Review: Scream 4

Over at the Herald.

I would need to rewatch them to be sure, especially the third one, which as far as my memory’s concerned may as well not exist, but right now I’m operating under the belief Scream might be the most solid horror franchise out there. Even Scream 4 isn’t a waste of 1s and 0s. Of course, it’s running at the advantage–if it had 7-12 movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, or Hellraiser, the balance would undoubtedly be different–but even comparing Scream‘s four entries to the first four of any other set, I think Scream has the edge, despite the fact its best doesn’t match up to, say, the original Nightmare on Elm Street.

Like I say in the review, I think this is attributable to the fact writer Kevin Williamson’s scripted three of them and director Wes Craven has handled all four. This lends a continuity to the series; you don’t have some D-list guys swoop in to cash in with sequels that take the original mythology in bold, stupid new directions. They haven’t exhausted their creativity yet, either.

Also contending, Best Horror Franchise: the Return of the Living Dead series. Though the second one sucked.