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SCREAM 3 - 2000
Konrad Pictures / Dimension Films
Rated: U.K.: 18 / USA : R |
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Review by
E.C.McMullen
Jr. |
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SHOULD YOU?
TIP JAR
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THE ABANDONED aka BLOODLINE - 2006
Castelao Producciones / Filmmax International / Filmstudio Bojana / Future Films Ltd. / Radiovision / After Dark Films / Lionsgate
Rated: USA: R |
Like its predecessors, SCREAM 3 is a tongue-in-cheek horror flick with a dark sense of humor. And, as
usual, the character Randy (Jamie Kennedy: SCREAM movies, ENEMY OF THE STATE) delivers "the rules" that
set up the clichés that follow all horror flicks and serve to set
up the Scream franchise as a sort of self-parody. Once "the rules"
are delivered, we soon find the plot of the film closely follows those
rules.
But this movie fulfills another rule in Hollywood trilogies: sequels suck, but
the third film typically makes up for it. There are a few exceptions,
but in this case it holds water.
Sidney Prescott (Neve
Cambell: SCREAM) has moved into hiding since the last flick, living in a house out in the
woods that is set up with burglar alarms and extra security. When horror
film producer John Milton (Lance Henriksen: TERMINATOR, ALIENS, NEAR DARK) sets out to make Stab 3 based on Sidney's past, the ghost-faced
killer makes a reappearance, drawing Sidney out of hiding. She soon finds
that the current string of murders are related to her mother's mysterous past.
Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber: SPHERE, PHANTOMS), who now has his own talk show and has landed a cameo in Stab 3, is the first to die, leaving little doubt that the new killer somehow has ties to Woodsboro. Gale Weathers (Courteney
Cox: SCREAM) has moved on
to become a bigtime L.A. journalist, and travels to Hollywood to follow
the murders and spotlight them for her new show. Dewey Riley (David
Arquette: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, SCREAM, RAVENOUS),
unable to serve as a police officer due to events in the previous two
films, serves as a technical advisor for Stab 3 and has a relationship
with Stab 3's "Gale Weathers", Jennifer (Parker Posey: DEAD CONNECTION, AMATEUR).
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Throw in the remainder of the Stab 3 cast (including Playboy Playmate Jenny McCarthy), movie buff/homicide detective Kincaid
(Patrick Dempsey: OUTBREAK), and ambitious director Roman Bridger (TV teen drama vet Scott Foley), and you've got a cast of suspects. Unfortunately, Feo will have to add a racial cliché alert at this point in the review:
former Cosby Show actor Deon Richmond has few lines and, of course, dies.
Though Kevin Williamson Kevin Smith (I
KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, THE FACULTY) created the Scream franchise as a trilogy and wrote the first two, this one was written by Ehren Kruger
(IMPOSTOR). Once again, legendary
Wes Craven Director Wes Craven (DEADLY BLESSING, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, - do I really need to go on???) directs.
The plot is predictable, and the action is similar to what you've seen in
the first two flicks, but at least they keep you guessing (somewhat
anyway) as to who the killer could be. There is no doubt, however,
as to the relationship between the killer and Sidney. There is more humor
in this one, and though you see a lot of things coming, the thrills are
fairly good and at least try to be somewhat more than a simple stabbing.
My only real beef was with the new killer's voice recorder: he has everyone's
voice, from the main characters to Sidney's dead mother. How is this possible?
Kruger injected a lot of humor into this one, and there are some great cameo appearances.
Look for Carrie Fisher (if you don't know she was
Princess Leia, you've been in a coma the past twenty years) as
a bitter ex-B movie actress and DOGMA's Jay and Silent Bob (played
by Jay Mews and Kevin Smith, respectively) to deliver some of the
brevity.
Not a bad
flick when taking into account the whole trilogy and understanding that
it was meant to parody the stereotype of the traditional horror franchises.
I give it three shriek girls.
This review
copyright 2000 E.C.McMullen Jr.
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