Scream – The Giallo Cut

Damn it! The ride is over. And now I have to get back to reality, and face a post-VHS world. A time where Hollywood laughs at originality, and instead welcomes remakes, reboots, and bows at the feet of the gimmick that is known as 3D. Yes, the 2000's are a sad time for cinema. But now, thanks to Neglify and the fine folks at fanedit.org, you can join me on a journey into the past. A journey that will wrap its legs around you, grab your ass, and leave you begging for more as you scream out its name in that last bout of ecstasy.

Don't be afraid my friends, the past will not bite. The past is your long lost lover, come back to remind you how good you used to have it. It wants to know why you abandoned her for the whore that is high definition. Won't you give her just one more chance? She promises you won't be disappointed. What's that? You will? You're making a very wise choice my friend. A very wise choice indeed.

Now the first thing I'm going to need you to do is get your old CRT tv out of storage. What's that? You've got a perfectly good high definition tv already all set up and you don't want to lug out your old, outdated, one instead? Give me one good reason why not. What's that? It weighs too much? Oh bullshit! Now do you want to do this right, or do you not want to do this at all? Yeah, that's what I thought!

Alright, so you've got your old CRT tv all set up. Now just pop in that DVD and let's get started. Yes, I said DVD. What? You thought we were going to watch a VHS tape? Will you just shut up and trust me here, I know what I'm doing.

Alright, now that we've got that settled, let's get that sucker started. Things start off nicely. No menus whatsoever. It just gets straight to the point. First we've got a trailer for Scream 2, giallo-fied of course to match the theme of the evening, and then we get right into the movie. What's with the shitty picture and 2.0 sound you ask? Didn't I tell you we were taking a ride into the past? This is VHS in all its glory. It only looks shitty because you've been corrupted by that whore, who shall hereby remain nameless. Yeah, you know what you did. Don't even try to deny it.

Let's just move on already. Alright. As I mentioned, before I was so rudely interrupted, the video and audio isn't the best, but in this situation that is definitely a plus. After all, this edit is a throwback to an earlier time. A time we'd all wish we could go back to. Don't even try to deny it, you know you'd go back if you could. Another thing that helps to solidify the authenticity of that time period is the music, most of which has been replaced with score by the band Goblin. But don't worry though, Red Right Hand is still present. Although I can't help but wonder how the movie would feel without it.

The movie itself isn't very different from the theatrical/director's cut, but the tone of the film is completely different now that the music has been replaced with score. It truly leaves you feeling like you're watching an authentic giallo film. And you really have to see that opening scene as it works its way into the title sequence. I had goosebumps. I also liked how Neglify used snippets of other giallo's to give Maureen Prescott a bigger role in the film. And the music he used for the sex scenes between Sidney and Billy felt like they had been lifted from some softcore porn film. My only problem with the score is that I thought the wrong musical piece was selected for the end of the film. The music just feels too lighthearted and easy going for what is being shown on the screen. Aside from that though I had no complaints. Two thumbs way up!

Alright. So now that the movie's over, aren't you glad that I made you lug your old CRT tv out? That's what I thought. You're welcome! But don't go lugging it back into storage just yet. Neglify will be back with Scream 2: The Giallo Cut, and you know you're going to want to see that one.

All and all I have to say this was a great edit from start to finish. Yes as most know I am an HD freak but with that being said the throwback VHS feel was a nice change of pace. The rescore worked amazingly and helped change the tone of this movie drastically. Well done Neg

I wonder what Wes would've thought of this. I like to think he'd think it was cool as hell. It's a great edit that delivers on its core premise almost to a fault.

A/V Quality - 9 - Honestly, I thought this was going to bother the shit out of me. I can be a bit of a quality snob sometimes. But I was immediately taken back to the glorious time that was the late 90s and not only did it not bother me, I loved it. I just can't rate it a 10 because, you know, it looked like crap. But Neg's intentions are fully realized.
Visual Editing - 10 - I love Scream, and I love this. The additional footage was perfect and it was added in such a way that it didn't take me out of it at all. Well done. Also, I loved the trailer at the front that you have to FF through or watch, and when I saw that 'Feature Presentation' I felt like I was a teenager again.
Audio Editing - 9 - I gotta be honest. Neg used Goblin's music better than I did. Super well done here. Some standout audio work and choices for me were during Billy and Sidney's almost sex scene, Sidney's first conversation with Ghostface (how it cuts when she talks to him on the porch), little sting as Billy looks at Sidney in the police station, the actual Billy/Sidney sex scene (that was fucking perfect), the killer reveal and the Ghostface theme throughout. Perfect. I only have to rate it a 9 because I did not like the music when Sidney attacks Billy at the end at all. It seemed very at odds with the scene IMO.
Narrative - 10 - Dope movie, nothing lost, breasts added.
Enjoyment - 9 - I really enjoyed this edit. Obviously I'm a fan of the music but it is used so well here. Scream is great but to be able to enjoy it the way I first owned it + Goblin tunes = awesome.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Neg. Really glad you did.

This is a novel way to re-do the movie, and I recommend it just for being different and unusual.

It uses a VHS quality (with the screen crawl at the bottom of the frame), so the video is intentionally dull - it even begins with a VHS introduction ad, like videotapes used to have. And that's cool. What I didn't understand or appreciate is the insertion of some 1970s European softcore erotica, at two different points; it didn't seem coherent, like it wasn't intended to be adding to the "Scream" story, but it also didn't come in like it was part of the videotape being recorded over, so I just didn't know what purpose it served or what value it added. (I think it takes away from the overall goodness of the edit.)

Aside from the video aspect, the audio is very cool: it fits the theme, adds a creepy ambience and tension, and I appreciated that whole change to Diallo theme music being the crux of this movie, which I have no reason to see otherwise. The enjoyment is minimal having seen the film a few times already, but the change to the Diallo music and the VHS effects are cool.

I do recommend this for anyone who hasn't seen the movie, or who loves the normal version of the movie.