# Scream 3 (2000)

### reviewed by
Homer Yen

    `Scream 3' – More Stabbings, Less Fun
    by Homer Yen
    (c) 2000

In general, I've always hated the horror genre. I do not like films where the primary engine of entertainment involves the spillage of gallons of blood and where characters are brainless morons who more or less deserve to meet the fate of having a knife plunged through their backs. But I found a new respect for the genre when I saw the first `Scream.' It was an inventive whodunit/slasher flick that was unexpectedly clever and truly frightening (and made my Top 10 for that year). `Scream 2' also managed to establish a nice pace and a fair amount of tension. Alas, `Scream 3' is succumbing to what all horror sequels begin to suffer. And that's a lack of creativity.

`Scream 3' takes place in Hollywood where filming of `Stab 3: Return to Woodsboro' is underway. Woodsboro, as you may recall, is the sleepy town where the stabbings first took place. A new series of murders begins to unfold. The victims are cast members of `Stab 3' and at each murder scene the killer points out that Sidney Prescott (recurring heroine Neve Campbell) will be an eventual victim. Also reprising their roles are David Arquette as the meek Dewey Riley and Courtney Cox Arquette as the self-absorbed, story-hungry reporter, Gale Weathers. Dewey is a technical advisor on the set of `Stab 3' having lived through the Woodsboro events himself. Gale shows up after having heard about the murders.

As with the first two `Scream' movies, a couple of trademark elements are carried forth to this installment. The first element is the explanation of the rules of the game, and this is my favorite scene. Delivered posthumously on videotape by Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy), a victim back in Woodsboro, he explains that Sidney is caught up in a trilogy. Secrets will be uncovered and in the end and only Sidney or the killer will survive (I'm hoping that he's also telling us that there won't be a Scream 4'). The Whodunit element is also a fun aspect. The audience continually tries to guess whom the killer is. Is it the police detective who seems to have an obsession with the Woodsboro murders? Is it a low-life producer who seems to be hiding something? Is it one of the `Stab 3' cast members taking their role too seriously? Just when you think you know who it might be, you'll discover that you were wrong. And, of course, there's the multitude of `BOO!' moments. Dark buildings, creaking doors, spooky music and that all-too-haunting ghost mask can just be unsettling at times.

These are the elements that made the `Scream' movies hip and witty. But `Scream 3' has lost a little of its edge. And it's not really the fault of the scriptwriter or any of the cast members. This film just suffers from a ‘been-there-done-that' kind of feeling. Even the looks on the actors' faces seem a bit tired and worn. Another problem was that the characters were not as lovable as the ones from the other `Scream' movies. When they died (like Randy), I cared. Here, a couple of annoying characters derserved to be stabbed. Also, the killer who finally reveals him/herself is totally arbitrary, resulting in a very weak payoff, unlike the first two installments. `Scream' is still levels above than the odious `I Know What You Did Last Summer' series. And I give director/creator Wes Craven a lot of credit for reinventing the horror genre. However, it's time to put this baby to rest.

    Grade: C+

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