Scream to Scream, Scene by Scene: SCENE 4 of Scream 2 (0:15:53-0:17:15)

In this project I attempt to review the entire Scream trilogy scene by scene in chronological order. Heavy spoilers and gore throughout!



SCENE 4 of Scream 2
Length: 1mins 22secs
Primary Characters: Sidney Prescott, Randy Meeks and Derek (Jerry O'Connell)
Pop Culture References:

• None

I find it interesting that the opening passages of Scream 2 mirror the original. Opening scene -> Sidney in her bedroom -> School sequences -> Sidney getting "looks" -> Friends gathered around (next scene) -> Intro to Gale Weathers etc. And yet it still feels different. It feels quicker and not at all obvious that they're following a trajectory. And, of course, after a while it completely veers off course and becomes it's own movie. Perhaps it's because of the location change - such a good decision to move it away from Woodsboro. Another similarity? Randy's penchant for accents. Curious.


"Three hundred people watched, nobody did anything. They thought it was a publicity stunt for Christ's sakes."
Can you imagine if that had actually happened at a screening of Scream 2? The meta of it all! Meanwhile, good gawd, how much better is Sidney's hair in Scream 2 compared to the first? Light years better (if that makes sense as a form of measuring ones hairstyle to another.) In fact, the whole movie looks better, don't you think?

I've always said that Scream has that look of a film that was made on a small budget, by a tight crew who just wanted to make a bloody splatter picture all down and dirty like. In a really pure way, it doesn't look "Hollywood" at all, but feels organic and natural like the first Halloween. The kind of film you just discover and marvel that it was even got made in the first place. Scream 2 on the other hand has - as Randy may have put it - bigger and better production values. Colours are richer, the locals are prettier, the cast look sexier and it's all just like a production crew finally got the money they needed to step everything up to the next level, production wise. That's why I actually like the two films in equal measure; they really are two entirely different viewing experiences. One is almost grungy, the other like some big Hollywood production. Each has their own charms and unique bits and pieces.


You'd think, all things considered, that crawling over banisters and sneaking up on your girlfriend would be something Derek would ignore, but apparently not. Meanwhile, like I was saying before, the symmetry between the first and second film is again noticeable here. In the first it's Billy who sneaks up on Sidney so soon after the opening kill and in the sequel it's new boyfriend Derek. Hmmm.


Derek here says he's been "looking everywhere" for Sidney, and I'm sitting here thinking "why didn't he just call her?" but as I ponder this I realise that Sidney doesn't actually ever get shown using a mobile phone. Not in the dorm room scene or the sorority house scene or anywhere else for that matter. The threats in the computer lab are sent through the computer system and she (nor Hallie for that matter) seem to have one during their car chase sequence later in the movie. I just find it interesting. I mean, 1997 wasn't that long ago was it? Did the events of Scream put her off mobile technology? Hmmm...

Or perhaps I'm just forgetting a moment. I wonder how clicked on she'll be in Scream 4?


Randy mouths something at this moment right after Derek asks if there's anything her can do for Sidney. I've never been able to figure out what it is. Reader help?


Aw, see how cute he used to be! I do wish he wasn't wearing that ugly brown shirt though. Oh Randy, no wonder the geek never got the girl

Scream:
Intro, Scene 1 Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4, Scene 5, Scene 6, Scene 7, Scene 8, Scene 9, Scene 10, Scene 11, Scene 12, Scene 13, Scene 14, Scene 15, Scene 16, Scene 17, Scene 18, Scene 19, Scene 20, Scene 21, Scene 22, Scene 23, Scene 24, Scene 25, Scene 26, Scene 27, Scene 28, Scene 29, Scene 30, Scene 31 Scene 32, Scene 33, End Credits

Scream 2
Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3