VICIOUS VIDEO: "SCREAM 4" BLU-RAY REVIEW

Audiences did not seem to connect with Scream 4 upon its release this spring — a pity since, as per the DLB’s original review, it’s the best one since the original. Perhaps horror fans will give Ghostface and the put-upon citizen of Woodsboro another stab now that this third sequel is on DVD and Blu-ray.

Certainly there are incentives. Extras on the Blu-ray include an adequate if perfunctory making-of featurette; deleted and extended scenes, including an alternate beginning  with commentary from director Wes Craven; a gag reel; and a feature-length commentary with Craven and stars Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts, with Neve Campbell joining in midway through by telephone from London! Craven is politic when it comes to his clashes with studio head Harvey Weinstein over the film’s development, including last-minute script changes that left cast and crew wondering whether they would be able to pull off certain scenes, but he’s open enough to give some interesting insight into the problems that plagued production.

In addition, purchasers of the Blu-ray are given a code which they can redeem for a six-month subscription to Rue Morgue Magazine, definitely one of the best extras we’ve ever seen.

Movie rating: 3.5/5

Blu-ray rating: 3.5/5