Scream 4 (2011) ** [Scream Double Feature 2 Pt. 2]

Eleven years after the supposed final entry in a trilogy (2000's Scream 3, my review here), Scream 4 arrived. When I saw the film in the theater I remember liking it more than expected but I realized that I hadn't yet revisited it until this viewing. After rewatching the third entry just before this one, I ended up liking the former more than I previously did and the latter less.

Series creator Kevin Williamson returned to write this installment, which references the 1996 original (my review here) quite a bit. But there's no cleverness here, just sad attempts at hipness and already dated efforts to modernize the series with new technology (seriously, that dude's webcast headgear *shiver*). Sidney also kind of takes a backseat in Scream 4—Neve Campbell really feels like she's going through the motions in this one (as an actor and not just as the character).

All the new characters/actors are easily dislikable, which I suppose makes them easy fodder to be slaughtered but I didn't even find myself cheering when they were killed. There's also just a touch of mean-spiritedness to Scream 4 that I never seemed to get from the other series entries. Additionally, bland direction plagues the entire film (I am not a fan of the look at all—very digital, poorly lit, and "soft" looking).

It's fitting that Wes Craven's final film was an entry in one of the series that he is most famous for and one in which he directed every current entry. It's just a shame that the film feels stale and has not aged well already. Wes made a few really great films (and may he R.I.P.) but I'd be lying if I said I'm not curious and even a little excited at what a new directing/writing team might bring to this franchise. Ready Or Not (2019) (my review here) was a fun little film so we'll see what Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett can cook up for Scream 5 (which began filming last month and is due to be released in 2022).

You can find my Wes Craven Feature Films Ranked list here.

You can find my Scream Franchise Films Ranked list here.