For many horror fans, Wes Craven's Scream is a perfect movie. It's got a main character with a tragic backstory, a killer motivated by revenge, and it's also a meta take on the genre. There are twists and turns like any other scary story, but the characters know a lot about what goes down in these types of scenarios, and that makes the viewing experience much more entertaining.
The franchise, which consists of four movies so far, satirizes at the horror genre while also being a solid entry itself. Here are the five best ways that the franchise parodied horror movies, along with the five worst.
Best: Randy Says "Look Behind You" While Ghostface Really Is Behind Him
In the first movie, the characters have a big party, which is a popular horror movie trope. Randy (Jamie Kennedy), the resident film geek who knows everything, says "look behind you" while Ghostface really is behind him. This is one of the best ways that the movie makes fun of the horror genre.
So many times, a character will have no clue that someone is actually behind them, and they will be followed around their house for quite a while before the killer finally reveals themselves.
Worst: The Characters Often Watch The Stab Movies
The horror genre is a huge moneymaker at the box office, and fans are always looking for new scary movies to get into. Some franchises have so many movies that it seems like they're never going to end.
In the Scream series, the characters often watch the Stab movies, a franchise based on Sidney Prescott's real-life horror story. It's a meta take and a movie within a movie, but it often falls flat. The movies are bad on purpose, and it just ends up feeling like something that fans have seen too many times.
Best: The Rules That Randy Explains
Randy talks about the rules that you have to follow if you don't want to die in a horror movie. He says "You may not survive the movie if you have sex," and "You may not survive the movie if you say 'I'll be right back,' 'Hello?' or 'Who's there?'"
This is one of the best ways that Scream parodies the horror genre. The rules are one of the most famous aspects of the franchise, and they change a bit with each movie. There is always one film nerd character who explains them, and it works really well.
Worst: Billy And Stu's Big Moment
When Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) let Sidney know that they're the serial killers who have been terrorizing everyone, they stand next to each other with their heads close together. This is a wink to the movie called The Thing With Two Heads.
There must have been a clearer way to handle this big moment, though, as it's possible that this reference went over many viewer's heads.
Best: Billy Climbs Into Sidney's Bedroom Window Like A Nightmare On Elm Street
When Billy climbs into Sidney's bedroom window, this is a reference to A Nightmare On Elm Street when Glen (Johnny Depp) climbs into Nancy's room.
It's a lot more exaggerated in Scream because Sidney isn't sure that she wants to lose her virginity and she gets really upset with Billy, worried that her dad is going to find out. This is a great take on a famous horror movie scene.
Worst: Gale Weathers Covering The Story In Each Movie
Gale Weathers, played by Courteney Cox, is a huge part of the Scream franchise, but the character is sort of weak. Through her lame coverage of the murders, Gale is a parody of small-town reporters who want to hit it big by uncovering an incredible story and writing a book about it.
Gale's desperate to get fame and fortune, but her character just isn't that compelling or funny. She's more annoying than anything else.
Best: Technology Is A Bigger Deal In Scream 4
As quoted in the fourth film: "New versions are always 2.0, so the latest technology is always involved and integral to the plot. This means the killer may start filming the murders."
In Scream 4, the characters text and talk about how the killer is filming the murders this time around. This parody works super well as there are so many horror films where technology is involved, from Countdown to even The Ring.
Worst: Billy Quotes Norman Bates
When Billy quotes Psycho's Norman Bates and says, "We all go a little mad sometimes," this is one of the worst moments in the Scream franchise.
Sure, he's trying to poke fun at an iconic line, but it just feels awkward and silly. It also takes away how scary it actually is that Sidney's boyfriend has been trying to hurt her this entire time.
Best: Billy References The Fake Blood Used In Carrie
Billy makes a reference to Carrie when he's talking about the fake blood that he's using. He says, "Mmmm... corn syrup. Same stuff they used for pig's blood in 'Carrie.'"
This is a great parody of the famous Stephen King film because everyone knows how much blood was in that iconic prom scene.
Worst: Sidney Comments On The Way That Girls Act In Horror Movies
Sidney rants about the way that girls act in horror movies: "Some stupid killer stalking some big-breasted girl who can't act who's always running up the stairs when she should be going out the front door. It's insulting."
And yet this is what many female characters in the franchise do... so it's not something that lands very well.