Scream (1996)
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A group of friends must survive a series of murders committed by a masked killer who uses horror movie tropes to target their victims.
The story
In the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, high school student Sidney Prescott and her friends are targeted by a costumed serial killer. The attacks occur on the anniversary of the murder of Sidney's mother. As the mystery of the killer's identity unfolds, the group must navigate a series of deadly encounters while the media and police begin to investigate the mounting violence in the community.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film begins with Casey Becker being stalked and murdered by a figure in a 'Ghostface' costume while answering horror trivia over the phone. The next day, Sidney Prescott faces the anniversary of her mother's death. After receiving a threatening call, she is attacked by Ghostface but survives. The investigation leads to the discovery of a local journalist, Gale Weathers, and a local sheriff, Dewey Riley. During a party at a secluded house, the group is hunted by the killer. It is eventually revealed that the killers are Sidney's boyfriend, Billy Loomis, and his friend, Stu Macher. They murdered Sidney's mother and framed her father. In a final confrontation, Sidney manages to defeat both men after a tense standoff involving Gale and the remaining survivors.
- First release year
- 1996
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Craven
- Writers
- Kevin Williamson · writer
- Cast and characters
- David Arquette · Dewey Riley; Neve Campbell · Sidney Prescott; Courteney Cox · Gale Weathers; Matthew Lillard · Stu Macher; Rose McGowan · Tatum Riley; Skeet Ulrich · Billy Loomis; Drew Barrymore · Casey Becker
- Genres
- slasher
- Themes
- meta-fiction; subversion of tropes
- Tone and mood
- self-aware; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- slasher; meta-horror
- Franchise connections
- Scream
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film was an unexpected success and was praised for its self-aware humor and effectiveness as a slasher, though some critics found its meta approach overly irreverent. It is considered a cultural touchstone that revitalized the slasher genre.
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actress · Saturn Awards · 1997 · win; Best Writing · Saturn Awards · 1997 · win; Best Horror Film · Saturn Awards · 1997 · win; Best Movie · MTV Movie Awards · win; Best Film · International Horror Guild · win; Grand Prize · Gérardmer Film Festival · win; Best Female Performance · MTV Movie Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The script was originally developed under the title Scary Movie.; The film's success was unexpected due to concerns about releasing a slasher during the Christmas season.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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