There is undeniably no doubt that the Horror genre has evolved throughout the years. Horror fans will often say that the genre was at its prime in the 1980’s, 1990’s, and early 2000’s. One of the most well-known and beloved horror franchises is Wes Craven’s Scream. What is most enjoyable about this series is the fact that it’s satire for the horror genre and does not take itself too seriously, yet it still accompanies great writing. Out of every movie in the series, one particular scene often stands out to a lot of people. Early on in the first Scream (1996), there is a scene taking place in the blockbuster-esque movie store.
Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy), horror film fanatic and friend of the protagonist, is working his shift at the video store when Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) comes over to him and they get into talking about who the Woodsboro killer could be. Randy immediately speculates it’s the current prime suspect, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), whereas Stu adamantly disagrees (for reasons revealed later on in the movie) and tries to deter Randy with his own theories. This is when Randy explains that the police will not find the killer unless they follow the formula of horror movies and because of that, everyone is a suspect. The horror movie fanatic that he is, Randy ultimately stands by his theory that Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is not being targeted by her father (Lawrence Hecht). Randy believes her father is a red herring and Billy is in fact the killer. He then accidentally comes face to face with Billy, who menacingly stares at him and gets under his skin with the help of a joking Stu. While confronting his accuser, Billy points out that Randy could be the killer because of his love for horror movies. Ultimately, the scene leaves the viewer with numerous theories.
What makes this scene memorable is the fact that most of Randy’s theories about the killer and the father being a red herring end up being true. Yet, unless the audience pays close attention to the scene, they will most likely disregard these theories. So why is it that viewers can easily overlook these theories even though they are out in the open toward the beginning of the film? A large factor is that none of the characters in this scene are Sidney Prescott. Because Sidney is the main character, the audience sees the world alongside her and that makes the audience trust her. She’s proven herself to be a reliable protagonist with what she has shown from her perspective so far. Because she’s not in the scene, the audience can’t get a gage for how she takes in the different theories on the killer.
Sidney not being in this scene makes it so the audience has to do their own investigating and trust who they feel is right in that interaction. Because no one agrees on one theory and all three boys have the mentality of “my theory is right and yours is wrong,” the audience has to go with their gut or focus on deciphering the conflicting cinematic clues that are given to them in order to form their own opinion. Cinematic clues include the use of close up shots on Randy and Stu as they discuss their theories, the use of dramatic music when Randy crashes into Billy, and the uneasy music that accompanies shots of Billy and Stu crowding around Randy and staring intensely at him.
The use of close up shots of Stu and Randy give off an open frame feeling to the scene. It doesn’t quite disclose all of the information that is in the shot, but it frames the characters in a sense that shows they can enter and leave as they please. The framing also gives the impression that something is existing outside of the frame while they are talking. That something outside of the frame is Billy being in the horror movie section of the store, most likely eavesdropping on their conversation. As we learn about the theories, we are also being given more information through open frames and eventually we see closed framed shots of the store and how bypassers view Randy as crazy. This makes the audience want to doubt Randy and his theories altogether. However, when the dramatic music flares up and we see both Billy and Stu staring at Randy, the viewer then begins to feel uneasy toward believing them and their theories.
Through the use of conflicting cinematic clues and the lack of the main protagonist, Scream (1996) is able to make Randy spot on with his theories without giving away the ending. The scene ultimately ends up leaving the audience with more questions and speculation as to who the killer is. Along with that, this scene compliments the overall narrative of the movie in that everyone is a suspect. Even though part of the correct outcome is predicted toward the beginning of the movie, misdirection techniques leave the audience without a clue as to whether what they just heard is the truth or just hopeful speculation. Scream (1996) uses techniques that are often easy to spot and ends up with a solution no one can help but question when first heard.
Works Cited
Craven, Wes, director. Scream. Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, 1996