Scream

Scream 1996 Directed by Wes Craven 112 minutes  Anamorphic 35mm Beginning with Drew Barrymore killing the opening sequence and ending with Neve Campbell obliterating the cliches of the final girl, Scream rightfully earns its spot as one of the best of the genre. The heightened self awareness along with the various genre conventions work together seamlessly. Using comedy and irony to weave intertextuality throughout the movie, it’s paying homage to the trailblazing films it is inspired by, while also expanding on the genre in its own unique way. This film leans into irony, while staying suspenseful throughout. Through tracking/pov shots, sound/soundtrack, suspenseful cuts, and gruesome and gory visuals, the film is still at its core, scary. The comedic bits almost contribute this as it creates a feeling of awareness in the characters. They are blatantly aware of the situation that’s been constructed around them, yet they are unable to refrain themselves from actively participating in their own personal scary movie. It’s a self-aware slasher that deconstructs certain horror movie tropes through both humor and dreadful horror. A meta commentary on the exaggerated depiction of violence in the media if you will.   (This sht was so insanely ahead of its time in every way Wes Craven is the master of the horror genre. Motives are incidental and Billy and Stu are gay lovers. Drew Barrymore’s bob alone made this a masterpiece before the film even starts. This sht is goofy asf. Invented the genre, everyone else should stop trying.) Personally: 5/5 Realistically: 4/5