Blu-Ray Review: First Three ‘Scream’ Movies Prepare You For ‘Scream 4’

CHICAGO – Wes Craven’s “Scream” is one of the most influential horror films of all time. And it’s one of the best of its era. The film has held up remarkably well in the fifteen years since it was released and is a must-own for fans of the genre, especially with an extras-laden Blu-ray release timed to coincide with the upcoming April 15th release of “Scream 4.” The sequels are inferior but more worthwhile than average horror sequels. Why not own ‘em all?

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

When “Scream” hit theaters during the holiday season of 1996, it reinvigorated the very-stale-at-the-time horror genre by not only grossing a stunning $103 million during a time when most people were at Christmas parties but earning many rave reviews, not common in horror at the time. A critically-received horror movie that crossed over to the masses as well? Wes Craven’s “People Under the Stairs” and “Serpent and the Rainbow” had genre success but they didn’t cross over like “Scream.” This was a phenomenon.

Scream was released on Blu-Ray on March 29th, 2011
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

As with all phenomena, one was not enough and “Scream 2” hit the next year (arguably starting the trend of horror sequels that become annual events a la “Saw” and “Paranormal Activity”) and “Scream 3” followed in 2000. The second film is generally seen as one of the better horror sequels and the third is generally seen as a mess. That’s half right. “Scream 2” is quite good, especially for a second part with less than 12 months since the first one, and “Scream 3” is definitely lesser than the first two films but it’s not as bad as you remember. It has its moments. Enough of them that if you’re going to own parts one and two, you might as well finish the collection.

The marathon of “Scream” films that you can now have before seeing “Scream 4” will look pretty great in HD and sound great in DTS-HD Master Audio but it would have been nice to have a more impressive collection like a box set or a new special feature looking back at one of the more notable series of the late ’90s. These are definitely worth getting, but could have been more remarkable. Kind of like “Scream 3.” Hopefully, “Scream 4” can start the series again on a quality note and these films (at least the first two) can find a new audience.

Scream 2 was released on Blu-Ray on March 29th, 2011 Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Special Features - “Scream”
o Audio Commentary by Director Wes Craven and Writer Kevin Williamson
o Production Featurette
o Behind the Scenes: “On the Scream Set” and “Drew Barrymore”
o Q & A with the Cast and Crew
o Theatrical Trailer
o TV Spots

Special Features - “Scream 2”
o Audio Commentary by Director Wes Craven, Producer Marianne Maddalena, and Editor Patrick Lussier
o Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary by Director Wes Craven, Producer Marianne Maddalena, and Editor Patrick Lussier
o Outtakes
o Featurette
o Theatrical Trailer
o TV Spots

Special Features - “Scream 3”
o Audio Commentary by Director Wes Craven, Producer Marianne Maddalena, and Editor Patrick Lussier
o Deleted Scenes and Alternate Ending with Optional Audio Commentary by Director Wes Craven, Producer Marianne Maddalena, and Editor Patrick Lussier
o Outtakes
o Behind-the-Scenes Montage
o Theatrical Trailer
o TV Spots

[19]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [20] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [19]