Posted: 02/09/2000

Scream 3

(2000)

by Wayne Case

Scream 3 is, surprisingly enough, a real…er, scream.

Within its genre, Scream 3 is as good as it gets. Along with millions of others who saw Scream (1996) and Scream 2 (1997), I like this particular genre. Most viewers for this third chapter of the trilogy have seen, and liked, the first two. I suspect they will be pleased this time, also.Scream grossed slightly over $100 million dollars in North America; Scream 2 grossed almost the same. Look for similar results this time around. If you know what to expect from these films and think you would enjoy seeing it, chances are good that you will. Likewise,if a horror film featuring good looking young adults stabbing and getting stabbed isn’t your type cinema, stay away.

Scream 3 is set in Hollywood and involves the making of a film-within-a-film called STAB 3,THE RETURN TO WOODSBORO. The script for STAB 3 is based on events occurring in Scream and in Scream 2, both of which were set in the town called Woodsboro. Woodsboro survivors, including Sidney (Neve Campbell), reporter Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox Arquette), and ex-cop Dewey (David Arquette) are drawn to the set of STAB 3, where the actors portraying them are getting killed off at an alarming rate. One particular pleasure is watching specialized film favorite, Parker Posey, imitating the character played by Courtney Cox Arquette! Everything that Courtney does as Gail Weathers, Posey OVERDOES to hilarious result!

Further about the cast, Neve Campbell (Wild Things, television’s Party Of Five) continues to show that she is an excellent actress with big time potential. Courtney Cox Arquette (television’s Friends) and husband, David Arquette (Never Been Kissed), hit just the right notes and provide many smiles. Patrick Dempsey (Can’t Buy Me Love) is maturing nicely and should get more parts as a result of his work here.

Jenny McCarthy (her own television show, Jenny) is a big surprise here and actually shows promise!

The reeved-up, kick-ass prologue, contains terrific work from Liev schreiber (A Walk On The Moon, The Hurricane) and Kelly Rutherford (television’s Melrose Place). A cameo by Carrie Fisher (Star Wars) is simply delicious. Director Wes Craven (Nightmare On Elm Street, Music Of My Heart, Scream, Scream 2) understands the material and makes all the right choices. No signs of the notorious Brothers’ Weinstein post production tampering is evident, so I assume that decisions were left in director Craven’s capable hands, thank goodness!

Writer Kevin Williams authored both Scream and Scream 2, but due to his busy schedule, passed on Scream 3. Before seeing this film, that change in writing assignment worried me. Fortunately, Scream 3’s screenplay by Ehren Kruger (Arlington Road, Reindeer Games) matches seamlessly. From the start, writer Williams planned for Scream to be a trilogy. Planning that far ahead has paid off. My one minor reservation is that the revelation of who the Edvard Munch-style mask wearing killer was is a slight let-down.SCREAM 3 is, sharp, smart, jolting, fast,funny and completely professional. Don’t even mention the lame excuse for a film, The Blair Witch Project, as being in the same medium.

Wayne Case works in the film industry in Hollywood, and still can’t help himself—he loves the movies!

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