JD’s review published on Letterboxd:
I decided to complete another horror franchise with the four films of meta-slasher Scream. I've already seen the first a couple of times but still wanted to watch it again.
The first film follows a group of people as they try to solve a series of murders in the sleepy little town of Woodsboro by the mysterious Ghostface.
From the incredible opening to the still amazing final act, the first Scream is an excellent take on the slasher films. Kevin Williamson's writing packs dark humour with a at the time revolutionary whodunnit mystery that exploits the many tropes of the subgenre. Characters, especially Sidney (Neve Campbell) and Gale (Courtney Cox), are brilliantly written as are their arcs.
Campbell and Cox deliver standout performances as Sidney and Gale. David Arquette is also on fantastic form as Dewey. Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, W. Earl Brown, Drew Barrymore, Liev Schreiber, Joseph Whipp and Henry Wrinkler provide great support.
Director Wes Craven and cinematographer Mark Irwin deliver some very tense sequences. The entire first scene is a masterclass of visual filmmaking as it just follows Casey (Barrymore) around before it escalates.
Final thought: Just a great take on slasher films. Very excited to explore the others now.
