Two of the Scream franchise’s original stars, Neve Campbell and David Arquette, have revealed the first horror films that they ever saw. Throughout the history of Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s beloved Scream series, one of the key components has been the connection to the grand history of scary movies. Used as a continuous form of motivation, as well as a tongue-in-cheek method to determine the “rules” of survival within a horror movie, the Scream films consistently offer a unique twist on the slasher horror genre.
From the initial moments of the first Scream film in 1996, the notion of being a horror film fan was highlighted. The opening sequence – easily one of the most memorable in horror movie history – sees the unsuspecting Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) asked the question “What’s your favorite scary movie” over the phone by the Ghostface killer. With something as simple as a relatively standard question, the Scream franchise was born. Each subsequent sequel found its own way to incorporate horror movie-making mythology, allowing horror nerds to not only revel in references to their favorite scary movies, but to also have the opportunity to be introduced to other films that they might not have known about.
But while fans might already be well familiar with the favorite horror films of many of the characters in the Scream series, it’s not often that the stars of the franchise reveal the first horror films that they ever saw. While speaking with Dread Central recently, series regulars Neve Campbell and David Arquette were asked what the first horror movies they ever saw were. For Campbell, it was the 1980 psychological thriller The Changeling, while Arquette couldn’t quite narrow it down, but believed it was either Halloween or Jaws:
Campbell: I saw The Changeling with George C. Scott. Have you ever seen that? I was eleven. I was at a sleepover and I’ve never forgiven that friend. Like, I had nightmares for a month. That’s a terrifying movie.
Arquette: I think mine was either Jaws or Halloween. Both of those are like, early, early memory horror films.
In addition to revealing their first horror movie experiences, Campbell and Arquette were also asked to name the first horror film they saw that really scared them and changed their lives. Both Scream stars agreed that it was Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s famed horror novel, The Shining. For horror fans, all of the films mentioned by Arquette and Campbell are legendary works, and although The Changeling is perhaps a slightly more obscure choice than the other films mentioned, its status as a genuinely chilling horror classic is well established.
Seeing two of the original stars of the Scream franchise talk about the horror movies that impacted their lives (and arguably their careers) is a genuine treat for fans of the franchise as well as of horror films in general. It also offers a small explanation as to why Scream has been so successful for so long. Put plainly, the franchise is a living embodiment of all things horror. From its plots that intertwine elements of horror, both established and new to its characters who understand the mechanics of horror, to its real-life stars and the films that impacted them, a rich history of scary movie filmmaking continues to thrive.
Source: Dread Central