Scream 3

Scream 3, the latest installment in the series about a serial murderer who hides his or her identity with a mask based on Edvard Munch's Scream, is not as scary as part two, but more intricate than part one. While it does offer some closure to the trilogy, the end result appears hurried and awkward.

Again, the movie-within-a-movie concept is central to the plot, and may prove rather confusing for the uninitiated. In the years since the campus slayings of Scream 2, Stab 2 has dramatized these events and made a killing at the box office. Now, as Stab 3 (a film "based" on the Woodsboro personalities) begins production, the actors signed to appear start getting bumped off in the same order as the Stab 3 script dictates.

Thus, our three intrepid heroes from the previous Scream films come to help out with the police investigation, but they should know better than to gravitate towards a place where their lives are in danger yet again.

Deputy Dewey, played by David Arquette, is still Deputy Dewey, but Arquette seems like he had other things on his mind: namely, wooing Courtney Cox. Yet, this makes another one of the trilogy's amusing cases of art imitating life. Gale Wethers, played by Courtney Cox Arquette, is now an entertainment reporter and bitchier than ever. Cox clearly enjoys the role and, sporting a rather severe haircut, actually looks younger than she did in the first two films. Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, is now a crisis counsellor, but Campbell is unable to hide her boredom with the entire film.

Still, there is an interesting mix of new faces and potential victims, including Lance Henriksen, Patrick Dempsey, Jenny McCarthy, Felicity's Scott Foley and Kelly Rutherford from Melrose Place. Jaime Kennedy (whose film student Randy was killed off the last time around) makes a welcome appearance, as does Scream alumnus Liev Schreiber; both are good, but sadly not given much to do.

The biggest problem with Scream 3 is the script. Without creator/writer Kevin Williamson, who bowed out to pursue other projects, there are virtually none of the pop-culture references and in-jokes one has come to expect from this film franchise. In fact, many opportunities for the tongue-in-cheek humour are clearly missed. And early on, it's quite easy to figure out both the motive for the murders and their connection to Sidney -- although just who the culprit is remains a secret for a while longer.

Cast members have been very adamant about the finality of this trilogy, with their characters having been taken as far as they can go. But any Hollywood studio can figure out a way to continue a profitable series. And if the film careers of Campbell, Cox and Arquette stall, they'll be glad to sign on for Scream 4. Rating: 7 out of 10.