Scream

Shockingly well done, but one can't help wishing that someone would expend such zeal in reviving the musical instead of slasher films. Wes Craven's newest nightmare is a post-modern Pirandellian take on the genre that reached its heights with his own Nightmare on Elm Street, and its depths with, say Nightmare on Elm Street 6. A serial killer who has seen one too many horror films is on the loose. As long as his potential victims play by movie rules (never have sex, never say "I'll be right back") they have a chance to survive. One hopes this is the slasher film to end all slasher films. But the biggest fear is that because of Scream's box office success, sequels wait in the shadows. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 12, 2011—Lionsgate, 111 min., R, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1996's Scream sports a fine transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson, a production featurette (6 min.), “On the Scream Set” and “Drew Barrymore” behind-the-scenes segments (6 min.), a Q&A with the cast and crew (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray debut for a contemporary classic horror film.]