By Brent Snyder (3/7/2022)
Becky: "Hello?"
Voice On Phone: "Is this Nancy Gibbons?"
Becky: "Nope. Wrong number."
Voice On Phone: "Oh, sorry. Who am I speaking to?"
Becky: "Becky. Who's this?"
Voice On Phone: "Are you over 18, Becky?"
Becky: "Barely."
Voice On Phone: "Good enough for me. Hey, I'm calling from your local service provider with a seasonal survey for our customers."
Becky: "Oh, I'm really busy."
Ghost Face: "It's just a few questions. Let's start with 'What's your favorite scary movie?'"
- Opening scene from "Scream: Resurrection" (2019)
Before "Scream" (2022) brought the popular horror franchise back to theaters (and VOD), the series had previously turned it's killer gaze to the small screen for new victims - and new directions. Between 2011's "Scream 4" and the current movie, a television series, follow-up two-episode special and miniseries introduced new characters, new killers and new mythologies to the meta-slasher-whodunnit formula. (All the "Scream" TV projects are wrapped up into a three season package currently streaming on Netflix).
Produced by MTV, "Scream: The TV Series" ran for two seasons (2015-2016). Set in the fictional town of Lakewood (filmed in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA.) the show has nothing - absolutely nothing - to do with the film series. Like "Scream," it centers on a final girl and her group of friends being stalked by a masked killer (or killers), but there's no Ghostface here. The TV series features meta commentary on horror films like "Scream," but the saga of Sidney Prescott doesn't exist in this cinematic universe. Which isn't a bad thing in this case, since the series is forced to stand on it's own merits with no help from legacy characters. So, consider it a remake, or a reboot.
The cast features Willa Fitzgerald (now co-starring in the "Reacher" series), Bex Taylor-Klaus ("Arrow." "13 Reasons Why"), Carlson Young ("Pretty Little Liars," "True Blood") and John Karna ("Lady Bird"). Of special note in the cast is Amelia Rose Blaire as true crime podcaster Piper Shaw. She's not the final girl, but she is very important to the story. Plus, her character - and performance - actually feels like someone from the "Scream" movies.
"Scream: The TV Series" initially received a 52 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes - probably due to a lack of Ghostface - but that number rose to 92 percent by the second season. The series was also nominated for several awards from the Teen Choice Awards and TV Guide Awards, with one of the cast members winning "Favorite Villain" in 2015. No spoilers, but it was totally deserved.
An after-show, "Scream After Dark" and web series "Scream: If I Die" also aired during the two season run of "Scream: The TV Series." And three soundtracks albums were released, on Columbia Records, Island Records and Lakeshore Records, respectively.
The follow-up two-episode TV special "Scream: Halloween/Halloween II" aired in October 2016. But since the series' big mystery had been wrapped up by the end of season two, it was a self-contained story with a different masked killer. And set in a haunted mansion during a storm. On an island. Yes, an island. Why it wasn't titled "Scream Island" I'll never understand.
While fans of "Scream: The TV Series" were waiting for a season three announcement, MTV decided instead to completely reboot the show (a reboot of a reboot!) with an entirely new cast and Queen Latifah as executive producer. The resulting "Scream: Resurrection" premiered in July 2019 on VH1 as a six episode miniseries.
In addition to the new setting (Atlanta, GA) and new characters, "Scream: Resurrection" veered hard into fan service territory and brought back none other than Ghostface as the central figure. Actor Roger L. Jackson even returned as Ghostface's instantly recognizable voice on the phone. And with Ghostface back on the scene, the kills were appropriately ramped up for his (or her) return.
Ghostface's mask, voice, bloody knife and brutal kills are some of the only things that carry over from the "Scream" movies into the miniseries, however. There's no mention of the infamous figure from the Woodsboro Massacre, no books by Gail Weathers, no "Stab" movie franchise. Here, the Ghostface mask is just that - a popular Halloween mask that can be found at any discount store. Which is too bad, really. It's a missed opportunity for a story that easily could have taken place in the "Scream" movie universe. And it would have been fun to see the new characters watching the old "Stab" movies for clues on how to stop Ghostface.
The cast of "Scream: Resurrection" includes RJ Cyler ("The Harder They Fall," "Power Rangers," "Black Lightning"), Keke Palmer ("Nope," "Hustlers"), Jessica Sula ("Panic," "Godless") and features special guest appearances by the likes of Mary J. Blige, Paris Jackson and legendary horror icon Tony Todd (who is brilliant, as always).
Of special note from the cast of "Scream: Resurrection" is Giorgia Whigham ("The Punisher," "Legacies") as Beth, the goth girl horror expert who schools the circle of friends on how to survive a horror movie. Like Amelia Rose Blaire in the previous TV series, Whigham's character also feels like someone who came over from the "Scream" movies universe. Or at least the "Stab" movie universe anyway.
Critics and fans were mixed on "Scream: Resurrection." While some fans of the original movie franchise applauded the return of Ghostface, other devotees of "Scream: The TV Series" were angry that their beloved characters and storylines weren't continued with a third season. By then, the success of "Halloween" (2018) pointed the way for the "Scream" franchise to return with a legacy sequel, or requel, depending on your fandom terminology.
"Scream: The TV Series," "Scream: Halloween/Halloween II" and "Scream: Resurrection" can be found on Netflix under the single title "Scream." The Halloween special is tacked on as the final episodes of season two, while "Scream: Resurrection" is presented as season three.
For viewers who are new to "Scream" TV on Netflix, I'm going to recommend watching season three - the "Scream: Resurrection" miniseries - first. It has only six episodes and the most concise storyline - plus it has Ghostface.
As for seasons one and two - honestly they could have just been called "The Lakewood Killer" and been included in the anthology horror series "Slasher" (on Netflix and Shudder). Which is fine. I love "Slasher." Season one of "Scream" is the better of the two seasons (honestly the storyline could have - or perhaps should have - been told in one season).
And then we come to the final "Halloween/Halloween II" special tacked onto the end of season two. It's essentially a Scooby Doo episode with blood and a severed head. Which sounds like it would be more fun that it actually is - but hey, the series had a devoted fanbase, so there you go.
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