Scream 3

Movie review by Charles Cassady Jr., Common Sense Media
Scream 3 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Same violent stuff in hit slasher saga, for the third time.

R 2000 117 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 56 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that while there's less extreme bloodshed here than in the other Scream features, stabbings and throat-slittings are still abundant, matched with (sometimes exceeded by) the swearing. The movie industry is described as an environment where vapid starlets boost their careers by having sex with influential men. There are ghoulish and defamatory references to the imperiled heroine's late mother throughout, and toward the end the idea of parental rejection comes to the fore as a motive for mass-murder.

Community Reviews

deez123456
deez123456 Adult
January 2, 2022
age 11+

common sense media

I think if your kid is over 11 he can indeed watch scream. I believe it is really good but the first one if better, but I am getting of lane. If your child is mature enough and doesn't get terrified easily.
1 person found this helpful.
RichManGold
RichManGold Adult
December 20, 2020
age 14+
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the last semi-sendup of slasher films, Scream 2, we learned of a hit horror film-within-the-film called Stab inspired by the killings in Scream. That detail dominates SCREAM 3, centered around the studio making Stab 3, third of the true-crime perils of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who by now has suffered so many attacks from masked marauders that she lives in behind security locks and alarm systems, and works anonymously at home on a violence-counseling hotline. Suddenly, knife murders by a new killer wearing the familiar robe strike Los Angeles, causing police to shut down the "Stab 3" set. Sidney, meanwhile, is tormented by dreams about her mother (whose offscreen rape-murder years before set in motion all the Scream atrocities in the first place). She emerges from hiding to help hunt for the latest slasher who's obsessed with her.

Is It Any Good?

The third in the series is watchable and entertaining -- if you can take the blood, swearing and cynicism -- but shows signs of stretching characters and gimmicks a little too far. When you've been Screaming over three movies, it's not surprising that the voice starts to get hoarse. Two new characters (Emily Mortimer, Parker Posey) are self-centered actors who'll do anything to make it big, giving director Wes Craven the chance to skewer the movie industry. Roger Corman and Carrie Fisher provide campy cameos. The whodunit narrative is unwieldy this time, but to the film's credit, you don't need to see the first two to enjoy this one.

Late in the movie the thrill-ride takes on a disturbing dimension with ideas of parental neglect and dysfunctional relationships that give birth to monsters, falling in line with Craven's other horror films in which young people discover horrible things connected to their parents. There's also a suggestion at the end that the Scream storyline represents a maturation arc for Sidney, who learns to get over her fears about the past and embrace the present.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how fictitious violence portrayed in entertainment might incite real-life mayhem. They can also talk about whether screen bloodshed has a social effect.

Movie Details

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