Scream 3 (2000)
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A survivor of a deadly masked killer is drawn into the world of Hollywood filmmaking when a new Ghostface begins targeting the cast of a movie-within-a-movie.
The story
Following the events of the previous two films, Sidney Prescott has retreated into self-imposed isolation. However, her peace is shattered when a new Ghostface begins a killing spree in Hollywood, targeting the cast of the film 'Stab 3'. As the body count rises, Sidney is drawn into the orbit of the production. Meanwhile, the investigation into the murders leads various characters—including a reporter and a police officer—to the film set. Amidst the chaos of a production plagued by mystery and violence, the characters must navigate the blurred lines between the fiction of the movie they are filming and the deadly reality of the killer stalking them.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Cotton Weary, a talk show host, is murdered by Ghostface after refusing to reveal Sidney Prescott's location. Detective Mark Kincaid sends reporter Gale Weathers to Hollywood, where she finds Dewey Riley on the set of 'Stab 3'. Ghostface begins killing cast members, including Sarah Darling. Sidney, living in hiding, is contacted by a voice mimicking her late mother. She eventually travels to Hollywood to confront the threat. At a party at producer John Milton's mansion, several cast members are killed, and Gale and Dewey are taken hostage. Sidney arrives at the mansion and discovers the killer is Roman Bridger, her half-brother. Roman, who was the product of her mother's assault, intended to frame her for his crimes. After a violent confrontation, Sidney defeats him, and Dewey shoots him to ensure he is dead. The film ends with Dewey proposing to Gale, while Sidney returns home to find her front door open in the wind.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 117
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Craven
- Writers
- Ehren Kruger · writer
- Cast and characters
- David Arquette · Dewey Riley; Neve Campbell · Sidney Prescott; Courteney Cox · Gale Weathers; Parker Posey · Jennifer Jolie; Patrick Dempsey · Mark Kincaid; Scott Foley · Roman Bridger; Lance Henriksen · John Milton; Matt Keeslar · Tom Prinze; Jenny McCarthy · Sarah Darling; Emily Mortimer · Angelina Tyler; Deon Richmond · Tyson Fox; Patrick Warburton · Steven Stone
- Genres
- slasher; comedy; mystery; satire
- Themes
- metafiction; trauma; media violence; sexual misconduct
- Tone and mood
- satirical; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- slasher; mystery; meta-horror
- Franchise connections
- Scream
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews but has been reappraised in recent years in the wake of the MeToo movement.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 45% · scale: percentage · review count: 164; Metacritic · score: 56 · scale: 100 · review count: 32
- Awards and nominations
- Saturn Award · Best Home Video Release · 2001 · lost
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to be the final installment of the series.; The film features a cameo by Carrie Fisher.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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