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Scream 4 - Blu-ray Anchor Bay Entertainment - 2011 Directed by Wes Craven |
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In terms of this film, I'd rate it second best in the Ghost Face franchise, which is remarkable and not common for a sequel. SCREAM 4 moves with incredible pacing (like the first film did), which you have to attribute to Williamson, Craven and Editor Peter McNulty. The dialogue comes fast and furious with all sorts of witty commentary on horror films and all these characters and their situations. It has some humor but to tell you the truth, SCREAM 4 is very bloody, in fact it maybe the most vicious movie I've seen released this year. Sidney Prescott returns to Woodsboro after ten years as she is on a publicity tour to promote her book. Shortly after she arrives Ghost Face begins killing students from the high school. Sidney, Dewey and Gale unite to stop the murders, but not before having to learn from a new generation the "New Rules" of surviving horror films.
The look of this movie is stunning with Peter Deming's cinematography providing startling rich clear picture that is retained on this pristine Blu-ray. Neve Campbell looks as good as ever. I really liked her performance and her character's reactions to what happens in SCREAM 4. Courteney Cox is the fire to Campbell's water and she helps re-ignite the whole media frenzy-aspect of this continuing storyline. She also helps make David Arquette's Dewey character so memorable. Their give and take, which I believe is to be amped by their real-life relationship, is one that makes the SCREAM movies more than just slasher movies. The new cast members are wide-ranging assortment of good looking actors that bring a savvy coolness to the whole proceeding. Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Alison Brie are quite memorable in their roles. Roberts acting talent certainly was helped from her genes (she's the daughter of Eric Roberts) but she brings qualities to the role rarely seen by such a young actress. Panettiere shreds some of the softness to be a sort of hard edge (almost butchy) horror geek. Allison Brie comes across as a spoiled rotten media agent, sort of a female "Arie Gold." The guys are a mix of tough guys and horror geeks and I give credit for casting Rory Culkin, Erik Knudson and Nico Tortorella. The film's opening was a telling modernization of today's hip kids mixed with almost a nightmare on top of a nightmare, on top of a nightmare. The Special Features include an Audio Commentary by Craven, Cast Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere and Neve Campbell (via phone). It's pretty normal conversation about how they liked working with each other with the young actors having trouble keeping their excitement under wraps, while Craven and Campbell bring more mature thoughtful perspectives. Deleted and Extended Scenes - include some stuff that wasn't really necessary or worth keeping which isn't a surprise. What is worth seeing is the Alternate Opening and Extended Ending. The Gag Reel is worth a few laughs and the 10-minute Making of Scream 4 is pretty standard stuff. As a fan of the SCREAM series I can tell you I was surprised at how much I liked the latest installment. Some of you will be reluctant to see SCREAM 4 because of what you'd expect by a film with a 4 behind the title and maybe even because of some critical responses you might have heard. But I say you'd be wrong not to see it. It's way better than you'd think and nowhere near bad as some of the critics have said. www.anchorbayentertainment.com
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