As several scary movies make their way to Hulu this October, one horror classic stands out as a must-see film for fans of the genre: 1996’s Scream. Directed by horror legend Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and written by Kevin Williamson (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Scream follows teenager Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends as they are hunted by the serial killer Ghostface, forcing them to utilize all their knowledge of scary movies to survive.
With a fantastic cast of characters and an insightful meta-narrative, Craven and Williamson’s movie provides a fresh and entertaining experience for lovers of horror and comedy. Those who have yet to experience Scream have plenty of reasons to check it out on Hulu this October.
Scream features several iconic characters
Scream introduced many memorable characters that remained fresh in fans’ minds, particularly through their appearances in subsequent films. Ghostface, in particular, remains an iconic slasher villain due to their chilling voice, distinctive costume, and the way they torment their targets with their knowledge of horror movies.
Meanwhile, Sidney Prescott established herself as one of horror’s most iconic protagonists, particularly thanks to Neve Campbell’s spectacular performance. The way Sidney overcame her trauma brought on by her mother’s death and defied horror tropes to battle Ghostface set a new standard for compelling and layered “final girls” in horror.
Scream features some great comedic characters in Stu (Matthew Lillard) and Randy (Jamie Kennedy), who deliver hilarious lines and horror movie wisdom with incredible magnetism. At the same time, Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette) steal the show with their respective charm and character arcs, as well as their romantic chemistry.
Scream hilariously deconstructs the horror genre
Craven helped set up several notable tropes in horror cinema with his films. However, he reinvigorated the genre in Scream by picking apart such tropes in comedic fashion (i.e., characters dying if they have sex, do drugs, or drink alcohol, and the protagonist foolishly running upstairs instead of leaving the house).
Characters in Scream call out these tropes to create a guide to surviving a horror movie scenario. However, the self-aware Scream defies the audience’s expectations by breaking multiple horror conventions, making the movie even more surprising and unique. Scream proved that there was room for originality in horror movies after so many of them followed the same formula.
The story presents a deep, engaging mystery
Beginning with the shocking death of Drew Barrymore’s character at the hands of Ghostface, Scream hooks its audience with a gruesome mystery about the killer’s identity, motives, and connection to the protagonists.
The film keeps its audience guessing about Ghostface’s identity thanks to many surprising twists and clever red herrings. Even with their extensive knowledge of horror movies, Sidney and her friends find themselves tested by someone well-versed in the genre.
The film has relevant social commentary
Scream doesn’t just have a lot to say about the horror genre; it also has plenty to say about real-world society and how people obsess over media. Gale Weathers is an example of how the media exploits real-world violence and the trauma people experience for profit and personal gain.
She writes a book about the assault and murder of Sidney’s mother, which irritates the still-grieving Sidney. Gale even intrudes on the latter’s personal life as she tries to get her next big scoop.
Scream also explores how neglectful and absent adults have failed their children. As the kids are left alone and forced to learn about the world through violent horror movies, the film shows how this generation has developed a warped, misguided view of reality that ultimately gives birth to Ghostface.
Thus, the film explores how people attempt to replicate the violence they see in the media, with Ghostface emulating what is depicted in several horror movies. Teenagers are even seen dressing up as Ghostface to scare people, displaying how the cycle repeats itself. However, Scream offers a more nuanced analysis of media by showing how it isn’t the root cause of real-world violence.
While many horror fans have likely seen Scream already, it is the perfect film for newcomers to the genre. It outlines and breaks the horror rules laid out throughout cinema history.
Scream also presents a hilarious and enthralling story played out by a captivating cast of characters. Horror may have evolved a great deal since its release, but Scream remains a timeless horror-comedy gem.
Stream Scream on Hulu.
