Scream 2 (1997)

★★★
Scream 2 continues the premise of the original film and adds to it by featuring characters who not only know they're in a horror movie but also know that they are in a sequel to a horror movie. As Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy), the resident horror movie buff, helpfully explains to former deputy Dewey Riley (David Arquette), there are rules to follow regarding the body count, level of violence and suspects. Kevin Williamson returns as the screenwriter, and he has no shortage of ideas to explore in this sequel, which is amazing considering that he was a busy man during this time. In addition to this, he wrote 1997's I Know What You Did Last Summer and created Dawson's Creek, which premiered in early 1998. This time around, he toys with the conventions of slasher movie sequels and our expectations for them. The result is a movie that doesn't match its predecessor's originality but does feature a worthy mystery and engaging cast.

One year after the Woodsboro slayings, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is off to college but still coping with the mental stress of her deadly ordeal with former boyfriend Billy Loomis. Opportunistic reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) wrote a book about the incident, which was then turned into a movie called Stab. The opening sequence takes place at a Stab premiere, where two students (played by Jada Pinkett Smith and Omar Epps) are killed. Their link to the main cast isn't obvious, but it will become apparent as the story progresses. A copycat killer is on the loose, and much of the film involves Sidney's attempts to stay safe while Randy, Dewey and Gale try to uncover the killer's identity and motive. Sidney's new boyfriend Derek (Jerry O'Connell) tries to offer support, but she wants to stay distant due to her prior experience. Our own experience with the first movie invites us to consider the possibility that Derek is guilty.

That's part of what makes this sequel such a worthy follow up. Once again Williamson and director Wes Craven have fun with horror movie clichés. In addition to Randy's checklist, we have an empty house, deserted streets, odd noises, false alarms and misdirection, but Williamson incorporates two other elements that add to the screenplay's depth. First, there is former convict Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber), who forgives Sidney for her accusation but seeks an interview with Diane Sawyer and hopes for Sidney's participation. From what we can gather, he needs the money. He's either milking his 15 minutes of fame or is unemployable despite his innocence. Second, there's some discussion on the effects of horror movies on viewers. Does onscreen violence inspire imitators? It's been known to happen, but in Scream 2, is that what drives the killer or a possible defense to place the blame elsewhere?

After the theater killings, tabloid reporters swarm the campus to get interviews with Sidney. Gale is still out looking for a story, but this time she gets to see the other side of it when nosey reporter Debbie Salt (Laurie Metcalf) says she's an admirer and gets on her nerves. Campus parties serve as cover for the new Ghostface, and there's a discussion in a film class covering sequels and how sometimes they are better than the original. Aliens and The Godfather Part II get their recognition, but someone tosses in the obscure House II: The Second Story as a candidate (I saw that in the theater, and it isn't better than the original). Sidney says sequels suck. Wink and a nod. The franchise's influence was just getting started. Within a few years of Scream's release, Hollywood started churning out horror movies with similar marketing down to the posters that featured the cast members with ominous looks on their faces (Urban Legend, Phantoms, Final Destination to name a few).

The script was leaked to the internet. I didn't hear about it until either just before the movie's release or just after, so for me the leak did nothing. I wouldn't have even known where to look. Was it on Usenet? I was a college student at the time as well, so I had little time to search for such things. Still, Kevin Williamson modified the identity of the killer or killers and other plot points. I don't know how the original story would have unfolded, but I still like this final product. Scream 2 is tense when it needs to be and funny at the right moments. (I liked Derek's serenade in the dining commons.) There was one shocking scene that took everyone off guard. Alas, Ghostface's ability to disappear without someone seeing him slip away grew a little tiresome. The big three horror franchises of the '80s all had inferior part twos. Wes Craven's second installment keeps the franchise afloat and humming along smoothly.

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