Before I explain all the things I loved about this film, I feel the need to justify the 8/10 rating. I am basing it upon my undying love for this series of films. For those less partial to it's self-referential blend of comedy and horror, a lower score may be appropriate. For comparison, I would have rated the original Scream 10/10, while Scream 2 and Scream 3 would not have faired quite as well. Scream 3 proved the dangers of making sequels and remakes, its lacklustre writing and the fatigue of the entire franchise did nothing for it.

Thankfully Scream 4 manages to avoid these pitfalls, largely due to the length of time it has been since the last film. It feels fresh and new, despite the fact that it is seemingly rehashing old material. I attribute this to the fact that this film has the writer of the first two films back on board, Kevin Williamson, and once again he has managed to recapture the magic of the franchise.

This isn't a perfect film - for instance the acting is somewhat wooden - yet I can't help but love its constantly self-reflexive nature, and the constant cycle of remakes and sequels form the focus of its satire. The references to Saw 4 and the fictional films 'Stab 6' and 'Stab 7' within the opening easily establishes this awareness. This film however goes beyond referencing other slasher films and references the original Scream and the associated cultural phenomenon. Deputy Judy Hicks (Marley Shelton) was the most obvious of these (for those who haven't quite got it yet, Deputy Judy sounds very similar to Deputy Dewey), and Kills looks strikingly similar to Neve Campbell. Wes Craven wants us to see this as a reboot of the original film, and the franchise, with a twist for modern audiences.

Audiences are expected to have an understanding not only of slasher and horror films but also an intimate knowledge of the previous films in the franchise and the characters. Anyone who enjoyed the original Scream will find something to love here; even if it is simply to relive the joy of hanging out with the three main character. I know joy is strange word to use to describe a slasher film but this film brings out the inner nerd who me who likes to think of himself as a slight horror film buff (though I'm sure I would be put to shame if my knowledge was ever tested by Ghost Face). The constant references made me laugh out loud, along with the rest of the audience, and I did find myself gripping the chair at several points throughout. Overall this is a clever, funny and frightening film. It's fun to watch but you do need to be a fan of the Scream movies to get the most out of it.