Back to the original: A contextual analysis of scream (1996) and scream (2022)

Abstract

This study addresses one of the well-known groups of slasher movies, the Scream franchise (1996-). In this scope, first, the study traces seminal works on the slasher subgenre in horror. Through the discussions, one of the prominent uniqueness of the Scream franchise in the subgenre will be revealed as the characterization of the villain, the Ghostface killer. Whereas the classic and earlier examples of slasher films have centered on a particular villain with monstrous abilities, the Scream franchise has presented various villains, Ghostfaces, with mortal qualities in each movie. In each Scream movie, the character behind the Ghostface mask has changed. In this sense, each movie in the franchise is regarded as a whodunit movie. This study will examine the narrative structures of Scream (Craven, 1996) and Scream (Bettinelli-Olpin & Gillett, 2022) to reveal the features of the franchise. In this study, Scream (2022) will be approached as a contemporary duplication of Scream (1996), which will be accepted as more than a sequel or requel. Therefore, the narrative analysis will portray the structure of the franchise through the central movies. In the analysis, the prologue sequences, the first-acts, the mid-acts, and the final-acts of the two movies will be examined to reach a conclusion about the connections and distinctions between the movies. As one of the unique features of Scream (1996), later the franchise, the self-reflexivity in postmodernist narratives will be questioned. For instance, the catchphrase What is your favorite scary movie? serves as a franchise trademark and the narrative tool to emphasize the self-reflexive nature of the movies. Finally, the Final Girl concept will be discussed within the examples from the earlier slasher movies to the Scream franchise. As a unique genre director, Wes Craven has influenced horror with contemporary storytelling. Therefore, the narrative examination of Scream (1996) and Scream (2022) could contribute to horror studies, which brings the initial work (1996) and the contemporary duplication (2022) into consideration. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.