SterpsBlog

Scream 5: One of the Best in the Series & Here's Why

1/23/2022

Warning: This blog has spoilers throughout and is meant for an audience who has either seen Scream 5 or does not mind spoilers.

As you’re reading this, what if there was a masked killer on the loose, sneaking around your neighborhood, killing, peering through your window, and watching you as you sit in the single place that provides you the most comfort and protection.

Timing is inevitable in a slasher world where the victims have zero control of when and where the killer will strike next. To honor this, I am going to save you a lengthy memoir of my life story and how Scream has impacted my life, blah blah blah, before the masked killer calls you or knocks at your door.

Scream 5, one of the best in the series and my second favorite, my first favorite being Scream 1.

Why?

Strong female protagonists kicking ass and stealing the show: Not only did Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox return, the main female lead is Melissa Barrera, a Mexican actress born in Monterrey, Mexico (a big hell yes to that!) Barrera’s character Sam is the daughter of Billy Loomis, one of the killers in the first Scream. This absolutely complicates Sam’s character and her development but this doesn’t stop her from making her own decisions which moves the story along. One of my favorite scenes is at the end when they return to the original house of Billy Loomis and Stu Macher. The shot is beautiful: Sam, Sydney and Gale are standing shoulder to shoulder in the house and you just know they are the reason this shit is going to stop and come to end tonight.
Deputy Dwight ‘Dewey’ Riley dies: This was a tough pill to swallow and I will admit I was in absolute shock. After thinking about it, this had to happen to make this film successful. In Scream 1, one of the most adored characters dies and that is Randy. That sucked too but it made the viewers feel something. It made viewers come back to watch the other films. The death of Dewey is what heightens the viewer’s investment and makes us want our female protagonists to not just succeed, but to epically triumph. We want to see the grand finale and it better be grand…and it was!
Billy Loomis returns in ghost form: I really liked this and thought it worked well. It showed the emotional battle that Sam is dealing with as she accepts the fact that she is the daughter of one of the most infamous killers of Woodsboro. I mention the grand finale being exactly what I wanted, hopefully it’s what everyone wanted, and that’s because of Billy Loomis. He convinces his daughter to finish the job of killing her boyfriend, who is revealed to be one of the killers. In all the slasher films I have ever seen, I have never seen any victim at the end of the film kill and stab the murderer the way that Sam does at the end of Scream 5. It’s ironic, it’s dichotomia at it’s finest. Sam is the opposite of Billy, but at this moment she is not. She stabs the killer the way a killer would kill their victim. It borders on the animalistic nature of the Manson killings. It was awesome to watch and to redeem Deputy Dewey, kind of.
Billy Loomis and Stu Macher manifest in the two young killers: First, the female killer Amber Freeman, played by Mikey Madison in this movie, looks like and behaves like Sadie Atkins, one of the core followers and members of the Manson Family. This is not a complete coincidence because Madison plays Sadie Atkins in Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She used this to her advantage in Scream 5, and it worked well. It was believable and both killers in Scream 5 brought characteristics from Billy Loomis and Stu Macher’s personalities into their roles. This also worked great and didn’t seem forced at all but was obvious enough that it created nostalgia, weaving into the setting of the original house.

I loved Scream 5. I think it did everything right, it represented under-represented groups without being forced or disingenuous. It kicked ass and for us die hard fans, it perfectly connected to the first Scream.

“Hello Sydney, it’s an honor.” And an honor it was indeed.

Thanks for reading,
Sterp

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Movie Review: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

8/9/2019

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I had to go watch Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark in the theater. Why? Because I grew up reading the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series, books of short horror fiction for kids, read by kids, and written to terrorize kids. They did just that.

Those of you who got your hands on these when you were young know exactly the type of grotesque and sickening narratives that played out. The creatures in these stories just stayed in your brain on repeat while you lay in bed at night head deep under the bed covers trying to hold on to any sound of mommy and daddy’s voice out in the living room for comfort.

Well, I diverge. Let’s get into the review.

I loved it! Was it a film epic? No. I went to watch it because it was nostalgic for me. Those infamous illustrations in the books came to life in the movie and they came to life well (and took lives well too.)

The scenes had the touch of classic horror which I really love: the haunted house, fog rolling over the corn field, scarecrows, voices, ghosts, just the whole shabang. The creatures, originally rooted in folklore and urban legend in the book, kept their historical roots and came through as just that, urban legends that we all heard around a campfire that scared the shit out of us as kids.

I am about to make some comparisons but let me be clear, these comparisons only apply to certain areas of the movie. When I watched this, it gave me the same feeling as when I watch Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and Stranger Things. The quality of filming surpassed that of Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark, but not Stranger Things. In this film, the protagonists are a group of teenage kids fighting against some dark supernatural shit and was set in 1968. The dynamic between the group of friends is very much like Stranger Things and when Coming of Age and Horror converge, it's gold. There were plenty of comedic moments. Just enough to get you comfortable to then punch you in the gut with a good jump scare. There are tons of jump scares in this and I am a big fan of jump scares (because they make me jump.)

Although the books were a collection of short stories, the movie is not separated into different unrelated stories. The movie showcases some of the famous stories from the books but weaves them into one film by using the characters. Each character becomes a catalyst for the a particular story. There's also a great backstory to tie it all together, but I don't want to give that away.

On a scale from 1 to 10, I give it a 7. If you grew up reading these, I say go watch it in the theaters. You won't be disappointed. And if you are, well, then you're just a cinema snob :)

My two favorite quotes from the movie:

I got the goods so let's banana split.

Stories hurt. Stories heal.

Check out the official Scary Stories website.

Here’s one of the most famous covers.

Some photos from the movie:

Thanks for tuning in,
Sterp

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Creepy Occurrences on Horror Film Sets

10/21/2016

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There is nothing more interesting than creepy stories coming to life. My affinity for disturbing stories and scary narratives continues passed Halloween and lasts throughout the year. Why do some of us love being scared? Why are we so interested in seeing and reading about fictional and realistic horrors? When things seem untouchable and impossible they can lure us in and become obsessions.

Here are 6 creepy and true occurrences that happened while filming horror movies:

1. The Exorcist

The actor who played Burke Dennings, Jack MacGowran, died a month before the film's release. This was only one strange thing that happened during the production of this film.

2. The Omen

Special effects consultant for The Omen, John Richardson, and his girlfriend got into a car accident and although he survived, she was decapitated much the same way as Jennings was in the film.
READ ABOUT IT HERE

3. The Conjuring

Vera Farmiga, the actress who plays Lorraine Warren, found five claw marks on her computer when opening it to read her script.

4. Poltergeist

Both actresses Heather O'Rourke and Dominique Dunne died while working on Poltergeist films. O'Rourke died at age 12 from intestinal stenosis and Dunne was murdered by her ex-boyfriend.
O'Rourke's Death
Dunne's Death

5. The Crow

We all know about Brandon Lee's tragic death while filming The Crow but did you know about some of the other strange incidences that happened? A crew member was burned on 90% of his body during an accident that happened while a crane caught fire.

6. The Twilight Zone: The Movie

During the filming of a helicopter scene, the helicopter crashed and killed Vic Morrow and two children actors.
READ ABOUT IT HERE

Are you creeped out yet? I wonder what other strange incidences will occur as narratives continue to be written and movies continue to be produced. What are some of your favorite stories of disturbing events that happened on film sets?

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Scream 5: One of the Best in the Series & Here's Why

Movie Review: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Creepy Occurrences on Horror Film Sets

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