Someone has taken their love of scary movies one step too far.|Dec. 20, 1996|United States|112 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Horror;Mystery;Violence(Slasher)
Description: **Scream (1996) Overview**
**Storyline:**
Scream, released in 1996, is an American satirical slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The movie features a star-studded cast, including David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore. Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, the plot centers around Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), a high school student who becomes the target of a masked killer known as Ghostface.
The film cleverly blends black comedy, “whodunit” mystery, and slasher violence to poke fun at the clichés of the horror genre, particularly those seen in earlier films like Halloween (1978), Friday the 13th (1980), and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
Unique for its time, Scream features characters who are aware of real-world horror films and openly discuss the tropes the movie aims to subvert.
Inspired by the real-life Gainesville Ripper case, the screenplay, initially titled *Scary Movie*, was acquired by Dimension Films and renamed just before production wrapped. Despite facing censorship challenges from the Motion Picture Association of America and local opposition during filming, Scream was both a critical and commercial success. It grossed $173 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing slasher film until the release of Halloween (2018).
The film’s success revitalized the slasher genre in the 1990s, which had been declining due to repetitive sequels and direct-to-video releases. Scream’s innovative approach, combined with its cast of established actors, attracted a broad audience, including a significant number of female viewers.
Marco Beltrami’s soundtrack was widely praised, described as one of the most intriguing horror scores in years and later achieving cult status. The film’s impact led to a series of sequels, with Scream 2 (1997) being the only one to match its predecessor’s commercial and critical acclaim.
Scream remains a landmark in horror cinema, celebrated for its meta-commentary and lasting influence on the genre.
Cast director: Wes Craven
Cast actor: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Jamie Kennedy, Drew Barrymore, W. Earl Brown, Joseph Whipp
Original name: Scream