Scream 2

Year: 1997

Grade: B+

Country: USA

Director: Craven

Review

nice enough sequel. instead of exploring the clichés and formulas of horror films, this one explores, among other things, the role of the audience in the death of victims in horror films. it’s a theme that is expressed in some of the more savvy horror films like bloodsucking freaks, a film that turns the jaundiced eye back on the audience. “you think we’re monsters for cutting up women in cages? what about you for watching this filth?” this is slyly represented in the opening scene with jada pinkett and omar epps. the audience is full of jocular young adults in costume chasing each other around with plastic knives while waiting for the sequel to “stab” (a popular fictional film) to start. by the end of the scene epps and pinkett are both dead, the latter is stabbed to death in front of the audience as they cheer it all on, thinking it’s just another couple playing along while in costume.

you could write a fairly lengthy paper on the horror genre as viewed through these two films and it would be good and interesting. maybe you should do that.