Someone has taken their love of trilogies one step too far.|Feb. 03, 2000|United States|116 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Drama;Horror;Mystery;Violence(Slasher)
Description: Scream 3, released in 2000, is a film that continues the legacy of its predecessors in the Scream series. The original Scream, a 1996 American satirical slasher film directed by Wes Craven, was written by Kevin Williamson. It features a star-studded cast including David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore. The story revolves around Sidney Prescott, a high school student in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, who becomes the target of a mysterious killer known as Ghostface. The film cleverly blends black comedy, mystery, and slasher elements while mocking the clichés of the genre, inspired by films like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Scream was notable for its self-awareness and characters who were familiar with real-world horror films, openly discussing and subverting genre clichés. Inspired by the real-life Gainesville Ripper case, the film drew from Williamson’s deep appreciation for horror, particularly Halloween. Initially titled Scary Movie, the screenplay was acquired by Dimension Films and renamed by the Weinstein brothers shortly before production concluded. Despite facing censorship challenges and local opposition during filming, the movie garnered positive reviews and achieved significant financial success, grossing $173 million worldwide and holding the title of the highest-grossing slasher film for years.
The film’s soundtrack by Marco Beltrami was highly praised, with critics calling it one of the most compelling horror scores in years. It has since gained a cult following. Scream also marked a shift in the genre by casting well-established actors, which helped attract a broader audience, including a large number of female viewers. The film is credited with reviving the slasher genre in the 1990s, which had been in decline due to an oversaturation of direct-to-video releases and unremarkable sequels to classic horror franchises. Scream’s success led to a series of sequels, with Scream 2 being the only one to match its predecessor’s critical and commercial acclaim.
Cast director: Wes Craven
Cast actor: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Wes Craven, Patrick Dempsey, Parker Posey, Scott Foley, Emily Mortimer, Deon Richmond, Lance Henriksen
Original name: Scream 3