What's Your Favorite Scary Movie?
31 Days of Movies for Spooky Season
Welcome back to Spooktober, dear readers! Day 10’s movie is a cult classic that holds a special place in my heart.
Title: Scream (1996)
Directed By: Wes Craven
Release Date: December 20, 1996
Where to Watch: Max
Synopsis: Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, Scream's plot follows high school student Sidney Prescott and her friends, who, on the anniversary of her mother's murder, become the targets of a costumed serial killer known as Ghostface.
Non-spoiler thoughts: If you know me, you know this is my number one horror franchise. This was also my introduction to horror and why I love the genre today. This is one to watch every spooky season (or year-round) if you’re craving the nostalgic feel of the 90s as an engaging slasher.
WARNING: The following summary contains SPOILERS.
You have been warned…
In the small town of Woodsboro, California, high school student Casey Becker finds herself home alone when she receives a phone call from an unknown caller. They engage in a conversation about horror films until the tone turns sinister, with the caller threatening her life and revealing that her boyfriend, Steve, is tied up on her patio. The caller demands that she answer questions about horror films to save Steve's life. However, Casey provides an incorrect answer regarding "Friday the 13th," which leads to Steve's tragic death. In her desperate attempt to escape, Casey is brutally stabbed by a figure in a "Ghostface" costume, and her disemboweled body is later discovered hanging from a tree by her parents.
As the news media swarm the town, a police investigation gets underway. Sidney Prescott, a classmate of Casey’s, grapples with the approaching first anniversary of her mother Maureen's rape and murder by Cotton Weary. This trauma has left Sidney unable to fully engage in her relationship with her boyfriend, Billy Loomis. With her father, Neil, away on a business trip, Sidney waits at home for her best friend, Tatum Riley. She receives a chilling call that taunts her about her mother's death, and just moments later, she is attacked by Ghostface, who vanishes just before Billy enters through her window.
Sidney grows suspicious when Billy accidentally drops a cell phone, leading to his arrest by Deputy Sheriff Dewey Riley, Tatum's brother. At the police station, Sidney confronts investigative journalist Gale Weathers, who has written a book alleging that Maureen had multiple extramarital affairs, including one with Cotton, whom Gale believes was wrongfully accused of her murder.
Sidney stays at Tatum’s house but receives another menacing call from the killer. Although the calls are traced to Neil's phone, the police are unable to locate him. After being released, Billy confronts Sidney at school and further distresses her by comparing his absent mother to Maureen's death. Following the murders, Principal Himbry is killed in his office, leading to the suspension of classes.
To celebrate the school closure, Stu Macher, Tatum's boyfriend, throws a party at his remote home. Dewey and Gale monitor the gathering, anticipating another attack from the killer. Tatum finds herself isolated in the garage, where Ghostface fatally crushes her with the garage door. After Randy Meeks learns about Himbry's murder, most partygoers rush to see his hanging body, nearly colliding with Dewey and Gale, which inadvertently leads them to Neil's hidden car.
Billy arrives at the party to reconcile with Sidney, and they finally have sex. However, their moment is shattered when Ghostface attacks, injuring Billy. Sidney manages to escape, while Ghostface kills Gale's cameraman, Kenny, and stabs Dewey. Gale, attempting to flee in her van, crashes and is knocked unconscious. Seeking refuge in the house, Sidney locks Stu and Randy outside as they accuse each other of being the killer.
A seemingly wounded Billy returns and allows Randy inside before shooting him in the shoulder, revealing himself as the killer, with Stu as his accomplice. Billy confesses that they killed Maureen after discovering her affair with his father, which led to his mother’s abandonment. The pair had abducted Neil to frame him for their crimes and then proceeded to stab each other to appear as the last survivors.
Their plans are interrupted by Gale's return, giving Sidney the chance to incapacitate Billy and kill Stu by dropping a television on his head. Billy attempts to stab Sidney but is shot by Gale. As Randy points out that horror film killers often return for a final scare, Billy lunges at them, only to be killed by Sidney with a shot to the head. As dawn breaks, Neil is rescued, Dewey is taken away by ambulance, and Gale delivers an impromptu news report on the harrowing events of the night.
