Wes Craven’s “Scream” series has been a widely popular horror franchise because of its clever story, self-aware characters, its satire on the horror genre and its graphic and gory images; “Scream 4” is no exception. It has been 11 years since we saw a “Scream” film and I was worried that the series might have lost its touch, but that’s not the case because, like the predecessors, “Scream 4” has a very clever story and characters. So I will say that “Scream 4” is better than “Scream 3”  but no were near as good as “Scream” and “Scream 2”. That being said however, “Scream 4” is still a fun horror film that cleverly takes a stab (no pun intended) at the horror genre, at sequels and at remakes.

Neve Campbell reprises her role as Sidney Prescott, (protagonist from “Scream”, “Scream 2” and “Scream 3”), who is shown to be a widely successful author with a bestselling book that documents her life about the infamous Woodsboro murders. Turns out that her hometown is the last stop on her book tour and she returns to the 15 year anniversary of the first murders (i.e. the events of the first “Scream”).  For some reason she returns to a town where half of her friends got killed and even she escaped death…like 30 times. Why would she want to go back? If I were her Id keep away from, let alone mention, the town at all. But we need to get our protagonist back somehow…..so yeah, she back. Other characters returning is Sheriff Dewy Riley played by David Arquette and Gale Weathers played Courtney Cox.

However her book tour takes an ugly turn as the Ghostface killer returns and starts a massacre of killings.  We are then introduced to a new generation of characters such as Sidney’s cousin Jill (Emma Roberts), her friends Kirby (Hayden Panettiere), Charlie (Rory Culkin), Trevor (Nico Tortorella), and two new deputies; one played by Anthony Anderson and the other played by Adam Brody. So once again its up Dewy, Gale and Sidney to solve the murder spree once the bodies start piling up. But anyone in the town should know that if you are friends and/or know Sidney Prescott, then you are going to end up either dead, or horribly wounded…..but mostly likely dead.

The characters know what they are in for because what Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson have done is that they, just like in the previous films, made their characters self-aware that they are in a horror film. Such in the opening scene were we get witty dialogue that basically shoots every horror film idea we see today. Just like the predecessors the characters know the dos and don’ts.

What writer Kevin Williamson does clever is that he knows how to satirize the horror clichés. Just as in the beginning where the characters and the killer know what the clichés are. We saw Williamson do it in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd films and we see him do it again. Though “Scream 4” scares are just the clichés they are trying to stay away from. Such as the jump scare cliché, it felt fresh in 1996 but in 2011 you can see it coming.

But in retrospect, I saw “Scream 4” as more of a reimagining of what the first one was. I initially hoped it would tie in the first three films because the first three films are so cleverly constructed. However, I guess Wes Craven wanted to take a look at a satire in the reimagining genre and you can see the character’s personalities channel the characters from the first one. Such as Rory Culkin’s character channeling Jamie Kennedy’s film geek personality. That also cleverly ties in with the idea of satirizing the reimagining genre because the characters mention the new “rules” that follow in a reimaging/sequel film. Everything in the film almost stays the same but everything is changed. I guess that was Wes Craven’s intention; to make both a sequel that follows the characters from the first trilogy while passing the torch to a new cast of characters.

Yes, even though the film continually references horror clichés they continue to do those clichés that will get you killed. I’m not sure if that is supposed to be on purpose because it kind of adds to the satire like premise. But these films aren’t supposed to be taken seriously anyways, even when the over-abundance of bodies keeps piling up. That’ what makes “Scream 4” good at its own level because that’s what the “Scream” fans want;  to see which people will die while mocking the horror genre altogether. The movie also makes fun of the movie (“Stab” and its sequels), within a movie (which in a sense cleverly satirizes the movie itself).

It’s tough to explain it; which is why I think that “Scream” is one of the most cleverly written horror films ever. But ill wrap it up by saying this: “Scream 4” is a fun and amusing horror film because of the satire on which the series is built around. The characters know what they are in for, the deaths are gruesome and the horror genre is mocked. Plus the film makes almost everyone a suspect, so it is not predictable at all. Even though it recycles the same scares that first one had, it may feel dated but I feel that was the purpose (to pay homage). But who really knows? It’s supposed to be fun.

***|R|110 minutes