it is not and will never be better than its predecessor. Scream fans won't be dissapointed if they keep an open mind.
Check it out if "Creep" is on loan
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Production Year: 1982 - Horror - Director: Tommy Lee Wallace - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dan O'Herlihy
Fully aware of its status as the sequel to the surprise hit thriller of 1996, this lively ... more
follow-up trades freshness for familiarity, playing on our affection for returning characters while obeying--and then subverting--the "rules" of sequels. Once aga...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Fully aware of its status as the sequel to the surprise hit thriller of 1996, this lively ... more
follow-up trades freshness for familiarity, playing on our affection for returning characters while obeying--and then subverting--the "rules" of sequels. Once aga...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Wes Craven once again teams up with Kevin Williamson in this hip fun and relentlessly ... more
scary follow-up to the hit thriller Scream! Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) thought she had put the shocking Woodsboro murders behind her... until a crazed copycat ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Master director Wes Craven ('Scream', 'Wishmaster') once again teams up with Kevin ... more
Williamson (writer of 'Scream', 'I Know What You Did Last Summer') in this hip, fun and relentlessly scary follow-up to the hit thriller 'Scream'!Sidney Prescott (Neve C...
Advantages: Another good script, filled with comical moments Disadvantages: If you've scene Scary Movie, you wont be able to watch the opening ten minutes with a straight face!
1drunkbrit 24.09.2001 (24.09.2001)
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Review of Scream 2 (DVD)
![Scream 2 [DVD] [1998]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78550360.jpg "Scream 2 [DVD] [1998]")
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