As an affectionate send-up to the genre that he helped to create, Wes Craven delivered Scream in 1996. Penned by Kevin Williamson, the movie was both an homage and a criticism of slasher movies from the 70s and early 80s. Scream is generally considered to be responsible for reinvigorating the horror genre in the mid-90s. At this time, most of the horror movies being produced were sub-par direct-to-video drivel and uninspired sequels to the established franchises of previous decades. With a witty script and charismatic characters, Scream toyed with the clichés and conventions that past slasher films had become reliant upon. In a nod to his first breakthrough success, Wes Craven appears as Fred the janitor, mopping the floors in a fedora and oddly-familiar green and red striped sweater. Fun Fact: Wes Craven has appeared in all four Scream films, however his scene in Scream 4 ultimately landed on the cutting room floor.
Ryan Lynch is a freelance journalist from the United States. He currently lives in Adelaide, Australia and writes for Adelaide-based music magazine Rip It Up. He wishes he could live like Hank Moody, but he watches too much TV and plays too many videogames to be that nonchalant.
