Scream 4

Release Date: Apr 15, 2011

Runtime: 1 hr. 43 min.

Director: Wes Craven 

Cast: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere.

In 1996, horror maestro Wes Craven introduced us to "Scream" and 'Ghostface,' spawning a number of sequels and followers, while simultaneously reviving a genre that has come to be known as 'slasher films.' Over a decade later, the masked killer has returned to the infamous town of Woodsboro, with a new plethora of victims to kill. Campbell, Cox and Arquette reprise their roles alongside a new cast of anybody who's everybody, continuing the familiar tradition of tapping into young Hollywood. While the game remains the same, the rules have changed, but not by much. As in prior cases, everyone is a suspect. Only now, the guessing game that made the franchise so successful back then seems futile and tiresome. The characters' awareness that used to be considered clever is overrun by clichés and trivial movie knowledge. It's a wonder as to how the main heroine has withstood countless death threats and yet manages to be surprised by anything. Still, this franchise has thrived for a reason, and it's the entertainment factor that pulls it through. Aside from the obvious scare tactics and phone calls, the plot twist, interestingly enough, reveals a nice tie-in to the first film that started it all. Call it nostalgia, but sometimes a recognizable sequel is what's needed to jump-start a dulling genre. On the other hand, it may just be time to let things go. While Craven has stated that this will be the birth of a new trilogy, four times seem plenty for 'Ghostface' to finally rest in peace.

Rating: 2½ stars