Scream 4

  • Review Date: April 14, 2011
  • R
  • Genre: Horror
  • 2011
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Ghostface killer returns for more bloody slayings.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the long-awaited fourth installment in the popular Scream slasher series is ultra-gory but as smart and self-aware as the previous movies. There's tons of blood and gore (stabbings, visible intestines, and more) and lots of strong language (including multiple uses of "f--k" and "s--t"), and one sequence shows heavy teen drinking. There's also some flirting and almost kissing, but sex isn't a big issue. In one update from the original films, the movie's teen characters now spend a lot of time on social media (Facebook is mentioned once). Teens are quite likely to want to see this one, but parents should take the R rating seriously.

  • Most of the teens in this movie behave at least somewhat badly. They swear, drink, and flirt, and they spend too much time with social media. And even the grown-up characters seem to have used their bad experiences for personal gain.
  • Most of the movie's characters aren't intended to be role models, but Sidney continues to exhibit heroic tendencies and bravery. In one scene, she rushes into danger to try to save a teen. And Dewey is still a model citizen, showing bravery, leadership, and integrity.
  • Tons of blood -- pumping, gushing, gurgling, spraying, and splattered on walls. One victim even has her intestines on display. Many gory, vivid stabbings and a few shootings, and at least a dozen dead bodies. Also several fights, and characters are often tossed about, slammed, and battered.
  • The teen characters are aware of their sexuality, but it's not often discussed in detail or shown. Two teens flirt and almost kiss, but they're interrupted. Teens talk about romantic relationships, but without any physical or sexual details.
  • Strong, frequent language includes many uses of "f--k" and "s--t" in various permutations, plus "bitch," "t-ts," "for God's sake," "t-ts," "a--hole," "douche," "eat me," "ass," "hell," "damn," "oh my God," "goddamn," and "d--k."
  • Facebook is mentioned in one scene.
  • Teens are seen drinking hard liquor to the point of drunkenness during a party.

What's the story?

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returns to the small town of Woodsboro on the last stop of her successful book tour. She reconnects with Dewey (David Arquette), now the sheriff, and his wife, Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), who has given up reporting to write fiction. But no sooner does Sidney arrive in town than the Ghostface killings begin again. Before long she discovers that her entire family -- including cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) and aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell), as well as Jill's friends -- are in trouble. Worse, this time the rules regarding sequels, remakes, reboots, and webcams are far too complicated and no longer apply. Will this finally be the end of Sidney?


Is it any good?

 

Director Wes Craven more or less phoned in the last movie in the series, Scream 3, but here he and screenwriter Kevin Williamson appear refreshed and ready to attack the franchise with renewed vigor. With Williamson's clever, grinning screenplay and Craven's sharp, crisp direction, the movie juggles many postmodern themes, including the issue of many horror sequels, remakes, and reboots, as well as the explosion of social media and the Internet.

But these many themes never become unwieldy; rather, the movie constantly stays on its toes. Just as something begins to smell fishy, the movie points it out before anyone else can. It's alternately funny and tense just when it needs to be. And even though the younger characters barely resonate, the older ones bring their histories to this new movie and build on them dramatically. It's just too bad that Sid and the others don't have a relationship with old Ghostface, who's brought to life by a new character in each film; that could have been an interesting take.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the film's intense violence and blood. Is it necessary to get the movie's point across? How does it compare to other horror movies you've seen? What's the impact of these kinds of images?

  • Is the movie scary? Does it concentrate more on fright, suspense/mystery, or clever references? What would make the movie scarier -- or less scary?

  • How does the movie depict teen depict teen drinking? Are there realistic consequences?

  • How does the movie portray use of social media like Facebook? How has media's influence on teens changed since the original Scream movies came out?


This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Adult
May 1, 2011
 
worst of the series.
In Scream 4, Sidney Prescott, now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey and Gale, who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (played by Emma Roberts) and her Aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell). Unfortunately Sidney's appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends, and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger. The newest installment in the acclaimed franchise that ushered in a new wave of horror in the 1990s is written by series creator Kevin Williamson and directed by suspense master and director of the first trilogy, Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox-Arquette, David Arquette, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody, Mary McDonnell, Marley Shelton, Nico Tortorella, Marielle Jaffe, Kristen Bell, Anna Paquin, Lucy Hale, Shanae Grimes, Aimee Teegarden and Brittany Robertson. well well well i will call this 4th installment of this beloved slasher series, the worst of the series. well i wasn't much anticipated for this movie i mean i am so tired of watching Ghost face, i mean enough already. it got much mixed reviews, and i didn't liked it too. only extremely die hard fans of this series and this genre will love it but i didn't. Scream 1 was the best ever, Scream 2 was good, Scream 3 was average and now this one is a bad movie, the worst of the series. Critics really panned Scream 3 but still i think atleast it had a somewhat good plot and story was not that bad but this one was very badly written. i knew how this movie will turn out i mean what is left there to explore. scream movies have lost its charm the slasher guilty pleasure we use to get the fun thrill suspense it had it is just lost. this movie lacked a good plot, story was very below average and the screenplay was the worst ever written, seriously screenplay was very bad. acting performances were awful too, the new cast didn't do well according to me. Hayden Panettiere was okay, Emma Roberts needs to work alot on her skills but still i appreciate her efforts. other supporting cast was average. all the guest appearances were kind of good. the old cast was kind of lost somewhere i don't know but David Arquette was good. Direction was not that good i must say. movie was very dull and almost empty in many points. the beginning guest appearances the movie within a movie thing grabbed my attention and my interest but was lost in the middle ofcourse. the end scene were awsome i must say. all in all i didn't liked this movie at all, disappointed very much but if you are a fan a big fan you might like it.

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Teen, 14 years old
May 1, 2011
 
LVE IT X!! ") :]

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Parent of 5 year old
May 1, 2011
 

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Kid, 13 years old
April 23, 2011
 
Good movie.
I only want to go to this movie because Black Veil Brides is releasing the cover song for there new album in this movie. Yeah. Of course the movie is graphic, it's a horror movie!! The language is also bad. But it is also funny. I love the Scream Movies. They are the best!!! GO BVB!!!

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Teen, 17 years old
April 22, 2011
 
Very Good Movie
This movie was very good, not as good as the first one of course, but definately one I could watch again and again. It has a lot of jump scenes in it, well at least there were a lot of parts that made me jump, and a lot of gory violence. They also had a very good twist in the movie too. Recommend this to any scream lovers or just horror movie fans in personal...

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Teen, 16 years old
April 20, 2011
 
NOT FOR LITTLE KIDS
Good movie but not the best for little kids. NIGHTMARES!

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Adult
April 15, 2011
 
Excellent Horror Sequel
Scream 4 is everything an original Scream fan would look for. It's bloody, it's scary, it's funny, and of course it's entertaining. Scream 4 ws a huge improvement from Scream 3. The movie grabs you from the bizzare and bloody opening scene all the way till the unveiling of the killer. The film is thoroughly entertaining and should please the majority of Scream fans and also generate many new Scream fans. While it's not quite as incredible as the original, Scream 4 holds its own in one of the best horror movie franchises ever. I'll for sure be looking forward to a Scream 5

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Teen, 15 years old
May 8, 2011
 
You will Scream 4 More
Scream, the fourth movie in the Scream Series. Great opening kill was really impressed with the opening kill. Scream 4 some scenes made me jump but it just wasn`t that scary. Regardless of that, it was still a good movie that keeps you guessing until the end. This movie has lots of blood and swears in it. Another problem with it it they shouldn`t have had the final scene, it would set up for more sequels, and just pointless. Overall, fun time at Scream 4 may not scare you but keeps you entertained with all the killings and blood (especially opening kill).

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Teen, 14 years old
April 26, 2011
 
Great movie for ages 13+
This movie is way better than the first. There is a lot of blood in it and language. Great twist!

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Parent of 11, 14, 15, and 18 year old
April 5, 2011
 
This one is a bit better than the other ones. Although it contains knife murders, it also is filled with swearing. Words include s*it, a*s, c*ck, w*ore, b*tch, t*ts, d*ck, d*mn, b*stard, p*ick, p*ssy and I even thought I heard one c*nt. The F-word is used nine times. Some sexual material.

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This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Studio:Dimension
Director:Wes Craven
Cast:Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, Neve Campbell
Genre:Horror
Run time:103 minutes
Theatrical release date:April 15, 2011
DVD release date:October 4, 2011
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:strong bloody violence, language and some teen drinking

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
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