Scream: The True Story Behind the Mask (2/22-2/27)

     Scream is said to be one of the most successful horror films in movie history. With it's combined effort to criticize traditional aspects of scary movies as well as actually depict a plot based on true events, Scream is a staple when discussing well-made horror flicks. The production was released in 1996 and grossed over 400 million dollars in the United States alone, and the iconic mask worn by the serial killer has became an international symbol for horror.
     Wes Craven is highly acclaimed for "revitalizing the horror genre." Critics agree that, "Scream blended slasher violence with murder mystery and it played on the stereotypes and conventions of classic horror films breathing new life into the genre."  What may seem like pure fiction is actually partly based on facts; in 1990, thirty-six year old serial killer, Danny Harold Rolling, stalked, tortured and murdered five young students in Gainsville at the University of Florida. He was even dubbed, "The Gainsville Ripper," and Wes Craven sought his creative vision to turn this real-life horror into a Hollywood classic. The murders ensued panic around the area and launched one of the country's largest manhunt in search of a criminal. In 1994, Rolling pleaded guilty to all five counts of first degree murder and was accordingly convicted.
     The opening of the film itself is mildly sarcastic and draws the audience in by making references to typical mistakes and blunders committed by protagonists of horror films, such as the one being targeted in the beginning scene. Scream was modern in the sense that it portrayed an almost satirical side of horror, yet continued to direct a story that was to portray the terrifying story of a masked killer. The cast perfectly embodied the typical 90s' generation of style and behavior, but it also revamped the industry, as the genre was slowly dying in popularity. Screenwriters and critics offer insight that, "...a chunk of 'Scream''s success is due to being in the right place at the right time."
 
Actual serial killer, Danny Harold Rolling.                     Iconic Scream mask.

The True Story Scream. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from www.discoveryuk.com website:
http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/the-true-story/about/scream/ 

Hall, P. (2011, March 31). The Lasting Legacy of the 'Scream' Franchise. Retrieved February 26,
2015, from news.moviefone.com website: http://news.moviefone.com/2011/03/31/
scream-movies-legacy/