Scream (1996)

Please note: I'm rating the release, not the movie (which is a favorite of mine).

Save your money and wait for a complete, uncensored release, preferably with some new bonus material.

***SPOILER WARNING***

I broke down and picked this up because Amazon had it on sale for $6. Though not perfect, the picture quality is good/very good. The sound, on the other hand, is fantastic one of the best DTS-MA tracks I've heard on blu-ray. However, despite all the audio and visual goodness on display, the admittedly small edits to achieve the "R" rating are annoying. The tone of the film changes subtly as a result.

The slow-mo zoom at the end of the opening scene is far more effective than when sped up. A snipped second here and there in a number of other death scenes make them seem cartoonish and sanitized. Two characters appear to repeatedly stab each other with little consequence.

If Scream were released today, it would surely receive an "R" in its uncut form. Compared to the likes of Saw and Hostel, the on-screen violence is positively restrained. Lionsgate dropped the ball on this one. Please don't wait another 15 years to fix it.

Finally we get all the SCREAM films on blu ray and here we have the first and best that was hugely original and put a much needed original kick in the horror movie genre. We all know the story and we also know that when an older classic film comes out on a blu ray transfer it is really important to find out the quality and if the transfer succeeded. I was thrilled when I popped this movie into my blu ray player and was itching to see the infamous opening scene with Drew Barrymore. Sadly it was a huge disappointment. The audio was great but the video totally lacked clarity and seemed blury and overly grainy. For me the full effect of the scene was lost. Luckily when we get to the next scene with Neve Campbell at her computer the video had hugely improved. The picture was pretty crisp, colors were vibrant, flesh tones realistic and I was then impressed. Throughout the rest of the movie the video quality gets about a B. The dark scenes work well. Black and white ratio is clean and the colors do blend in well. The graininess after the opening scene is there on purpose and looks fine. When the villian dashes in and out of the picture the black and white of the costume looks great. But the part of the movie that is a truly huge improvement over the dvd is the audio. The DTS HD Master 5.1 audio track uses all surround speakers to full effect. Dialogue is crisp and you will be jumping out of your seat in all the right moments. The track is perfect for this classic horror movie and shines. The soundtrack blends in with all the films sounds perfectly.

But the video is where opinions will clash. For me the upgrade to blu ray is much better than my dvd version. I never liked the dvd presentations and the blu ray is in a 1080p enhanced widescreen which makes viewing the film better. There is some fine detail but the picture overall just does not POP like a quality blu ray does. I think when most people watch a blu ray they want that crispness and clarity that just makes it far surpass the dvd. It can become almost like you are in the movie. I think people forget the film is 15 years old and overall the picture is acceptable but the poor quality of the opening scene just leaves it lacking for me. When the movie is offered on blu ray at a steal price which Amazon seems to be doing now it is definitely worth a buy but if you are pretty satisfied with a dvd version you own I would think before purchasing it at full price.

Buy Scream (1996) Now

The writing behind the film is excellent, the idea of teens imitating the movies with more twists than twister. An action packed slasher movie with mystery behind it all no imortal killer just messed up teenagers. It was impossible to guess who done the murders from the begining, you may think you know who is doing the killings then somthing happens and turns your eye to someone else. Overall a fantastic beginning to the best horror trilogy around. The DVD has a few interesting special features, go for this special edition rather than the standard DVD.

Read Best Reviews of Scream (1996) Here

The town of Woodsboro is being haunted by a series of brutal murders. But the focus seems to be Sidney Prescott (Never Campbell). But this isn't your normal serial killer. Instead, the killer has been influenced by the horror movies he or she has watched over the years. Disguised with a Ghostface mask, the killer calls and daunts the victim before arriving to slice and dice.

While most of the high school takes it as a joke, Sidney is taking it seriously. But who around her might be the killer. Maybe it's reporter Gail Weathers (Courtney Cox) looking for her next story. What about film geek Randy (Jamie Kennedy). Boyfriend Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) is a suspect, so that makes him innocent, right? Then again, any of these people might become the next victim. Will knowing the rules of the horror genre help them make it out alive?

Okay, so this is so NOT my normal genre of film. And yes, it definitely earns its R rating with brutal violence and horrid language. But I have always had a fascination with the genre, so when this movie became a surprise hit, I wound up checking it out. And the mystery fan in me loved it. The clues and red herrings are everywhere. However, the jump factor had me going from the start as well. Yes, I jump quite easily. My roommate used to laugh at me watching this film, in fact.

The thing that sets this apart from other slasher films is that we actually do get to know some of the victims before they die. These aren't just the stock characters you'd normally find, but real people.

Okay, so the other thing that set it apart is the humor. These characters know they are in a horror fan and talk about how to make it out alive. Of course, convention is thrown on its head (at times). But that wink at the audience as it attempts to scare us silly adds to the fun.

While most slasher movies still don't entertain me, I keep coming back and watching this franchise. If you want your scares with a post modern edge, this is the place to turn.

Want Scream (1996) Discount?

I'm sure in this day and age it's appropriate to give "Scream" less than 5 stars. Plenty of folks will say how "unoriginal" the movie is, or how it's just a rip-off of a bunch of 80's flicks......and I say Bull***t.

"Scream" jump started the horror movie genre in the 1990's. Without "Scream" we woudn't have flicks like "I Know Whay You Did Last Summer" or "Urban Legend". Without "Scream" we might not have "Inside" or "Martyrs". Sure "Scream" ushered in the 90's version of slasher flickes, but it also ushered in an era of self referential horror films. Wes Craven was able to poke fun of the genre he helped create....and the "Scream" audience was in on the joke.

So many horror films since "Scream" have come to rely on the horror converntions set forth in "Scream" that it actually feels original.

"Scream" is meant to be fun, the cast, and the soundtrack both indicate that this is a fun film, not to be taken too seriously. If you've seen "Terror Train" or "Prom Night" or "Hell Night" than you are the target audience for "Scream", as an homage to 80's horror, you won't find a better film. It plays on the viewer's recollection of Jamie Lee Curtis' early film work, and updating the horror genre beyond what is found in the latest "Halloween". If you are a fan of 80's horror this is a must see.

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