What better way to mark the anniversary of an instant horror classic than to release the said film on 4K Blu-ray. The Movie Mensch has news for you that is going to make you want to Scream. It’s been a quarter-century since Ghostface killed his way into our psyche to haunt us every time we think about the movie and its subsequent franchise, or even simply… someone in a Ghostface mask randomly walking the streets.
Director extraordinaire Wes Craven had a career jolt when Scream landed on screens 25 years ago. In fact, some could argue that in terms of seismic cinema, the Kevin Williamson-penned film that is about horror films as much as it is a horror film, it was Craven’s biggest hit. Rightfully so, as the meta meets magnificent terror in his 1996 blockbuster was so razor-sharp, it pierced our souls and for many, the Scream scar is still there—of course in the best of ways.
If you do the traditional watch a scary movie (or movies!) around Halloween, then the timing of this home video upgrade is impeccable. It’s on shelves and digital retailers now and we could not recommend it more. The newly remastered film literally shines in 4K Ultra HD in a way that has one noticing the little things, such as the way light can reflect in an enormous shiny silver knife.
The shot selection by Craven will even get a fresh wave of appreciation from the diehard fans of this film upon witnessing the stellar 4K upgrade. Some of the truest tests for the format continually land during scenes at night. Shooting at night is a tough task, clearly as the lighting has to be brought in and manipulated so folks can see, but it can never be too bright, or it looks like a Hollywood movie—and that will remove that suspension of disbelief in a heartbeat. Never does that become clearer than when a scary film with a multitude of night shoots arrives on 4K Ultra HD. The separation of the eye and brain are allowed to do thanks to the seamlessly clear picture on our televisions, all emanating from those tasked with upgrading something that was already beloved.
Look for that appreciator audience to expand with the 4K Scream. Those charged with the restoration and upgrade process deserve awards. They thread the needle with their use of The Dolby Vision color grading as it pushes the envelope, all while never breaking it. Light and dark are important, sure, but so too is the fierceness of the color—from greens that pop off the screen to the most riveting of reds that of course is the hue of blood. All of this against the backdrop of its deepness of blackness and the entire endeavor is truly electric.
Back at the beginning of 1996, not too many had taken notice of a certain release that was on the calendar for the upcoming scary season. But there it was, and the film was from the guy who gave us A Nightmare on Elm Street and a freshman writer—who would go on to pen I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson’s Creek. It immediately caught fire as it crossed over. Non-horror fans went to see it in theaters because of was the topic of pop culture conversation, as Scream worked as a straight thriller that happened to possess a cornucopia of horror tropes all woven throughout.
The film famously followed a group of friends who adore horror movies and seem to have a killer on the loose in their town who also shares their affinity for the milieu. First, it commences in the most iconic of ways as Drew Barrymore portrays a teenager home alone who is taunted over the phone (then in person!) by Ghostface. It is one of the standard-bearers for “how you begin a movie” in the history of the medium.
Then, it fast forwards one year and the subject of Ghostface’s ire is a teen named Sidney (Neve Campbell) and her horror movie-loving friends. It’s her turn to be in the crosshairs, or more specifically in the line of Ghostface’s blade. The film pops with electricity, largely due to these horror fans trying to use the logic and your average horror movie narrative to try to predict the behavior of a serial killer. The cast of fellow teens includes Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowen, Matthew Lillard, and Jamie Kennedy.
Leading the charge in the older roles is Courteney Cox as Gail Weathers, a local news celebrity who covers this story and becomes a bit of the national face for the story. Then, there’s David Arquette is Dewey, a local sheriff and someone who plays an enormous role in catching a killer.
Scream is a literal scream. There is a reason why it has become part of the cultural lexicon since its release two decades ago. It’s engaging, keeps you guessing, and above all else—does it with a unique flair that is specific to this film. Too often films try to be like the films they’re saluting. Not so with Craven’s masterwork. It is firmly a Wes Craven film and takes things a step further. Its passion for the genre is contagious.
I have a theory that part of the reason it is so beloved is for many folks, it served as their introduction to the horror world. All the while you’re engaged in this serial killer story while the protagonists are using horror movie history to try to anticipate Ghostface’s next move. So, as an audience member, one is also getting a legacy lesson in the finery of horror flicks.
It all adds up to one of those films that people will discover on their own, but more often than not, it will be a passed-on film. That is what has occurred since its release 25 years ago. Older siblings showed it to their younger family members. Now, parents are starting to show it to their children. It’s a cinematic rite of passage that will only exponentially grow in stature as time progresses. It has already.
The Scream 4K Ultra HD release features a brand-new featurette, A Bloody Legacy: Scream 25 Years Later, that spotlights the late Craven and utilizes behind-the-scenes footage with fresh chats with Campbell, Cox, Williamson, and Arquette. It’s a fantastic addition to the extras in that it allows the cast to have some perspective on the phenomenon that was their film, as well as the genius of their fearless leader Craven, especially now that they are all gearing up to join the landscape once again as the fifth installment films for a 2022 release.
The remaining extras are from the heralded 2011 Blu-ray release, including the riveting audio commentary with Craven and Williamson, an on-the-set featurette with Barrymore, and a delightful Q&A with the cast and crew—where they reveal their favorite scary movie and answer that age-old inquiry about why folks adore horror movies!
Film Grade: A
Bonus Features: A-