Writer: Thomas Ng Jun Tong

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: “Saw”, “Prom Night ”, “Child's Play”, “Friday the 13th”

Ten years has passed since the famous horror trilogy is completed and the Ghostface killer returns yet again, for another killing spree. Few years after the events in "Scream 3", the female protagonist Sidney Prescott returns to her hometown Woodsboro, for a tour of her new self-help book. On the day she returns, it is also coincides with the 15th anniversary of the first Woodsboro Murders. She encounters former allies Sheriff Dewey Rile and entertainment journalist Gale Weathers, as well as her younger cousin Jill Roberts, Jill's best friend Kirby Reed and aunt Kate Roberts. However, her return to Woodsboro also brings the return of the Ghostface killer. This time, the killer is now taking reference from horror-movie remakes by basing their murders on few similar scenes in the movie "Stab". In order to survive, Sidney, Dewey, Gale, Jill and her friends must band together to determine Ghostface's identity and stop the killer or killers before the situation gets out of control.

Wes Craven continues to direct "Scream 4" after he had directed the series trilogy. There are some scenes that might be a reminiscence of the ones featured in its predecessors but "Scream 4" will keep the identity of the killer until the end and bring more shocking scenes to keep the audiences glued to the screen. This time, "Scream 4" brings in the old team but also adds fresh new faces such as lovely teen actresses Emma Roberts and Hayden Panettiere.

A decade might have passed since the third movie but the plot is still linked to each other and appears to be even stronger than before. True to its title, fearful screams of the characters make up the most important trademark of the whole franchise and it is still applies to this fourth movie. The future viewers will be able to deduce an already known pattern prior to each killing as true fans of the series will somehow can expect who is going to be next victim, one after the other.

The sequences are still the same but successful regardless, in scaring off the audience due to some unexpected scenes. The plot is straightforward and can be understood easily. However, there are quite a number of profanities uttered by some of the characters all throughout the movie but the said words are used mainly to fit in the dialogue and intended no harm to the audience.

Overall, "Scream 4" is a must watch film for fans of the horror genre. There are only a few movies that can still perform well after the first two movies due to a weak storyline and redundant, predictable scenes but "Scream 4" has successfully surpassed such situation.

Cinema Online, 14 April 2011