Scream Blu-ray Review

Lionsgate's Blu-ray release of "Scream" features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio that is both robust and visually appealing, but not without its flaws. The color palette is particularly impressive, with vibrant and well-saturated hues that make scenes, especially involving blood, appear highly realistic. Black levels are deep and rich, creating considerable depth and maintaining visibility in shadowy scenes. Fine detail, particularly in extreme close-ups, allows for exceptional clarity, highlighting pores and textures on the actors' faces impressively.

Despite these strengths, there are notable drawbacks. One recurring issue is the presence of minor digital noise and shimmer in various backgrounds, particularly leafy exteriors during evening shots and parallel patterns like those found on sweaters. Additionally, moderate lighting scenes occasionally suffer from contrast issues, leading to a slightly mushy visual quality. Midrange shots sometimes exhibit a soft gauziness, detracting from the overall sharpness. Edge enhancement is another significant concern, with minor ringing around actors and noticeable halos in exterior shots that become progressively more distracting as the film continues.

Overall, while there are certain visual imperfections such as mild grain structure and very modest compression artifacts, the Blu-ray transfer for "Scream" remains commendable. The high-definition presentation significantly surpasses previous DVD releases with enhanced clarity and resolution, despite some technical limitations that marginally affect the viewing experience.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray release of "Scream" is nothing short of exceptional. Utilizing a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, the sound design is meticulously crafted to enhance the horror experience, capitalizing on tried-and-true amped-up effects. Sudden bursts of low-frequency effects slice through from the subwoofer, adding an extra layer of intensity to pivotal moments. Ghostface's menacing voice is rendered with impressive gravelly texture, while screams and slashing noises are expertly placed throughout the soundfield. The mix displays flawless fidelity, with highs that cut through crisply and lows that throb with palpable tension. The balance between dialogue and sound effects is masterfully managed, ensuring that every chilling moment is both clear and impactful.

Further enriching the experience, the mix impressively incorporates subtle ambient effects like chirping birds and crickets, creating an immersive atmosphere that draws listeners into the film's world. The channel separation is expertly executed, generating a spacious and balanced soundstage. Dialogue clarity is front and center, allowing for precise mid-range details, which are crucial during the film's many action-packed sequences. The musical score spreads seamlessly across the entire soundstage, bleeding into the rear channels with ease, while a robust low-end adds weight and force to punches, thrusts, and crashes.

What stands out most in "Scream’s" audio is the meticulous attention to detail. Effects such as ringing telephones acquire a new level of meaning within this dynamic surround mix. Pans and movements within the soundfield are smooth and flawless, ensuring an engaging auditory experience that leaves a lasting impression. The overall sound presentation of this Blu-ray completely defies expectations and delivers high-rez audio that both horror fans and audiophiles will find immensely satisfying.

The Blu-ray edition of "Scream" presents a robust compilation of extras, maintaining most of the supplements from the earlier DVD release. The audio commentary by Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson is engaging though not particularly illuminating, offering insights into the film's development, including the original title, "Scary Movie." The production featurette, a concise EPK, and the behind-the-scenes segments featuring short interviews and on-set footage provide a brief but fascinating glimpse into the making of the film. The Q&A sessions, segmented into thematic questions, add a lighthearted touch, while the collection of trailers and TV spots showcases the promotional efforts for the movie.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Williamson and Craven: An enjoyable discussion on the film’s backstory.
• Production Featurette: Standard promo with cast and crew interviews.
• Behind the Scenes: Insights into on-set activities and the opening sequence.
• Q&A With Cast and Crew: Responses to thematic questions on horror films.
• Trailers and TV Spots: A variety of promotional materials for "Scream".

In 1996, Wes Craven's "Scream" rejuvenated the slasher genre, bringing a fresh blend of horror and self-awareness to the big screen. The film masterfully navigates the well-trodden paths of horror cliches while simultaneously deconstructing them. Writer Kevin Williamson cleverly lays out the 'rules' of horror movies through the film's character Randy Meeks, played to comedic perfection by Jamie Kennedy. This meta-narrative embraces its influences, with nods to genre-defining classics like "Halloween" and "Psycho." The opening scene with Drew Barrymore pays homage to Hitchcock’s work, while Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott evokes the innocence of Laurie Strode. Craven's direction balances the satirical elements with genuine suspense, making the film both a homage and a critique.

The plot follows Sidney Prescott, portrayed by Neve Campbell, who is terrorized by a mysterious killer donning a ghostface mask. The storyline weaves in and out of horror conventions with precision, providing an ever-tightening tension punctuated by comedic relief. Supporting characters like David Arquette’s Deputy Dewey and Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers enhance the narrative by contributing both humor and intrigue. The film effectively keeps audiences on their toes, using its self-awareness to surprise viewers despite apparent predictability. Craven expertly paces the scares and humor, demonstrating his seasoned storytelling capabilities.

"Scream" benefits from its stellar ensemble cast and sharply written script. The dialogue oscillates between ironic humor and chilling horror, maintaining a consistent tone that engages both horror aficionados and casual viewers alike. Williamson's script exposes genre tropes while relishing in them, and Craven’s direction ensures these elements come together cohesively. The film's adeptness at blending fear and laughter makes it a timeless entry in the horror genre, and its success paved the way for numerous sequels and imitators.

The Blu-ray release of Wes Craven's "Scream" offers a mix of vibrant sound and occasional visual shortcomings. As a pivotal post-modern horror film that reinvigorated the genre, "Scream" combines self-aware humor with spine-chilling moments, establishing itself as a cult favorite over the years. The film's engaging narrative, filled with meta-humor and genuine scares, remains as impactful today as it was during its initial release. This adaptation, however, is a mixed bag in terms of audiovisual fidelity.

The video quality on this Blu-ray suffers from noticeable edge enhancement, which may detract from the visual experience for some viewers. Such artifacts can undermine the sharpness and clarity that high-definition formats usually promise. On the audio front, the release shines considerably, delivering a robust auditory experience that captures the film's suspenseful and thrilling elements effectively. Unfortunately, the supplemental features do not add any new value, as they are recycled from previous editions. This offers little incentive for fans who already own prior versions to upgrade.

In conclusion, "Scream" reinvented the horror film for the post-modern generation, and though scores of filmmakers have tried to follow in its bloody footsteps, very few if any have succeeded. A near faultless blend of self-awareness, humor and outright scream-worthy scares, this is a film that knows you know what to expect, and it plays with those expectations like a cat with a cornered mouse. It's rare a horror movie is this much fun, but in fact fun is what Scream still is, even after all these years, which is why it remains so many people's favorite scary movie. Highly recommended.