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The Scream franchise has left an undeniable mark on the horror genre and its self-aware & referential attitude was instrumental in the revival of slashers during the late 1990s to early 2000s. Scream’s influence on modern horror cinema looms large and the highly anticipated fifth entry is a testament to the franchise’s enduring appeal.
The Scream TV show hit airwaves in 2015 and is very much a mixed bag that’s far from the best example of a movie-to-TV transition. That said, there are still some fascinating production elements to appreciate.
11 Wes Craven Was Briefly Attached To Direct The Pilot
One of the key factors in the success of the Scream franchise is that each installment is directed by horror savant, Wes Craven, with Scream 4 even being his final movie. Wes Craven feels like the natural high profile name to helm the pilot to a Scream TV show, especially since the director has previous television experience. Craven is an executive producer on the series and he briefly considered directing the pilot before settling into a more of a backseat role. Jamie Travis would go on to direct the pilot, who has since made a name on Showtime’s Yellowjackets.
10 The Series Features A Different Ghostface Mask
One of the most iconic parts about Scream movies is the eerily simple Ghostface mask that’s used by the killers. An effective mask is important for many slasher movies and so it comes as a bit of a surprise that the Scream TV show would craft their own unique look for their killers. Scream has a similar mask, but one that’s much more conventionally creepy. Many were critical of the abandonment of the original mask, including Craven, but it would make its return in the show’s third and final season along with Roger L. Jackson as Ghostface’s memorable voice.
9 The Series Keeps The Tradition Of Killing A-Lister Cameos
The original Scream played with the audience’s expectations by killing off major A-lister, Drew Barrymore, in its opening scene as a way to prove that no one is safe. Scream’s subsequent sequels have kept this tradition going and so it’s appreciated that the Scream TV show also indulges in this area.
Bigger TV stars like Bella Thorne, Lele Pons, and Paris Jackson, all show up in minor roles to become unexpected fodder for the killers. The introduction to each season also tries to pay homage to the movies’ opening kills.
8 Modern Horror Auteurs Directed Several Episodes
The Scream series tries to foster an environment that’s appealing to some of the bigger up-and-coming directors in the horror genre. Directing TV can be less of a commitment, but still allow the individual to flex their creative muscles. Scream does a decent job here and assembles talent like Ti West to direct in season one, while season two features work from Evan Katz, Patrick Lussier, and Kevin Kölsch & Dennis Widmyer. This allows many of the episodes’ setpieces to hit harder since the directors have significant horror experience.
7 A Web Series Expands On The Story And Connects To Season 2
Supplemental content is something that’s grown quite prevalent in TV and the medium has had a fickle relationship with extraneous web series that expand upon the universe and supporting characters. Scream takes the route with Scream: If I Die, which bridges the gap between the show’s first two seasons and helps set up the major threat for the show’s second season. Scream: If I Die looks at six Lakewood survivors who share their stories through recorded videos, only to all eventually meet their dooms. It helps create some stakes behind season two’s victims.
6 The Third Season Is A Reboot
Scream’s first two seasons tell a connected story that looks at a serial killer in the community of Lakewood. However, the third season of the series rebrands itself as Scream: Resurrection and ditches the past. Scream: Resurrection moved from MTV to VH1, with a new showrunner, executive producers, and a completely different cast. The third season is also only six episodes, which is significantly shorter than the first two. Unfortunately, the new direction of Scream: Resurrection is not an improvement and helped lead to the series’ quiet cancellation.
5 Kevin Williamson Helped Develop The Story For The Pilot
Wes Craven’s involvement in the Scream movies was essential, but Kevin Williamson’s script is arguably even more important. Williamson’s distinct writing style became the voice of the franchise and it makes his absence – like in Scream 3 – all the more apparent.
While it would be too big of a request to have him pen the show’s first season, Williamson does at least help put together the story for the pilot that kicks everything off. Jill Blotevogel, Dan Dworkin & Jay Beattie who go on to flesh out Williamson’s new take.
4 The Second Season Has The Best Reputation
A poor start to a series can frequently result in audiences jumping ship early on or never giving the show a fair chance. There are certainly issues with the Scream TV series and growing pains are felt throughout each of its seasons. The first and third seasons are relatively shallow and even reductive of the genre in many ways, but the show’s second season is actually a very satisfying look into slasher tropes. The second season, while continuing the first’s story, can still be viewed on its own and it’s the best representation of what a Scream TV show could be.
3 Tony Todd Joins The Cast
There are plenty of actors who have built entire careers around playing a revered horror icon for multiple decades. It’s always exciting when these influential genre figures crossover into different works, either as a new villain or through a complete role reversal that turns them into a victim. Tony Todd is best known for his intimidating work as Daniel Robitaille in the Candyman movies. It’s a lot of fun to see him show up in the third season of Scream, and as a character known as the Hook Man, no less.
2 The Series Had An After-Show, Scream After Dark
An odd tradition that’s come and gone over the past decade is the idea of televised “after-shows” that discuss and celebrate the piece of television that just ended. These programs are typically meant to ride on the success of major hits like The Walking Dead where fans are eager for as much content as possible. The Scream show was hardly on the level of The Walking Dead, but it still had its own after-show, Scream After Dark, that aired in conjunction with the second season. Scream After Dark was hosted by Jeffery Self and only had three episodes, but still took advantage of the show’s fandom.
1 All Of Season 2’s Episode Titles Reference Horror Movies
Horror is all about celebrating the past and this is nicely reflected across the episode titles in Scream’s second season. All of these episodes draw title inspiration from horror movies, whether it’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” Psycho,” or “Village of the Damned.” This extra level of horror appreciation in the show’s second season is also reflective of how season two is far and away its most popular.
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