I love Scream. I love it so very much. Here are some of the reasons why.

It's got a female protagonist who's both emotionally vulnerable AND tough as nails. She is also far from being a typical horror movie victim as she gives every bit as good as she gets. Sidney Prescott is, in other words, a three dimensional character. And how very refreshing that is!

The plot is brilliant, and its execution excellent. There are no jump-starts that are just there for shock value: everything in Scream is there for a reason. The first time you watch it, you'll be amazed by the twists and turns. The second time you'll marvel at how brilliantly Wes Craven sold you for a sucker. And after that you'll keep watching it just cause it is such a great movie.

Scream is (perhaps oddly enough) the movie that introduced me to a lot of eighties horror that I have grown to love. I have gone on to watch movies such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. So I have Scream to thank for a lot.

Sure, Scream is known for being self-reflexive and referential. But the great thing about it is that you don't have to have watched a lot of horror movies to enjoy it. It's just a really solid movie that can be appreciated for its own merits. The references are a bonus for anyone who feels like doing their homework, but not at all necessary. This, as far as i am concerned, is a good sign of a great film.

There are probably loads of other reasons I could give, but I'll leave it with this: As a relative latecomer to the Scream franchise, having only watched the movies for the first time a few years ago, I am really impressed by how well Scream has held up over time. Admittedly I can't know for sure, but I can't imagine its impact has diminished much over the last two decades, and that is some achievement in and of itself.

So I love Scream. Maybe I should watch it again soon.