'Scream 4' - The 'Scream' series of films have become modern classics

Too much of a good thing is never a good thing.Unless you're Wes Craven, in which case it's not enough. That's the point he and screenwriter Kevin Williamson seem to be driving home with "Scream 4," the latest installment in the self-aware horror franchise that hasn't seen a new offering in 10 years. Until now, with a fast-starting film that quickly piles meta, self-referential elements on top of each other until the whole thing collapses under the weight of its own coolness.

While there's some fun to be had in seeing the older, not necessarily wiser, characters from the earlier films trying to escape the Ghostface killer's blade, most of the movie is an exercise in horror-movie cliches -- which we are supposed to forgive, and even enjoy, because the film and the people in it know this.

That's the hallmark of the "Scream" movies, right? There are rules, we are constantly reminded. It was an original notion in the first film, but -- and we are reminded of this several times, as well -- the rules have changed. Evidently that means upping the gore ante while sacrificing genuine scares.


The film starts out in promising fashion, with another trademark opening scene. Or scenes, actually, a film within a film within a film that includes Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell, among others, playing off both "Scream" and "Stab," the movie series within the movie inspired by the "real" events. It's fun, it's somewhat surprising and scary and gets across in about 10 minutes what Craven spends the rest of the film trying to impart, without as much success.


It's been 10 years since the killings, and perpetual victim Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has written a book about her experiences. For the last stop on her promotional tour, she returns to Woodsboro, the scene of the original crimes. Everyone in town remembers the killings, of course -- thanks to the "Stab" film franchise, based on books by former reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox).


Gale is married to Dewey Riley (David Arquette), now the town sheriff and, if possible, dumber than before. Unfortunately for him, once Sidney gets back to town, the killings start all over again. This time the young, pretty teens with "potential victims" all but written on their foreheads include Kirby (Hayden Panettiere), Olivia (Marielle Jaffe) and Jill (Emma Roberts) -- Sidney's cousin. The creepy phone calls, the horror-movie references and the growing pile of bodies mean no one is safe. Again.


This time around, Craven and Williamson have added some preaching about the perils of cheaply won fame, and tossed in a little social media, as well.
Ultimately "Scream 4" comes off as more self-satisfied than self-reflexive, which turns out to be less satisfying than you' would hope.
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