The Scream 4 review scores are just starting to come in. Of course, the biggest review will come from the fans starting on Friday, no matter what the ratings on Rotten Tomatoes say. Hopes for Scream 4 have been very tentative, as devotees cross their fingers for the franchise to return to form after an 11-year wait. Yet horror “fourquels” – and most movies with a “4” in the title – do not have a good track record, and this one is about right down the middle so far.
After the film’s premiere on Monday night, it was inevitable that reviews would start coming in soon. So far, Rotten Tomatoes has 12 of them, although they are mostly from Internet critics. They have given the movie a 42 percent “rotten” rating so far, with five positive write-ups and seven negative ones.
The ones who like the film don’t hold back praise. HitFix’s Drew McWeeney – who wasn’t a huge fan of the original – says that “the wait will end up being worth it” for longtime fans. Since it is “the most direct sequel to the first film,” that is probably a good sign for them.
On the other side, Brian Orndorf proclaims that “the scream has effectively become a yawn,” while Filmcritic.com’s Bill Gibron asks if the film is “a mere cash grab or the result of some manner of delusion.” Most early critics warn that it is even more comedic than scary this time, so reactions will likely depend on what elements viewers like most.
It seems unlikely that Scream 4 will earn a fresh review score on Rotten Tomatoes, which would drop the franchise to even. The first two films scored in the low 80s, while the third installment – and the least popular – dropped down to 38 percent. Therefore, unlike most horror films, there were some hopes that critics would bless this one.
If they don’t, it will serve as an ominous sign, but not a killer one. All the movie needs is enough hard core fans to embrace it, and it seems that some of them probably will. Should that happen, Dimension Studios may push for a few more sequels, especially with several new characters in place to succeed the old favorites.
Director Wes Craven said that no new script is set, but writer Kevin Williamson had ideas for a new trilogy before this project started. It all depends on producer Bob Weinstein, and on whether this movie makes it big.
The idea of more films may excite fans, but that may change if they are discouraged by Scream 4. The first review batch suggests that a few might be, yet others could still beg to differ.
Sources
Rotten Tomatoes- “Scream 4”
HitFix- “Scream 4 should delight fans, marks return to first film”
Brian Orndorf- “Film Review- Scream 4”
Filmcritic.com- “Scream 4”
Cinemablend- “Craven Says Scream 5 and 6 Could Happen If Bob Weinstein Is Up For It”
