Scream has been lauded as groundbreaking for its self-aware references to the horror genre. There are several instances where the film directly acknowledges the tropes it engages in. While that is fun and unique, it is not enough to carry this movie by itself. Scream is certainly meta, but it doesn't take the next step with that awareness. The story still falls into predictable clichés that slasher flicks have become known for. So, even though this gimmick makes the movie above average, it fails to go too far beyond that.
Plus, from a technical perspective, Scream is standard. Visually, there are tilted angles but that is the only technique used on that front (and it's a basic one). Meanwhile, the soundtrack, editing, and effects are all fair but forgettable. Overall, there isn't much filmmaking here that stands out. The mask has become iconic so that was a great costume choice, Drew Berrymore's opening scene is a strong hook, and Matthew Lillard provides a charismatic performance. However, those are all the positives of note in this film. Therefore, while Scream has a few tricks up its sleeve, there simply isn't enough here to make it more than a fun guilty pleasure.
Writing: 6/10
Direction: 6/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Acting: 7/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 6.5/10
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