Scream 2

Dimension Films | Release Date: December 12, 1997

8.4	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 668 Ratings

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User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

heyitsmegrif4Dec 23, 2011

A lot weaker than the first because a lot of times the whole plot seems silly, but the movie still is quite scary, with its odd but cool beginning. I give this movie 63% of a good movie.

3 of 12 users found this helpful39

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grandpajoe6191Sep 24, 2011

Once more, "Scream 2" gives its summer horror flicks to the audience. But this time, it forgot the 'scary' parts and concentrated more on the 'gory' parts. In the end, "Scream 2" will scare you like 3 times on the screen. No more, no less.

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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NathanG.Oct 17, 2005

Just plain sucks. In the first movie, the killers were who you most expected, therefore making them the least expected suspects to the viewers. It would just be too obvious, we all thought. Well, it was, and that's how Craven got away Just plain sucks. In the first movie, the killers were who you most expected, therefore making them the least expected suspects to the viewers. It would just be too obvious, we all thought. Well, it was, and that's how Craven got away with it. In this, the killers were the most minor characters who could even be considered characters. Lame. The coolest character in both the movies gets killed off, and not even in an elaborate kill. Come on! The first one was original and creative, and this is the same as the first- with no originality or creativity. Watch it if you loved Scream, but if you would give the first less than eight out of ten, or haven't even seen it, stay away from Scream 2.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

ERG1008Dec 15, 2010

Two years after the hullabaloo from the first film, reporter's book made into film about events, killer returns copycat style.
Entertaining but slightly silly second film in the Scream trilogy with most of the cast returning. The humour isTwo years after the hullabaloo from the first film, reporter's book made into film about events, killer returns copycat style.
Entertaining but slightly silly second film in the Scream trilogy with most of the cast returning. The humour is still very self-mocking & funny but just didn't think it had the tension, a weaker storyline & is a lot more predictable than the first film.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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asylumspadezNov 20, 2011

Eh not as good as the previous film but its still solid. It follows the same formula and doesnt feature anything new to it to make it any where near as interesting as the previous film. Acting suffers a bit this time around as well. OverallEh not as good as the previous film but its still solid. It follows the same formula and doesnt feature anything new to it to make it any where near as interesting as the previous film. Acting suffers a bit this time around as well. Overall it was ok.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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Potter17Sep 4, 2011

Certainly it is not one of the best horror films out there but "Scream 2" managed to be much more amusing than a lot of horror movies I've seen lately. Lots of cliches are still present but I liked the humour and acting. Overall, it is a nice film.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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rafael14Dec 17, 2011

is another film in the Scream series of fear nothing, except that unlike the first film that is not as good as the first, the two villains of the film are terrible actors, but the other actors are good especially who plays Gale

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

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Shawshank97Sep 18, 2012

How the heck did Dewey keeps surviving. This sequel is definetly on the "bad sequels" list.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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SpangleOct 26, 2016

A step back from the original, Scream 2 is a solid sequel that maintains the same level of thrills and mystery of the original, but much of the experience feels entirely hollow. With Sidney (Neve Campbell) now at college, a copycat killer hasA step back from the original, Scream 2 is a solid sequel that maintains the same level of thrills and mystery of the original, but much of the experience feels entirely hollow. With Sidney (Neve Campbell) now at college, a copycat killer has decided to follow her and finish what the original ghostface had started. An expertly crafted analysis of horrible horror sequels, the influence of film in real world violence, and horror movies as a whole, Scream 2 is a good satire, even if it is not nearly as scary or funny as the original.

Back for their second rodeo, Sidney is joined by familiar faces Randy (Jamie Kennedy), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and Dewey (David Arquette). The band is back together, yet they do not seem to have much of the same energy or power as in the original. For example, the smaller role played here by Randy is unfortunate, as he was the source of a lot of the fun of the original. While everyone was scared speechless, Randy kept things going with horror movie references or playing whodunnit with the cops. There is a little bit of that here, but after a while, the film opts to ditch the whole mystery solving element that made the original work so well and instead just focus on scaring you.

On the scariness front, there are some solid moments. Director Wes Craven knows horror and he is not afraid to display this skill-set in Scream 2. A sequence in which Gale tries to escape Ghostface with Dewey is incredibly tense and terrifically shot. From beginning to end, this scene is laced with tension and really highlights just how scary the Scream franchise can be in its own right. However, as we reach the climax, though it is surprising who the killers are, they just feel like reaches. The twists just feel tacked on to try and make references to the original and, as a result, feel entirely like fan service. Ironically, a killer promises they are not like every other 90s killer only to then take 15 hours to finally try and kill their intended victim. Though Scream 2 is willing to call out conventions, I guess they decided to forget that one was a convention as well.

Additionally, the red herrings here are quite obvious and never quite work. Much of the cast is thrown under suspicion, but whenever somebody asks, "What if you're the killer?", you can feel the air escape from the movie a bit when you realize that there is no way they could be the killer. Instead of building mystery and suspense, the film immediately tries to assist the audience in jumping to conclusions about who the killers are and then tries to play on those red herrings at the end. Yet, the audience, hopefully, has realized they are not be believed which makes some of the end reveals completely unsurprising.

This said, Scream 2 most certainly entertains and though a step back from the original, a lot of the playful spirit of the film is there as Craven toys with and mocks horror cliches. The end results are some pretty comical moments that really land. This ferocious blend of horror and comedy does prove incredibly entertaining and this is what makes Scream 2 so incredibly watchable. Even when the mystery elements flounder and fail to deliver the same suspense as before, the film does have some surprises along the way that do land quite well.

Scream 2 is an entertaining film, but just feels like a hollow exercise of re-doing what made the original good. It retains the majority of the terror and the comedy, but the mystery of the original is gone as is the manic fun that made it such a good satire of the genre. Here, things are a bit gloomier and, as a result, not nearly as good.… Expand

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

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FilmVirtueMar 12, 2014

The Sequel to the top notch "Scream" film has familiar elements from the first, that pull together to make yet another great horror movie. But like most horror sequels... It's just not as good as the first.

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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Voodoo123Oct 10, 2022

Not as fresh as the original but the cast is superb and the quality of the production is high. Was great to see it the first time around. Sad all the best thrills gone from later viewings.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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FilipeNetoFeb 12, 2018

The parody continues?

Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott tries to rebuild her life and goes to college. But, amid all this, new deaths happen and soon all realize that, after all, the masked killer is back. Directed byThe parody continues?

Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott tries to rebuild her life and goes to college. But, amid all this, new deaths happen and soon all realize that, after all, the masked killer is back. Directed by Wes Craven, has a main cast basically similar to the first film.

If the first film was difficult to understand, this film goes in the same direction. If some people found it scary, tense and full of terrifying moments, others thought it was fun, laughed and basically "supported" the killer. Wes Craven returns to "attack" the clichés of teen and horror films, but this time more gently, giving the film an apparently more serious focus. Nevertheless, and despite the film really looks serious and keen to cause fear, its too funny for it and the victims are still too despicable for us to have empathy for them. Only Sidney (Neve Campbell) deserves sympathy, as seems to be the character psychologically more complex and mature. Interesting is also the transformation of Dewey and Gale: that ambitious and egocentric journalist falls in love with the young policeman, who looks a "good boy" who can't break a dish, but is now much more mature than in the first film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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HabibiehakimJan 27, 2023

Scream 2 opens with another good terrifying opening sequence take place in the movie theater, and after that Scream 2 wasn't a horrible movie, it has it's moments, but for the most part underwhelming, the story wasn't as engaging as theScream 2 opens with another good terrifying opening sequence take place in the movie theater, and after that Scream 2 wasn't a horrible movie, it has it's moments, but for the most part underwhelming, the story wasn't as engaging as the previous one, it didn't have to be 2 hours, there is more cheesy moment, though it did kept me guessing throughout the film until the very last, once it reveal i ain't gonna lie to you even though i did not see it coming, it's not really that shocking and i don't think it deliveredly continue that well, but at least i still can't guess it and i'm still into it for that, that's probably the most positive thing about Scream 2, Neve Campbell and the rest of the returning cast was ok, not really buying David Arquette that much in this one though he's not terrible, again it still have it's moment, a moment where they get me scared more than the previous one, there isn't much of a stupidness in it, overall like i mention in the beginning, it wasn't horrible, it has it's moment, but for the most part Scream 2 is just an underwhelming sequel.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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clem666Dec 3, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Interesting sequel to the major first opus. The two films are cleverly intertwined as we can easily recognize the characters and their intentions.
Characters are quite likeable (or hateful) but many of them evolve during the several events. Some of them sadly are one-dimensional, as Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox), because even her sudden development seems false and shallow. She doesn't deserve such a happy-ending. The most important protagonists showcase very impressive reflexes and speed while the rest of the cast often die in a ridiculous way. If the two first kills happen fast, it is hard to know why them especially. In the same way, protagonists quite often make bad choices. Like very dumb ones. It feels like 'Scream 2' has multiplied its characters only to make us doubt between many people when searching for culprit.

The pressure is great and goes crescendo, the slaughters feels more agressive and violent, more realistic and less gore. The police(men) are nothing but ineffective. Environments are varied which allows differents angles and kill scenes, bringing a bit of fresh air. The end is particularly intense but unfortunately once again uses the 'psycho' formula ending, just as the first opus.

'Scream 2' manages to be incredibly sarcastic and he shows a poignant self-mockery, but to go where? It seems that it only offers what it already has.
Yeah, 'Scream 2' manages to be scary from time to time but fails to provide a solid and original scenario, even if it uses many plots based on the first film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JLauSep 25, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Girl from the first one goes to college where two other people put on ghost masks and stab her friends again, one of which is the mother of the killer from the first film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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