Scream (1996 film)

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette. Released on December 20, 1996, Scream follows the character of Sidney Prescott Campbell, a high school student in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, who becomes the target of a mysterious killer known as Ghostface. Other main characters include Sidneys best friend Tatum Riley Rose McGowan, Sidneys boyfriend Billy Loomis Skeet Ulrich, Billys best friend Stu Macher Matthew Lillard, film geek Randy Meeks Jamie Kennedy, deputy sheriff Dewey Riley Arquette, and news reporter Gale Weathers Cox. The film combined comedy and whodunit mystery with the violence of the slasher genre to satirize the clich of the horror genre popularized in films such as Halloween and Friday the 13th. The film was considered unique at the time of its release for featuring characters who were aware of real world horror films and openly discussed the clich that Scream attempted to subvert.

High school student Casey Becker receives a flirtatious phone call from an unknown person, asking her, Whats your favorite scary movie? The situation quickly escalates as the caller turns sadistic and threatens her life. He reveals that her boyfriend Steve Orth is being held hostage. After Casey fails to answer a question correctly about horror films, Steve is murdered. When Casey refuses to cooperate with the caller, she is attacked and murdered by a masked killer. Her parents come home to find her body hanging from a tree.The following day, the news media descend on the town and a police investigation begins. Meanwhile, Sidney Prescott struggles with the impending oneyear anniversary of her mothers murder by Cotton Weary. While waiting at home for her friend, Tatum Riley, Sidney receives a threatening phone call. After she hangs up she is attacked by the killer. Sidneys boyfriend, Billy Loomis, arrives shortly after, but after he drops his cell phone, Sidney suspects him of making the call and flees. Billy is arrested and Sidney spends the night at Tatums house. ........

Source: Wikipedia