Do Scream & Scream 2 Still Hold Up 25 Years Later?

It’s been said a million times before, but ‘Scream’ remains to be the most influential film in the horror genre, yes, the most influential, and one of the most influential films of all time. The film took the world by storm, and still to this day we are seeing its effects in modern horror, with films doing their best to subvert expectations that were highlighted in the original film. In 2022, we even saw another sequel in the long-running franchise, with ‘Scream’, a legacy sequel/reboot. So, with all of this said, a question still remains, does ‘Scream’ and its 1997 sequel ‘Scream 2’ still hold-up? With both films both over 25-years old now, the question has to be asked, after all this time, do they still hold-up as horror films and films in general? Well, that’s what I’m here for. Today I will be discussing Scream and its sequel in depth, as we delve deep into the mechanics of the franchise and whether or not it still holds up today? So, let’s go!

The real metaverse –

One element of the ‘Scream’ franchise that still remains to be one of its strongest elements, is the meta quality that is present throughout all five instalments. Director of Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, and Scream 4, Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson, have used ‘Scream’ as a platform to poke fun at genre tropes and conventions that have become cliches of the genre over the course of its existence. The meta quality to the film, is something that Craven has trialed in a couple of his films, including ‘Wes Craven’s New Nightmare’. I think he nails the mix here better than he has in his other films, as the film is able to stand alone as a horror film, but if you’re a fan of the genre, the meta elements will make you very satisfied. Craven made a film that analyses the genre, whilst also creating a solid horror film in its own right.

Horror is still horror –

Both films act as perfect whodunit, with compelling mystery, elevated by a clever script, great character dynamics, an amazing cast and genuine scares, tension and suspense. The opening to Scream is still one of the best opens to a horror film, period. We see a young Drew Barrymore answer a call from our masked killer, who begins the phone call in a flirtatious and calm demeanour, but as the call progresses, his demeanor deteriorates, leaving Barrymore frightened and alone, ultimately leading to a cat and mouse chase. The scene ends with Barrymore out the front of her home, murdered and her parents arrive to find her like this, we get a fantastic transition of the mother discovering her body, screaming into the camera, leading to our title card. It's fantastic and still remains to be one of the best sequences in the entire franchise. Scream 2 follows closely, with another memorable scare. This time we see fan favourite character Randy, played by the endlessly charismatic Jamie Kennedy, talking on the phone with the killer on the college campus, trying to work out who they are, before he joins the body count. The scene is tense and well-crafted, as we are watching alongside Randy, trying to uncover who the killer is. As the conversation again deteriorates on the phone, with voice actor Roger Jackson once again killing it as Ghost face (no pun intended), Randy begins to become more unnerved, he backs up to the news van and is pulled into the van, meeting his demise roughly halfway through the film. We get a moment of levity as the murderous actions of ghost face closely mimic lovemaking, as the van rocks and students see this happen. But ultimately the death is a sad one, as Randy was the audience surrogate in these films, providing Sidney, Dewie and Gail with knowledge that can keep them one step ahead of the killer, throughout each film.

Not just any old final girl –

Our trio of main characters also remain one of the strongest elements of the film, with their likeability still present all these years later. Neve Campbell’s fantastic turn as final girl and scream queen, Sidney Prescott is iconic, and has now become one of the most iconic scream queens in the genre. Her presence will be sorely missed in the upcoming sixth instalment (already filming). Real-life couple, meeting on the set of the first film, Courtney Cox and David Arquette (Gail and Dewie), whilst now separated, possess a strong chemistry that is unmatched in most films. You can really see their feelings for one another on screen, with the two characters even getting their own theme, which has always played so well in the soundtrack. The cast has always remained a strong element, but has never been as strong as it is, in the first two films. We see a real dynamic, as Sidney is trying to move on from the death of her mother, Dewie trying to prove himself in the local police department and Gail trying to make a name for herself as a reporter in Woodsborough. This dynamic is great, with the relationships between these characters being developed with each subsequent sequel.

There is a Ghostface in your closet –

Ghostface has become one of the most iconic horror movie slashers. Whilst the person or persons donning the mask changes from film to film, the iconic look of Ghostface has remained consistent for the last 26 years. Whilst the whodunit twist is always a lot of fun and the scooby doo esq unmasking is iconic, the original unmasking of Bill Loomis (played by Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher (played by Matthew Lillard) remains one of the best killer reveals in film history. Matthew Lillard’s unhinged performance was a lot of fun and added to the suspense of the film's final act and reveal. Their motivations are meticulous and well-developed, and the mystery keeps you on your toes right up until their unmasking.

It’s hard to quantify the exact impact ‘Scream’ had on the genre, but the meta-aspects of the film and the way it is still perceived today, show that it has stood the test of time and its sequels are fantastic follow-ups to an already amazing film, that stands on its own. ‘Scream’ and its riveting sequel ‘Scream 2’ are both available for pre-order from your local Sanity or online, so be sure to get in quick and secure your copy today! 

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here