Scream 4

I liked the more technically bloody and visually better murders and the shocking revelation of the killers at the end – you have to give this franchise that, for the fourth time the viewer has no idea who it is until the end of the film. What's a bit of a downer, though, is the somewhat impersonal approach, where the 1st and 2nd parts were much better in terms of characters, here they are typical boilerplate skeletons without personality, and the behaviour of the victims is a bit ridiculous at times. All in all, though, another decent entry in a cult franchise. And now to number five, I'm looking forward to it like a little kid and expecting a five-star, bloody carnage. (2022-01-17)

There's a lot of things to highlight here (again, the supremely evocative and increasingly gory murders, the perfectly working old/new casting, or the very imaginative pop culture references), but I honestly appreciated the topical commentary on the online environment the most. "Depravity has become the new norm" is an almost painful statement about the ideological emptiness of our times. I wouldn't have expected a now classic 90's horror film to get this good an update, providing a satirical look at today's (post-factual) society in addition to being entertaining again. Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven have pulled it off in a way they certainly have nothing to be ashamed of. They may not have generated the mass response of the latter half of the 90s, nor have they spawned a new phenomenon, but as a nostalgic close to the franchise, Scream 4 works reliably well. (2020-10-27)

Finally, a quality leap compared to its predecessor. The fourth installment is like a breath of fresh air for the series! The new characters are fantastic (Hayden Panettiere is brilliant!), and the thrilling pace is non-stop. Most importantly, the final reveal of the killer is shockingly incredible. I really enjoyed Scream to the fullest! We'll see what the next installment brings. For me, the fourth one earns a solid 7/10. (2023-02-09)

A pleasant meeting with old friends and a much better film than could be expected after My Soul to Take; I liked it as much as the first part. Craven and Williams deliver a pretty effective reflection on the last decades in horror, without altering the spirit of the franchise. It’s still playful and full of references to the genre, some of which are fun, while others are tense. It also makes quite some sense and has a pinch of social satire. I have to say that without that “alternative ending” I would have been shocked and would have admired the courage of the creators, not only to reboot the series, but actually to update it to a 2.0 version. As it is, I’m “only” a satisfied viewer. (2011-04-14)

After a very long hiatus, the regular fourth film has indeed arrived. It’s not a reboot, but a normal old-world sequel. And while no one would have expected it, the film works well as a standalone horror film and as a new installment in a long-running franchise. The film series Stab got its seventh sequel, and the times have changed, but the main thing has remained the same. The main trio works well together. Sidney has written a new book, Out of the Darkness, and it serves as the perfect reason to come home. The younger generation can't do without their phones anymore, everyone is online 24/7, and the dynamics of killing are changing. Excellent supporting roles are played by Shenae Grimes, Anna Paquin, and Kristen Bell. Of the newcomers, Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts are very good. And it looks like there will be a regular fifth film after the series. Maybe in 2022. (2011-04-14)