Scream 3

Sidney Prescott returns for (what was then) the final chapter of the Scream Trilogy.

After the Woodsboro and Windsor College murders, Sidney has placed herself into isolation. She lives high up in the hills with no neighbor for miles, a gate that requires a code for entry, a house with alarm system and multiple locks on each door, and a golden retriever named Cherokee. She works remotely (by phone only) for women’s crisis counseling, and everyone she works with knows her as Laura from Monterey.

Gale Weathers moved away from Woodsboro after Dewey was well to audition for 60 Minutes II, but when that didn’t pan out, she started working for Total Entertainment – a gossipy, celebrity-driven “news” show. When Cotton Weary, now a popular talk-show host, and his girlfriend are murdered, Gale returns to help the police with their investigation.

Dewey left Woodsboro to provide his services as a technical advisor for Stab 3, the concluding chapter of the movies based on Sidney’s life. The actress playing Gale in the films likes having Dewey around, and offered him a place to stay on her property.

The cops believe the killer is murdering the actors in the order their characters are killed in the film. After the second homicide, the cops don’t know who will be killed next because there were three versions of the script. They want to bring in Sidney, but Dewey refused to provide contact information. Sidney comes in to the police herself after the killer calls her house number with a voice device that makes them sound like Sid’s deceased mother.

The cast of Scream 3 is particularly amazing. The entire (surviving) cast returned from the first two films, and they are joined by Parker Posey, Patrick Dempsey, Kelly Rutherford, Scott Foley, Jenny McCarthy, Emily Mortimer, Heather Matarazzo, Carrie Fisher and Patrick Warburton – there is even an appearance by Jay and Silent Bob.

Although Kevin Williamson dropped out as writer, it has the same surprise elements, same great dialogue, and has upped the gore ante and death count. A worthy addition to the Scream Series.