Dismembering Horror

Our friend and previous guest Peter Warden (from the podcast Retro Reviews) gives his thoughts on the Scream franchise, specifically why he prefers the third installment over the sequel. Happy Halloween everyone, and thanks for joining us this "Scream-tober!"

Boy oh boy, we are back and nailing it with “Scream 4!” We’ve got a mix of new and old coming together to cause havoc in the little town of Woodsboro, where once again everyone’s favorite Sydney is at the mercy of Ghostface (or as proven time and time again, Ghostface is at the mercy of Sydney). What a great note to end our spooky-Halloween-horror-film-month-Scream-a-thon! Both Ryan and Tim were fully on board with the new life breathed into the “Scream” franchise, showing that a little time away lends itself to doing a lot. Not to mention, bringing Kevin Williamson back on to write really drove home the perfect meta-meets-meta-ness we’ve grown to love so much. Double “buys” all around. Here’s hoping that when “Scream 5” arrives, it keeps up the tradition.

Where we watched: Blu-ray

Scream 4 (2011)

Directed by Wes Craven

Written by Kevin Williamson

RecommenDEADtions:  Yi Yi / Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein

Next week’s film: Piercing (2018)

“Scream” goes Hollywood! …though the trip didn’t quite hit (or stab) the way we had hoped. BUT, that doesn’t mean there still wasn’t plenty to thrill us in this intended-finale of the “Scream” series. Missing the influence of the great Kevin Williamson on writing duties may have largely been a source of our issues, but that doesn’t mean the reigns were in bad hands. We go deep into why “Scream 3” comes close to being as great as the others, and with plenty to love it still earned it a “rent'' from Tim and Ryan.

Where we watched: Blu-ray

RecommenDEADtions:  Pride and Prejudice / The Big Sleep (Novel)

Scream 3 (2000)

Directed by Wes Craven

Written by Ehren Kruger

Next week’s film: Scream 4 (2011)

Can you believe they put “Scream 2” out just one year after the original? What’s more impressive is that this sequel stays right on track with everything that made the first “Scream” great, plus (as Randy describes), it lives up to being bigger and bloodier. The guys dive into the meta-metaness that drives this film, as well as some nods to wonderful (and ancient) storytelling. No surprise here, it’s another “double buy.”

Scream 2 (1997)

Directed by Wes Craven

Written by Kevin Williamson

Where we watched: Blu-ray

RecommenDEADtions: Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge / Coco

AHHHHHHHHH! Let’s really kick off October with the one that started it all (“all” being the modern age slasher), “Scream!” That’s right, for this month of horror we continue our tradition of picking a famous horror series to dismember with Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s meta, magnum opuses. You can probably guess that “Scream” rated pretty favorably with Tim and Ryan, so join us to find out why we think this true classic sits amongst the great giants of horror!

Scream (1996)

Directed by Wes Craven

Written by Kevin Williamson

Where we watched: iTunes rental

RecommenDEADtions:  Leaving Las Vegas / This Film Is Not Yet Rated

Next week’s film: Scream 2 (1997)

Cole’s back, and as sharply dressed as ever! Now don’t get too excited, this sequel to the very first film we covered may not have blown us away as much as we had hoped, but one thing is for sure: “The Babysitter: Killer Queen” is a McG joint through and through. And Ryan took a long drag off that joint and was able to sit back and enjoy the ride. Tim, on the other hand, decided to be the cranky, wet blanket. Rating it a “rent” and “avoid” respectively, the guys enjoyed the return of all our favorite characters from the first “Babysitter” film, and revel in the blood-splattering that ensued (even when it defied the laws of physics).

The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)

Directed by McG

Written by McG and Dan Lagana

Where we watched: Netflix

RecommenDEADtions:  Slumber Party Massacre II / Ken Burns: The National Parks - America's Best Idea (documentary series)

Next week’s film: Scream (1996)

Atmosphere abounds in this creepy, creaky, haunted house horror. The sophomore entry into Ozgood Perkins’ body of work sets a tone but ultimately falls short in it’s inability to lock into a cohesive story that pays off. Nonetheless, “I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House” has fantastic skill in its artistic elements, leading Ryan to fall under the film’s spell, finding substance where Tim only found style, and leading to a “rent” and an “avoid,” respectively.

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)

Written and Directed by Ozgood Perkins

Where we watched: Netflix

RecommenDEADtions:  First Cow / Mulan (1998)

Next week’s film: The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)

LET’S GET FRENCH! “Trouble Every Day” was a great departure from the typical, American horror into some fine cuisine of hypnotic, moody-broody-cannibaly-sexy art. A lot of wonderful build-up made the squirmy catharsis that much more satisfying, and plenty of tasty themes to chew on put this in the solid “rent” category for both Ryan and Tim. 

Trouble Every Day (2001) 

Directed by Claire Denis

Written by Claire Denis and Jean-Pol Fargeau

Where we watched: Kanopy 

RecommenDEADtions: Bill and Ted Face the Music / Buzzfeed: Unsolved (YouTube series)

Next week’s film: I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House (2001)

Boy, did we drink “Thirst” right up, and quench every bit of delicious, bloody fun we were craving. Park Chan-wook is so uniquely wonderful and unlike any other filmmaker out there right now, and Ryan and Tim couldn’t get enough. Based on enthusiasm alone, the guys couldn't rate it anything less than a “buy it”. So take a few vampire leaps, turn on your super vampire-hearing, and tune into this week’s episode. After your weekly Mahjong game, of course.

Thirst (2009)

Directed by Park Chan-wook

Written by Park Chan-wook and Jeong Seo-kyeong

Where we watched: Blu-ray

RecommenDEADtions:  The Naked Kiss / Lovecraft Country (TV show)

Next week’s film: “Trouble Every Day” (2001)

Ahhhh those Italians and their wacky horror stories. This week we got treated to some anthology stylings with Boris Karloff, severed heads, nightstalkers, and a cursed ring. Good old Mario Bava and an early Giallo film that we can't help but be endeared to. This being our second Bava film, we compared and contrasted the previous one we watched ("Planet of the Vampires") which was more sci-fi-horror. This outing earned a double “stream” from the guys, with a standout third installment to the anthology.

Black Sabbath (1963)

Directed by Mario Bava

Written by Marcello Fondato

Where we watched: Mubi

RecommenDEADtions:  Gretel and Hansel / Near Dark

Next week’s film: “Thirst” (2009)