Scream 3 (2000)

Directed by Wes Craven. Starring Courteney Cox-Arquette, David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Parker Posey, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Foley, Emily Mortimer, Deon Richmond, Josh Pais, Matt Keeslar, Lance Henriksen, Jenny McCarthy, Patrick Warburton, Liev Schreiber, (voice) Roger L. Jackson. [R]

On the set of the sequel-within-the-sequel based on the killings from earlier Scream pictures, someone is icing the cast in the order in which they die in the script; what are the chances that the survivors of those earlier movies will show up and try to figure out who the killer is? Inspiration is running thin at this point (didn’t Craven already do a similar premise with Freddy Krueger in New Nightmare?), and the filmmakers seem aware of this by leaning further into the irony, wisecracking and meta-humor side of things, which is just as well since the stalking/stabbing scenes are tepid and repetitive, and the mystery is a complete wash (really, anyone could have been revealed as the culprit and it would have made just as much sense with a few revisions to the illogical motive). As in prior Scream movies, a list of “rules” are laid out, this time in regards to the final chapter of a trilogy—too bad none of them actually end up applying to this film! Posey is a hoot as the actress playing Cox-Arquette’s reporter character; unfortunately, she’s the only one who really stands out in the cast, but at least medical science advocates can feel satisfaction watching McCarthy get skewered. Cameos include Jamie Kennedy, Roger Corman, and a few amusing surprises.

52/100