Scre4m

SCRE4M (2011) - Apr. 15, 2011
Not quite as good as the first two, but a clear step up from part three, this was an enjoyable sequel that finds Sidney -- now an author -- returning home and quickly finding herself embroiled in even more ghostface-related shenanigans (apparently, something like 50% of the people Sidney knows are actually psychopathic murderers).  After the let-down of part three, this film features another memorable opening scene, this time featuring the kind of self-referential winking at the audience that Scream has become known for with a film within a film within a film.  The movie does a much better job than part three of introducing new characters who don't feel completely generic, and also feels decidedly R-rated.  It's not a great film by any strech of the imagination, but for a horror movie with the number 4 in the title, it's definitely better than it really has any right to be.  ***