In its televised incarnation, "Scream" opens on a familiar horror scenario: a young woman, home alone, being stalked by a mysterious stranger who may or may not be inside the house. Unlike the stunning, jaw-dropping sequence with Drew Barrymore that opened the first movie, this scene is heavy on exposition but light on suspense because let's face it: we have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen. As it turns out, Nina (the opening victim) was no angel, and the secrets brought to light by her death begin to affect her circle of high school friends, acquaintances, and enemies.
Enter our heroine, Emma, played with backbone and genuine, girl-next-door charm by Willa Fitzgerald. Her absent father is the sole survivor of a now-legendary murderous rampage in their small town years before, and her mother may or may not hold vital information about what really happened that night. All of this suggests that the current killer has something to say, since his/her/their threats and crimes seem to revolve around the town's dark past -- and its even darker future should that information be revealed. By completely rewriting the saga in a different time and place, this version of "Scream" is able to weave more complex threads into its backstory than the more straightforward narrative of its filmed predecessors.
As a huge fan of the "Scream" movies, I'm thankful that the network didn't shamelessly reboot and rehash the same plot and characters, or worse, attempt some kind of half-baked prequel and/or sequel when "Scream 4" was a more-than-fitting conclusion to that previous world and those beloved characters. Instead, the producers clearly respect the audience's sensibilities, and we're treated to something that carries the same name and spirit without lazily copying its source material. The films featured a mix of established and rising stars, but the series wisely chooses to fill its cast with relative unknowns, giving them a chance to prove their mettle amid the hype and expectations of this adaptation. The core characters are also skewed younger, presumably to lend authenticity to their roles as well as add longevity to the show if it continues to do well.
The traditional high school archetypes are all present and accounted for, but the writers keep them fresh by adding layers and traits that give depth to and possibly cast suspicion on those individuals. In fictional Lakewood -- so generic that it could take place anywhere, which ratchets up the fear -- we discover that the "good girl" may not be so virginal; the "bimbo" is more intelligent than others realize; the "smart guy" has a mean streak; and the "new kid" may actually be the most well-adjusted of the bunch. Also notable is how the show taps into the prominence of digital technology, smartphones, and social media; in the time between "Scream 3" in 2000 and "Scream 4" in 2011, these items became firmly established in the mainstream. In our frightening real world of cyber-bullying, hacking, and data breaches, the series offers a subtle but timely commentary on how the things that are intended to bring us together can be used to drive us apart when in the wrong hands.
On the other hand, this kind of show is smart not to take itself too seriously, at the risk of alienating viewers who want a respectable ratio of laughs to plot to scares. The self-aware, meta-level humor that largely characterized the movies can be found on the small screen. However, some of it feels a bit forced, rather than the sly verbal or situational homages that the films relished. Yes, we get it: you're all tech-savvy and pop culture-literate youngsters, but go easy on the post-modern references! There was actually a mention of "Terminator: Genisys" in the second episode, when it would have just opened literally the week before that episode aired. Too soon? In addition, a few of the jumpy moments are a little too telegraphed ahead of time to be effective when they finally happen. "Scream" and its three sequels delivered their shocks and surprises so successfully by toying with the horror formula and subverting those elements. Series writers, pay attention: don't try as hard to be so current and obvious. Instead, try dabbling in more of the classy banter and twists of dramatic irony that helped the movies be acclaimed by critics and adored by fans.
An advantage to the serialized format is that the story plays out over a longer period of time, allowing you to really invest in these characters and root for them... as well as worry if and/or when they will be the next to drop. A potential disadvantage, which won't be clear until the finale airs in September, is which direction the future of the series will take. If the creative team is opting for a centralized, ongoing mystery -- which could grow tiresome if not resolved or revitalized in later episodes -- they will have to make an extra effort to craft a strong narrative that supports the weight of its sustained plot and character development. Otherwise, an anthologized approach (like "American Horror Story") that wraps up everything by the end of the season, before introducing a whole other story and cast in each subsequent installment, could be a way to keep the show alive against the growing onslaught of summertime cable-TV competitors.
Either way, "Scream" gets a passing grade on my three-episode test, so count me in! There are seven remaining episodes scheduled, and it has done well enough that it's already been renewed for another season. Overall, there's a lot of potential here. Maybe not for the next golden age of television, but certainly for an intriguing murder-mystery that keeps viewers guessing and continues the legacy of a great modern franchise.
No comments:
Post a Comment