Scream 3

Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is being stalked once again by another serial killer, but her character doesn’t become an active participant in the story until late in the movie. The focus is more on mixed-matched couple Dewey and Gail (real life married couple Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette) who meet up with each other on the set of a movie detailing the murders that surrounded Sydney in the last two films in this series. Dewey is a bodyguard to Jennifer (Parker Posey), a neurotic actress who provides much of the comic relief.

As usual, everyone is either a suspect or potential victim, but in this everything-but-the-kitchen-sink plot, the red herrings have become too familiar and the cleverness that was apparent in the first “Scream” has grown thin.

There are some nice homages paid to the horror movie genre. Legendary horror director/producer Roger Corman appears in an early scene as a studio executive. One ill-fated character makes a reference to Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” when they really mean “Psycho”. The killer takes out a victim then looks them over just like Michael Myers did to his victims in the “Halloween” movie series. Unfortunately, the plot, which involves another secret concerning Sydney’s murdered mom, leads to a conclusion that uses a plot device that’s been done in too many movies in the past.

While there is talk of sex, no one actually indulges. Several characters are shown drinking, and foul language is in abundance, including taking the Lord’s name in vain. The gore is not as bad as in the prior movies (“Scream” or “Scream 2”), but the violence is still high. Recommended only for fans of this series.