“Scream” by Sarah Arellano
Rated R in 1996 is the original “Scream” movie. My all-time favorite Halloween movie ever. It’s the perfect blend of jump scares, brutal kills, mind games, and that tongue-in-cheek humor that pokes fun at horror characters who never seem to make the smart choice.
I first saw the movie back in high school, and ever since, it’s become my must-watch every October. This year alone, I’ve already watched it five times just in October—tonight being the fifth.
The movie always starts the same way—with the icon of the entire franchise (besides the actual killer): the girl with the blonde bob.
A young Drew Barrymore, actually. And every time I watch it, I go through the same routine of wondering why she looks so familiar before it hits me—oh right, it’s Drew Barrymore. I already knew that. Duh. *hand to the face emoji
It starts out creepy—obviously, it’s a scary movie, so you’re naturally on edge. But the moment the voice on the phone, who we later find out is Ghostface, switches from playful and flirty to cold and threatening is soooo good.
And after watching it so many times, I’ve turned it into a little game—trying to figure out which killer is speaking in each scene, knowing there are two behind the mask. . . . . . I’m about 80% sure it's Billy Lumis.
When Ghostface breaks into the house and starts running around while Barrymore’s character hides, it does two things for the viewer. First, it makes him feel human—he’s not some unstoppable, supernatural force because he can’t find her right away. From that moment, we know he can be defeated. There’s no magic, no ghostly possession—just a good old-fashioned slasher.
After the opening scene we were introduced to out main character Sidney, and her boyfriend. And honestly, by now you’d think people would learn—if there’s a shocking murders that somehow relates to you even in the slightest bit, it’s probably the boyfriend.
I mean, the red flags were practically waving in 4K, but sure—classic horror logic.
Then we get to the school scenes and are introduced to the other yet unreviled, Stu
Macher and his girlfriend, Sidney’s best friend, Tatum Riley. Who I aspire to be when I grow up (I’m 21). She had this confidence about her that was inspiring to a high school girl trying to figure out her way in life.
I was so sad when she was killed in the end it felt so wrong, so un deserved, but in reality I know that’s what makes it good. It is just so sad she died.
The next big scene is Ghostface attacking Sidney at her house, the same scene where its revoked that the killer has something to do with Sidney's mother’s murder, which happened exactly one year before the killings started.
Again! Looking back, it’s always the boyfriend you know. Even during the fountain scene before this one Stu and Billy are the only one with girl friends while Randy on the other hand, survives and doesn’t have a girlfriend.
To end the chase scene Billy Loomis appears out of nowhere with a mysterious phone.
He must be the killer.
Except his phone records for that phone come back clean. (But we don’t know that for like another 30 minutes)
Since at this point the main suspect is Billy but at this point there’s only a little over an hour still left of the movie, the killer can’t be caught this early.
To make the watcher second guess that themselves thinking it's Billy when Sid receives call from Ghostface at her best friend Tatum’s house and Billy is supposedly locked up for the night,
The next day at school Billy is released and there, he runs into Sidney, our main character and explains how he’s not even mad.
He somehow decides to forgive Sidney for accusing him, a major red flag. I’m sorry but if my significant other didn’t trust me to the point of accusing me of being a murderer, I would not go back to them–a relationship is built on trust and all that. Let alone bring up our sex life as a couple to them, because that’s such a big concern (note the sarcasm)
But also Sidney, girl, you accused this boy (Cause let’s face it he’s technically still in high school no matter how much he does not look like it, (which is a whole other thing about actors not looking like the age of the characters they're playing.)) of murder and attempted murder on you and he immediately forgives you and is more concerned about your. SEX. LIVES. . . . . . sorry but that’s a no for me.
Sidney’s mother’s death is a recurring event that is constantly being brought up and referred too. The call Ghostface made to Sidney at Tatum’s house hinted at the wrong person being in prison for her mothers death. This is a problem because Sidney was the one the id’d the her moms murder, and deep down she’s been unsure of her choice the whole time but was too scared and embarrassed to say it could have been someone else.
Another day at school goes by, Sidney’s the talk of the halls and people are running around with masks. Why? Because they are either a) stupid and unempathetic or b) are scared and are using humor to navigate this uncertain time.
But the end of the school days brings us some news, a party at Stu Macher's house, to rebel and celebrate the curfew started by the town that night.
Macher's house is an old modern Victorian style in the middle of nowhere, with no neighbors within ear distance. Perfect place to end a slasher horror film at . . .
. . .No one can hear them scream
Once the party starts getting in full swing Stu realises they're running out of beer and sends Tatum into the basement to get some the fridge. In the basement she is cornered by none other than Ghostface.
Not believing it the actual killer Tatum talks to him like it one of her friends, Randy, who everyone else has been accusing throughout the movies, (they were pushing him so hard to be the villain but honestly I forget about randy most of the time except for his iconic couch scene).
“Oh you wanna play Psycho killer? Can I be the helpless victim? Okay let's see. . . “ Tatum says before transitioning her voice into a higher pitch trying to sound extra cute and feminine… ”No, please don’t kill me Mr. Ghostface, I want to be in the sequel.”
Shortly after Tatum realizes it is actually the killer and not Randy, sadly it’s too late and Tatum is killed by a garage door.
An Icon died in that scene, giving us one of the most iconic lines in killer horror movie culture.
Due to all the noise from the party, no one hears Tatum die, no one knows the killer is at the party. People even start to leave due to the curfew and still don’t notice Tatum's dead body hanging by the garage door. Those who stay watch a scary movie and learn about the rules of surviving a scary movie.
Like don’t say “I’ll be right back.”
Billy showed up to talk to Sidney, they went upstairs to talk and to “talk.”
Dewey takes Gale Weathers who was there at the party hunting down a story, already having a history with Sidney. They find Sidney’s dad’s car who’s been missing since the first attack at Sidney’s house.
Skipping back to Sidney and Billy after their done “talking” Billy is attacked by Ghostface, making it impossible for the reader to even think it's still him. The attention is now starting to switch to Stu Macher.
The Facts:
- Cassey the first victim was Stu’s ex-girlfriend, who broke up with him for her current boyfriend.
- Stu was not at prison when the killer called Tatum's phone. A number that Stu would know already since he’s dating Tatum.
- He throws the party at his house and killer has no problem getting in
- He said, “ I’ll be right back,” before most of everyone let to go see the old latest victim.
- Meaning he was still in the house when Billy was attackers.
And if not Billy, and not Randy, It must be Stu.
Ghostface chases Sidney around the house for a while before she jumps out a window and lands on a seemingly lucky placed boat.
Gale and Dewey get back to the house, and state trying to call for back not knowing what to expect going into that house.
Gale finds her camera man dead, calls for help and tries to drive away only to end up in a ditch.
Sidney finds Dewey. . . . with a knife in his back from the killer.
Making the only one still left alive her, Randy, and Stu, who conveniently popped up again after attacking his last victim–but wait Billy is also still alive.
Cause yes after getting stabbed multiple times and being left without medical care means you can still walk and talk like nothing happened. . . . . .NO!!!!!
Which is why when he gets Sid to open the door she locked out the other two with, and finds only Randy to then shoot him does it become clear that it is not clear how he is still alive.
Until it is obvious he wasn't actually stabbed and to make even more clear the character explains the blood by talking about its recipe and movie inspiration.
Wait, but, what about Stu, isn’t he still a killer?
Weren’t the signs pointing to him?
Yes, because there were actually 2 killers to the one Ghostface... Stu and Billy.
With Randy now dead, Dewey with a knife in his back, Gale passed out in a ditch, no one can help Sidney when she’s being cornered by Stu and Billy.
But we do finally get some answers in Classic bad guy characters: they explain their plan to the protagonist giving enough time to the protagonist to escape and turn around and use their plan against them.
Stu and Billy killed her mother, their motive:
- Her mom was having an affair with Billy's dad and the reason his mom left him.
Their plan:
- Use Sidney's father (who's been held hostage this whole time) to frame the murders on, his motive would be the anniversary of his murdered wife setting him off sending him on a killing spree that would kill his daughter and take his own life.
- How Billy and Stu were to survive, stab themselves good enough to look convincingly, lucky, victims.
Why do they get to live? Well, to plan the sequel.
“There has to be a sequel.” Stu Macher (“Scream”)
But wait, Gale Weather is still alive and she has a gu oh wait no she doesn’t Billy knocked her out.
Sidney runs away and hides in the house though, calling to taunt the guys that they’ll never find her. Stu reveals that he’s feeling weak and that Billy might have stabbed him too deep.
Billy find her, they fight, she fights Stu, drops atv on hippos head., RANDY’S ALIVE!!
GALE'S AWAKE.
She shoots Billy!!!
Billy’s still alive, Yayyyyy (note the sarcasm)
Sidney, like a boss, takes the gun from Gale and double taps Billy.
The End.
Oh Shit, Dewey is also still alive, and being taken away in an ambulance.
Does it make sense why Dewey lived? No.
Does it make sense how no one knew Sidney’s dad was there the entire time? No
Does it make sense how Randy lived after getting shot, hit, and chased? No
Does it make sense how Sidney kept using her arm like it was fine after getting stabbed in the shoulder? No
But, was that still one of the best scary movies ever? Yes.
Billy Lumis, was so meticulous about his plan that he honestly could have pulled it off, but his narcissism to bed in the “movie” is what got him caught.
I full heartedly believed that he planned to get “caught” by Sidney with the phone after Ghostface attacked her.
I also full heartedly believe that that is the moment he got himself caught.
While the plan was to make his name clear to police so after the situation he would still look innocent, was smart, it also just caused too much unease and mistrust between him and Sidney; and they never recovered.
In the end, “Scream” isn’t just a scary movie—it’s the one that changed what scary movies could be. It’s clever without trying too hard, edgy without losing its sense of going too far, and even after all these years, it still hits just as hard. The characters are messy, the choices are questionable, all around, but that’s what makes it feel real. It’s the kind of movie that sticks with you long after the credits roll. It’s iconic, chaotic, and honestly? Still undefeated in the slasher genre, in my opinion.
And it will continue to be my most watched movie of October every year!!!
