Scream: Is it just a Halloween costume, or not?
Scream: A Celebration of Slashers and Halloween Costumes
The horror film Scream was released in 1996. The film features a star-studded cast, including Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Courteney Cox, and Matthew Lillard, but Scream was more than just an ordinary slasher and stream. The plot followed mysterious killers wearing creepy Halloween costumes while stalking high school students. However, the film offered a postmodern twist: These characters weren’t just pretty faces in costumes. They were familiar with the unwritten rules for surviving horror movies. They responded to their lurking assassins with intelligence.
Scream avoided the idiotic plot flaws of similar movies. Rather than one-dimensional victims waiting their turn under the knife, the writing and performances strove to make these characters feel like real people trapped in danger. The result was a surprising film that worked on two levels. On the surface, it succeeded as a suspenseful surprise. Underneath, it played like an effective satire, taking several pointed jabs at the genre’s tropes. The film was a box office success. Unsurprisingly, the signature robe and mask outfit was one of the most popular Halloween costumes that year.
The film’s success was due in no small part to the dynamic team behind the cameras. Direction came from Wes Craven of A Nightmare on Elm Street fame, while newcomer Kevin Williamson penned the brilliant screenplay.
Scream 2 (1997) again saw Craven and Williamson team up behind the camera. He continued the story in college, skewering both his characters and campus life. Armed with the same witty dialogue and subversive gameplay, this sequel was just as smart and terrifying as the original.
Scream 3, however, was a stumbling block. Still displaying Craven’s strong direction, the (non-Williamson’s) script played on the satire and lost the suspense. Set in Hollywood, it offered a smart look at cinema, but the characters were too rigid to care. When the killings occurred, accompanied by the expected Halloween costumes, they lacked resonance.
Despite the show’s ups and downs, the Scream costume has remained popular with the ever-changing catalog of Halloween costumes. It may not be found at costume masquerades; however, more relaxed sprees often see a Scream costume or two mixed in with other classic Halloween outfits.
After an 11-year hiatus, Scream 4 will see its release this April. Once again reuniting director Craven with screenwriter Williamson, the film promises new twists on old formulas. In the intervening years, horror movies have changed, often in response to the Scream series. This fourth movie will certainly be more than just a Halloween costume ad. Fans speculate what the next installment in the franchise will be like. With expectations so high, the new movie must work hard to find approval.