912. Scream

Scream
1996
Directed by Wes Craven

I adore movies that are clearly made for cinephiles.  This is a personal favorite of mine and I am grateful that it has come along, as the recent films I have been reviewing have merely been okay.  Finally, something fantastic.

Casey Becker receives a phone call from an unknown person while she waiting for her boyfriend to come over.  At first, the caller is flirty but he quickly becomes sadistic.  He tells her that if she can't answer his horror movie trivia questions, he will kill her and her boyfriend. By the way, I would totally have nailed this.  If you know horror movies (and to fully appreciate this film this description has to apply to you), you know what happens next.  We then meet Sidney Prescott, whose mother was killed a year ago.  Her boyfriend Billy wants her to move on from this, so he can get laid.  But he's Skeet Ulrich, so he is still charming.  Anyway, there are more killings and it quickly becomes clear that Sidney is being targeted.

I don't know why I went into such detail with the plot.  The jokes and irony come from the fact that the plot is a cliche; I probably could have just said "It's like Halloween."  Anyway, I was initially wary of this one, as horror movie parodies are often cringeworthy.  But I love how this film still delivers; it's still a horror movie, even with all the in jokes and self awareness.  There are genuinely frightening moments and great twists.

Personally, I liked Scream 4 better, but I understand why this entry was selected.  Definitely a must see for any movie fan.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Linda Blair makes a cameo as a reporter.

Ghostface's costume was originally going to be white so that he would look more like a ghost.  However, his robes were changed to black so that he wouldn't look like a KKK member.

713. A Nightmare on Elm Street

A Nightmare on Elm Street
1984
Directed by Wes Craven

My first experience with Wes Craven was Scream, so I considered myself a fan until I was exposed to Last House on The Left and The Hills Have Eyes, both of which made Texas Chainsaw Massacre seem wholesome.  This turned out to be more my speed when it comes to the horror genre, probably because there wasn't any sexual violence.  Hurray!

Freddy Krueger is a psychotic killer who is capable of infiltrating your dreams and slashing you with his razor fingers.  So two cool trademarks.  As with any horror villain, he starts by killing the sluttiest among us.

I have never seen any of the sequels or remakes but I understand that Freddy Krueger becomes much more vocal and saucy.  I prefer Freddy now, largely silent and creepy as hell.  Of course, it is a pretty predictable movie but at least it has some fun twists.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Over 500 gallons of fake blood were used in creating this film.

Johnny Depp's first film role.

629. The Hills Have Eyes

The Hills Have Eyes
1977
Directed by Wes Craven

All right, we all know how I am going to react to this.  There is another pretty upsetting rape scene that we have to sit through.  Would the movie really be that different if that was taken out?  I don't understand why it was necessary.  I guess I should just be grateful we didn't have to deal with Last House on the Left.

The Carter family is on a road trip, but their car crashes.  Of course, the hills that the Carters are traveling in are infested by cannibalistic rapists.  It's Craven subtlety that makes his early horror films so special.

There is nothing clever in this film.  It's simply shocking, disturbing act after shocking, disturbing act.  Unlike a movie like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I don't feel like there is any real need to see this if you are interested in the evolution of the horror genre.  Completely skippable.

RATING: -----

Interesting Facts:

Craven considered this to be an homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Craven originally wanted the baby to die, but the cast and crew threatened to walk if that happened.  Because, you know, that's going too far.