Scream 2 MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3

Wes Craven directs this sequel to the surprise hit SCREAM. A string of bloody serial murders is being committed in a small college town, duplicating a previous series of killings two years earlier in Woodsboro, California. More disturbing, the murders are occurring simultaneously with the release of a movie called "Stab," which is based on the previous killing spree. No one is more concerned about this than Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell), a coed drama student whose mother was a victim of the earlier serial killer and is herself a target of the present killer. Others who become involved are: Gail Weathers (Courntey Cox), a writer on whose book "Stab" is based; Dewey Riley (David Arquette), a former cop who worked on the previous string of murders; Cotton Weary (Liev Schrieber), a man who served a year in prison for the previous string and who is now free on a technicality; and a half-dozen of Syd's classmates. Together, they struggle to survive and to stop the killer. This movie has a built-in core audience that will attend no matter what, and based on the performance of its prequel, it should make a strong showing at the box-office. However, it may see a decline if audiences react negatively to the fact that most of the action is in the last ten minutes of the movie.

Cotton, the man released from prison on a technicality, demonstrates forgiveness in the film. Gail, the writer, said a lot of bad things about him in her book; and yet he is able to set aside his bitterness and save Gail from the real killer, sacrificing his own life in the process. Forgiveness aside, the movie lacks any redeeming value. All the murders are graphic and bloody. Eighteen crude words and sixty-six obscenities pollute the dialogue, and the Lord's name is taken in vain eight times. The film also features several sexually suggestive situations and comments. In addition, a few negative comments are made about organized religion. As a result, SCREAM 2 will leave discerning viewers screaming for a different reason.

Preview Reviewer: Al Hunt
Distributor: Miramax, 375 Greenwich, New York, NY 10013