TV & Film
When Scream was released in 1996, my youthful self was experience peak horror fandom. However, when it came to horror I was also at minimum patience for nonsense and was thirsting for the grittiest and darkest material I could find. For those reasons, I remember vividly deciding on taking a hard pass on the movie. While my disposition and taste in horror changed over time, to a perspective that is radically different than the one I had at that time, I always carried a chip concerning the fact that the biggest horror movie of the time when I was most receptive to horror movies was a comedic spin on the stuff I loved. THE AUDACITY! BLASPHEMOUS! Well, I'm here to confess that 1996 Shonny may not have appreciated the movie, but I can't be certain of that. This film, that I thought to be a mockery of everything I so preciously valued at the time turns out to be a tense, thoughtful, and very effective homage to the films of days before it, and while there are certainly shiny edges to what would become film and horror in the 1990s, I can finally join the ranks of fans who recognize that Scream is indeed a film worthy of it's place near the top of what the decade had to offer. Sure, the sleaze was largely gone and the practical effects were less ambitious in many ways than my VHS favorites of the decade before, but the film didn't hide from that fact. It tucked away the less savory of conventions, while still recognizing them, and did so in a fun way that could put a smile on the audience's face in more shrewd and dynamic ways. Who knew?! Well...seeing as it's been nearly twenty five years since the film's theatrical debut, I reckon just about everyone knew. But here we are and here I go, finally joining the party. Just in time for quarantine! Special thanks to our buddy Nicola for requesting this one. It's been a long time coming, but here it is! Stay safe everyone! We love you! Shonny Constant 4.14.2020 If you've read all this and you're on Facebook, PLEASE join us at our Group to discuss the movie and share your horror love. We REALLY want to hear from you. Talk Horror To Me Facebook Group And here's a bunch of other links! :o Instagram @TalkHorrorShow @Shonny.Constant Twitter @ChzuckBean Old Man Plays Old Games on Twitch @Chzuck Cover art for this episode by Crystal Mielcarek! Find more of her work on Facebook, Instagram, or Smushbox.net. SHE IS THE BEST!