Scream 4 (2011)
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On the 15th anniversary of a series of murders, a survivor must face a new threat from the Ghostface killer.
The story
On the 15th anniversary of the original Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott returns to her hometown to promote a self-help book. Her arrival coincides with a new wave of violence as the Ghostface killer begins targeting students at Woodsboro High. Sidney soon finds herself as a prime suspect in the investigation, forced to stay in town while the local authorities, including Sheriff Dewey Riley and reporter Gale Weathers, attempt to identify the killer. As the body count rises, the survivors must navigate a deadly game of cat and mouse while trying to uncover the identity of the figure behind the mask.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
On the 15th anniversary of the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott returns to town to promote a book, only to become a suspect when she is linked to the murder of her publicist. Meanwhile, local residents and students are hunted by Ghostface. Gale Weathers and Sheriff Dewey Riley work to solve the case while Sidney navigates the danger. The investigation leads to a 'Stab-a-thon' party where several people are killed. The mystery culminates at a house where it is revealed that Sidney's cousin, Jill Roberts, is the killer. Jill, fueled by jealousy of Sidney's fame and a desire for notoriety, orchestrated the murders and framed her boyfriend, Trevor. After a final confrontation where Jill attempts to kill Sidney in a hospital, Sidney manages to defeat her. The film ends with the media mistakenly hailing Jill as a hero.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Craven
- Writers
- Kevin Williamson · writer
- Cast and characters
- David Arquette · Dewey; Neve Campbell · Sidney Prescott; Courteney Cox · Gale Weathers; Emma Roberts · Jill; Hayden Panettiere · none; Anthony Anderson · none; Alison Brie · none; Adam Brody · none; Rory Culkin · none; Marielle Jaffe · none; Erik Knudsen · none; Mary McDonnell · none
- Genres
- slasher; black comedy; mystery
- Themes
- social media; internet fame; meta-commentary
- Tone and mood
- dark; humorous
- Premise and plot tags
- slasher; mystery; meta-fiction
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, praised for its performances and humor but criticized for its reliance on cliches. It has since received several positive reappraisals for its commentary on social media.
- Awards and nominations
- Teen Choice Award · Best Horror Movie · nomination; Virgin Media Movie Awards · Best Horror Movie · win; Virgin Media Movie Awards · Best Villain · third place
- Production trivia
- The film was the final one directed by Wes Craven before his death in 2015.; The film used computer-generated imagery for the first time in the franchise.; The script was not fully shared with actors to protect the identity of the killer.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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