Note: This review may contain some very mild spoilers which may be of detriment to the film’s viewing experience. In one word, the film is amazing, but if you feel you need to be further convinced to see it, please feel free to read on, but it is at your own risk.

Looking back at all of my favourite films, I can say there are three that stand out above the rest to help shape my obscene love for cinema that I have today. Star Wars, American Beauty and the original Scream all helped to make me the film geek that I am today; so when I heard that Dimension Films had green lit a fourth film in the Scream franchise, I was elated that I would get to spend another two hours with Sidney, Dewey and Gale, but at the same time, after the terrible Scream 3 I was terrified that the characters I loved so much in the 90s would continue to become the clichés that they were originally parodying.

Thankfully, all of my concerns were unfounded. Scream 4 is a fantastic film, full of great twists, brutal killings, an enormous body count (I counted 15 deaths) and a razor sharp, and often hilarious and obscenely self-aware script that is easily up there with the iconic first film.

Much focus has been put on the young cast of the film and how they play opposite the Scream Holy Trinity of Sidney, Dewey and Gale. The newcomers are played so fresh and jaded thanks to the media’s sterilisation (and almost celebration) of the original Woodsboro murders. By putting them next to the original survivors, we can see just how weathering the original events have been on these characters. Taking it one step further, it’s interesting to see the emotional effect this new series of killings have on the cast. The new kids have a real visceral response to everything that is going on, whereas the original cast are so emotionally destroyed from previous events, we see very little lack of emotional control from the principal cast. Sidney and Gale in particular almost derive strength from their past, putting all of their energy into stopping Ghostface, at whatever cost.

When you dissect the film, Scream 4 ultimately is a vehicle whereby Williamson can comment on the state of instant celebrity and immortal fame due to the internet through his unparalleled ability to meta-reference. The film’s final moments are so poignant and bursting with social commentary, Williamson writes a final act that is so large in scale and impact that the justification for the killings in the original film seems almost trivial.

Once again, Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven redefine what is possible in the slasher genre. The script is tight. The characters are, for the most part, fully developed, and the rules and conventions of the horror movie are so carefully shattered and reconstructed that I cannot recommend Scream 4 enough. Go see it as soon as possible. You will laugh hard, and scream loud.

Scream 4 is in theatres 14 April 2011. Check out the trailer below.