Review of Scream 3 (2000) by James S — 23 Mar 2013
Like many horror series, the Scream films have diminished in scares along the way but unlike some of their peers, they haven't really dipped in their entertainment value. Scream 3 may not pack as many, if any, frightening moments as its predecessors but as a concluding chapter in the trilogy, it is a very enjoyable film.
This time, the killer's hunt for Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott takes in the production of Stab 3, as the movie in making becomes the movie within the movie of the movie that we're watching. Or something along those lines.
The Hollywood setting allows for a new batch of more grown up characters to become the knife fodder this time as well as the returning Courtney Cox and David Arquette. It also allows for plenty of in-movie jokes and the sound stage setting makes for a particularly great chase scene between Sidney and the killer which cleverly echos events of the first Scream film.
Scream 3 doesn't quite have the whodunnit element that te first two had, partly because the list of potential killers doesn't seem quite as plausible but it still works as a good mystery and the reveal of the killer definitely does not disappoint as it did slightly in the second Scream movie. It's a revelation that ties the series together in a believable manner and should satisfy any Scream fan.
The cast are all fine for the movie that they're in. The Cox and Arquette show try to steal the majority of screen time but it's Campbell's rock solid portrayal of Sidney Prescott once more which anchors the film while the other two play it like they're in Scooby Doo. Emily Mortimer is a notable newcomer to the series while Parker Posey's Jennifer, the actress assigned with playing Cox's character Gale in the movie provides some good humourous moments.
The first Scream movie was about doing something new with the horror genre and scaring the crap out of us. The second was proving that a sequel didn't need to suck while the third is just about the fun factor. Which it is......not scary, but damn good fun.
This review of Scream 3 (2000) was written by James S on 23 Mar 2013.
Scream 3 has generally received mixed reviews.
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