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

In this third and final (?) installment of the Wes Craven directed series, numerous references remind viewers that this is a trilogy. Fledgling film director Roman Bridger (Scott Foley) takes the helm of a film within the film "STAB 3," a third installment about the original killings in the town of Woodsboro from the original SCREAM. But actors playing the Woodsboro characters start dying violently. This draws reporter Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox Arquette), one of the original survivors of the Woodsboro event, to the Hollywood set. There she find Dewey Riley (David Arquette), another survivor, working as technical advisor. The killer apparently wants to draw Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), heroine of previous SCREAM films, out of hiding to finish the job he started with her mother in the original movie. Craven once again combines humorous film references with enough violent horror to please fans of his previous works.

Keeping up with the times, almost everyone carries a cell phone, which provides both clues and humor, but no one seems to know how to dial 911. Less gory than expected, there’s still plenty of bloody bodies, knife slashing and stabbing to satisfy the genre. Also in keeping with tradition, one victim shows obscured female rear nudity through a shower door. Although no sex is shown, several references are made to getting movie parts by ‘sleeping’ with someone. A past group rape is also mentioned. It’s difficult to understand film’s fascination with the f-word, but it appears at least 30 times. Frequent profanity, both regular and exclamatory, expands the less than eloquent dialogue. Thankfully, the trilogy is ending, just three films too late.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Dimension Films (Miramax), 375 Greenwich, NY, NY 10013