Scream to Scream, Scene by Scene: SCENE 1 of Scream 3 (0:00:00-0:08:20)

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



SCENE 1 of Scream 3
Length: 8mins 20secs
Primary Characters: Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber), Christine Hamilton (Kelly Rutherford), Ghostface (voice of Roger Jackson) & "Female Caller" (voice of Beth Toussaint)
Pop Culture References:

• Are there any? Only broad stuff like a similarity to The Shining in the knife/door sequence. Where are they all?!?

For all the talk of Scream 3 not adhering to it's own "all bets are off" idealogy - and, in certain respects (mostly those regarding the three lead characters) that's true - this film did quite a bit that was unexpected. Beginning with this opening scene, for instance, we have a male central victim, the new voice dynamic and a huge location change. By changing the setting from the original "return to Woodsboro" idea (after the Columbine shootings, Scream 3's return to high school killing spree idea was mooted) to Hollywood the filmmakers gave themselves a much larger scale upon which they could work their magic. Some people think that "magic" was a load of ol' tosh, but I happen to love Scream 3. As we'll see, Scream 3 is beloved by me for, at times, being a sort of bizarro world comedy that just happens to have a few killings in it (a few?), but there are times when this film is just as good as it's predecessors. We're back in the saddle, folks!

Oh hai, Cotton! The way I remember the lead up to Scream 3's release panning out is that we'd all kinda figured out that Cotton Weary was going to die and that it'd be great if he were the opening victim. I think all just Scream obsessives eventually (wait for it) cottoned on to the fact that he was going to get the chop very early since, for obvious reasons, all the clips and images of him seen in the trailers and stills featured him wearing the same costume throughout. It's just science.

"You sound a lot like that guy on TV. Uh... Cotton Weary."

The introduction of this new voice curveball was, for a while, quite great. They never really came through with a big payoff with it (unless you count the bed sheet mother scene, which I don't), but for something like this it works well. The only major problem is that by the third film in this franchise we know that whatever's going on on the other end of the line isn't quite right. The moment the switch happens isn't so much a surprise as it is a "yup! i guessed that" sorta moment.

"So, why don't you tell me who you are?"

"You're a naughty boy, Cotton. Now what would your girlfriend say?"

"What makes you think I have a girlfriend?"

*click*

"I know you do. I'm right outside her bathroom door."

Scream 3 takes all of one minute and 52 seconds to get to the ominous, threatening tone. Ghostface is clearly not as interested in playing cat and mouse this time. It's an issue through the entire film, actually.

I do like the parallels to the Casey Becker/Ghostface chat from Scream's opening scene. "Do you have a boyfriend?" "No, why? You wanna ask me out on a date?" and so on. Speaking of Casey Becker... I'll sure we'll discuss it at some point in the future, but I remember I and many others were very disappointed that Casey's house (or, more to the point, the Stab set of Casey's house) wasn't used as the opening or closing scene of Scream 3. It would've been perfect!

And here is Kelly Rutherford. She was a disappointing name for the Scream 3 opening scene then, but I have definitely warmed to her as I'll discuss a little bit later in this piece. Nevertheless, I think she does a good job in making the secondary victim more of an identity than either Steven Orth of Phil Stevens were before. In other news: Why don't Americans use the god damn fan in their bathrooms?

I like how cheesy all the billboards are in this film, whether they're this for Cotton Weary's television chat show or those for Stab 3.

As you probably saw at towards the start of this entry, under the "references" title, Scream 3's opening sequence actually doesn't use any outright. Instead, it takes most of its cues from the first two Scream films. Whether it's the similarity to Casey Becker's dialogue or this shot that mirrors the Heather Graham shower sequence in Scream 2. Thereby making Scream 3 an even more meta; it's referencing its itself.

Oh Hollywood, what the hell is this?

Stab 2 tagline: "EVEN TRUE STORIES HAVE SEQUELS..."

Okay, that Stab 2 tagline is incredible. I'm surprised nobody thought of it sooner for an actual horror sequel. It's stuff like this that makes this project endlessly fascinating; I'd never seen that (the tagline) before! It's so golden that I feel like it's wasted on a brief one second cut away shot. Still, I see it there now!

"Cotton, is that you?"
I like this little tracking shot of Christine. Craven was definitely trying to go with a more voyeuristic look during Scream 3's opening, I think. Trying to get under the same skin that the original did with that brilliant moment when you know Drew Barrymore's Casey is being watched. As great as the Scream 2 opening is - and boy, it is! - it did miss this part of the equation. Meanwhile, the shot of Christine's feet as she walks down the corridor is a reference to something, I am positive of it... I just can't put my finger on it. Can you?

"Okay Cotton, you know I don't like your 'stab' games."

I kinda love this line because of the images it alludes to. The idea that Cotton Weary, a man whose story was morphed into the series of fake slasher flicks known as the Stab franchise uses those very stories for roleplay sex? Does Cotton wear a Ghostface mask? Does Christine pretend to be Maureen Prescott? The mind boggles.

Bam. Helllloooooo Ghostface! It really didn't take long, did it? And, of course, Ghostface's theme song - the one that seems to play whenever he arrives at parties - is that improbably shwing sound effect that happens whenever the knife cuts through air. I don't think knives make that noise outside of being sharpened. I swear that knife gets bigger with each passing instalment, too. By Scream 4 it was positively machete-esque!

Scream to Scream, Scene by Scene: SCENE 30 of Scream 2 (1:45:19-1:47:38)

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



SCENE 30 of Scream 2
Length: 2min 19secs
Primary Characters: Sidney Prescott, Cotton Weary, Gale Weathers, Dewey Riley and Joel the Cameraman
Pop Culture References:

• None, although major meta movie moment alert!
  

Chief Hartley. What a shit job he did, yeah? The deaths of the two officers, plus Hallie and Derek feel partly responsible to him, don't you think?


Aw, Joel the Cameraman came back! Suspiciously as soon as the murders end, too! I sense secret third killer subplot right there. Or maybe he and Chief Hartley were working in tandem to get these guys alone and easier to kill? I actually like to think that once Gale left the hospital with Dewey that she fired him while screaming "Kenny DIED for me!" or some such. If only.


"We've got a live one!"


"Dewey..."


"I can't believe you're alive!"
Despite the fact that, yes indeed, nobody can believe Dewey is still alive, I still love this moment. It fills the cockles of my heart, as they says. Whatever the cockles of my heart are, Gale and Dewey fill them every time.

Of course, when Gale gets in the ambulance to go with him to the hospital, you just know Joel the Cameraman is all "I came back for this?"


Whoa, lady! You're not pretty enough to be that touchy with strangers.


It's almost as if she's saying to herself "So long, sucker! I'm gonna go become a reclusive hotline worker and you'll become famous and then when the next killer strikes they'll get you first!" How very Jennifer Jolie of her. Cunning.


"No one wants to give you the story more than I do. Unfortunately there is a time, a place, and, indeed, a price for everything so feel free to call me."
"C'mon Cotton! Tell us something."
"Well, I'll tell you one thing... it'll make a helluva movie."
And zing. They had to get one last jab in there, didn't they? It helps that it's a good one, yeah? And, suitably, ends the film on one of the most meta moments imaginable!

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, 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

Scream to Scream, Scene by Scene: SCENE 29 of Scream 2 (1:29:53-1:45:18)

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



SCENE 29 of Scream 2
Length: 15min 25secs
Primary Characters: Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers, Debbie Salt aka Mrs Loomis, Mickey and Cotton Weary
Pop Culture References:

• Psycho (visual reference)
• Friday the 13th (plot similarity - mother avenging son's death)
• Alan Dershowitz, Johnnie Cochrane and Bob Dole (Mickey's planned trial defense team)
  

And so we come to the big climax where all is revealed. I do love this scene. It lacks the "oh shit! this is really happening?!" electricity of the first, but - much like the sequel's opening scene in comparison to the original's - is actually a bit more loopy fun. Let's take a look.


I like the idea of this on campus theatre being almost possessed, what with the lights turning on and the equipment starting up without anybody around. Of course, we all know that's not true and that the killers were simply placing an awful lot on the hope that Sidney would run back to the college campus after her recent run in with Ghostface in the car rather than run away as far as she possibly could from the scene of so many crimes.


Good work, Sidney. Good work.


I don't have anything to say here, I just like the shot.


I actually really like the setup. It works well in the film given the idea of a sequel needing to be "much more elaborate", but I think the way Craven filmed it was particularly great. So many wonderful shots like this one of Sidney almost slinking off into the darkness, but not being able to get away from the big bright light that constantly shines on her. Plus, I like the way they set up all the effects that the stage show has, reminding us of them, so that when Sidney uses them against the killers it feels organic.


I also think placing the big finale on an empty theatre stage - a nice mirror, by the way, to the opening that takes place in front of a packed cinema - fits in to Mickey's "it's all about the execution" idea and making it as grand as possible. I like to imagine Mrs Loomis hearing Mickey's plan for what to do with the big finale and humouring him with this rather outlandish stage bound idea because her son, Billy, would have appreciated it.


Oh hai Derek. Hallie's Mickey's been running around all over campus because of you!


Talk about a fetish!


"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You really wanna trust your boyfriend?" *click* "Don't you know history repeats itself? Hmmm?"
First of all, love that bit. I think it's the "hmmm?" that sells it. Second of all... the mystery of the crazy voice-changer strikes again. I haven't the foggiest idea how these machines work because when Billy/Stu/Sidney used them in the climax of Scream they sounded nothing like the phone voice, and now here while the voice does sound like the voice on the phone I also don't know how Mickey manages to turn it off from inside his mask. I guess he uses his tongue?


I imagine at this stage many people watching for the first time were all "who?" They would be stupid people, yeah? Okay, no, I sorta get that Mickey was obviously a second wrung - third? he probably is in the film just as much as Sister Lois and Sister Murphy - character that was shoved into the killer position after the Derek/Hallie combo got the shaft due to screenplay leaks, but only a dimwit couldn't remember who he was. People said the same thing about Roman in Scream 3 and, to be honest, made more sense. People said the same thing about Charlie in Scream 4 and that was really dumb. Do people even watch these movies?


And Mickey's fabulous, FABULOUS hair remains in tact despite running around all night with a hood over it. He must be bordering on Ross Gellar levels of gel use!


"Since Derek here disappeared on my ass, I've been on my own all fuckin' night. Thanks a lot, partner"
"Motherfucker! Sid, he's crazy. You know me better than that."
"Come on Sid, I've gotta have a partner. I could've have possibly done this alone."
Mickey is actually quite smart. He's also stupid, but sometimes quite smart. Great way to fuck with Sidney's mind here.


"Hmmm. Boyfriend, killer, boyfriend, killer, boyfriend, killer."
I really love the rhythm that the dialogue in this scene has. While the Scream 2 climax is far less referential and winking as the first, Timothy Olyphant really sells the part. He does crazy well and so despite the character being a weaker killer identity, in the end, it still works because Olyphant plays it precisely perfect.


In retrospect, knowing that Derek isn't one of the killers makes this playful smile of Mickey's so deliciously evil. Like watching a pair of experimental hamsters run around unsure of what's what as he plays wicked mind games with them.


"What do you think, Derek? Is Sidney experiencing some deja vu?"
I can't say enough how much I enjoy the revelry that Mickey has in messing with Sidney's mind here. Again, so much credit must go to Olyphant. He obviously didn't have much else to do throughout the movie so he took his role as the killer in this scene and ran with it.


Aw, bye bye Derek. You were bright (maybe), funny (when?), handsome (except played by a douche so unbelievable as a nice guy), had a decent singing voice (hardly) and the kind of guy a girl would like to take home to "mom"...


"... if you had a mom."
Zing. Ouch.

Scream to Scream, Scene by Scene: SCENE 6 of Scream 2 (0:22:14-0:25:58)

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



SCENE 6 of Scream 2
Length: 3mins 36secs
Primary Characters: Sidney Prescott, Dewey nee Deputy Dewey (David Arquette), Randy Meeks, Derek, Mickey, Hallie, Gale Weathers, Joel the Cameraman & Cotton Weary (Liev Shreiber)
Pop Culture References:

• None
  

I think this scene we're about to look at is a perfect one in showing off the differences between the first and second film. I wrote in an earlier scene that Scream 2 (and, for that matter, Scream 3, but less successfully) is a much bigger enterprise than the first. The original is more intimiate, whereas the sequel is like the filmmaking team finally got enough money to amp everything up a few notches.

Take, for instance, this scene - and the one just before it, but I had too much other stuff to discuss there - where Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven somehow manage to juggle all these characters, all of whom get "a moment", and yet the movie doesn't feel crammed or fussy at all. Gene Siskel praised Scream 2 over Scream for this very reason. In many ways it's a more impressive directorial job by Craven since there's so much more going on. In this scene alone we have the introduction of old characters as well as new characters all interacting with one another, referencing the earlier film and, while they're at it, furthering the plot in multiple ways that doesn't feel clunky. It's a shame the video of their review has been taken down, I would have loved to included for you guys.


"I'm seeing someone. Nice guy, pre-med, no apparent psychotic tendencies."
Oh Sidney, isn't that what you thought about Billy Loomis, too!


"I just worry. Look, Sid, if there is some freaked out psycho trying to follow in Billy Loomis's footsteps you probably already know him. Or her. Or them."
I love this line. Or, more specifically, I love this line as spoken by Dewey. I like that he gets "him", "her" and "them" all correct!


Uh-oh!



One thing I'd never noticed before is the look on Mickey's face when Cotton Weary appears out from behind Gale and Joel. I think at this stage of filming Craven and Williamson were still very much on the Hallie/Derek/Debbie trio so I'm probably giving this moment too much worth than it warrants, but I love Mickey's smile. It's like he always can't contain himself knowing that, with the new murders as Cotton is in town, so much focus will be on him.


"You bitch!"


Ooh, bitch *nearly* went down.


"Oh Sidney, won't you share with us, please!"








"I'll share with you!"


"Did you get that on film?"


"Yes I got that on film."
Bitch went down!

Look, there's no skirting around the issue here... Hallie's "Did you get that on film?" is just not as amazing as Tatum's "BAM, bitch went down. BAM! Sid! Super-bitch!" I like that they continue that structural link to the original, although you can already sense it starting to deviate.

TATUM 4EVA!


"Hey, you need to check your conscience at the door, Sweetie. We're not here to be loved."
I hate this line of dialogue?! I hate it. I hate it so much I want to forget it exists and just end this scene right now, which is what I will do. Because it's over. No, really, that's it. See you next time!

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, Scene 4, Scene 5