Scream’s Iconic Opening Changed Horror Forever, But It Almost Destroyed The Entire Movie
Scream is one of the most influential horror movies ever made, but it almost didn’t happen thanks to its best scene, which ended up changing the genre. The 1990s saw a revival in the slasher genre, and a key player in it was Scream. Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, Scream satirized the clichés of the slasher genre while adding social commentary and making fun of the horror genre, all while also staying true to the style of slashers. The critical and commercial success of Scream led it to become a franchise currently preparing for its seventh movie.
Scream introduced the audience to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), a high school student whose mother, Maureen, was murdered the year before. Now, Sidney is being targeted by a ruthless masked killer, who doesn’t hesitate to kill anyone who stands in their way. Scream also introduced the slasher villain Ghostface, who has now become part of pop culture. Scream’s legacy in horror is undeniable and continues to be felt, and one scene key to its impact and influence on the genre almost stopped the movie from happening.
Scream’s Opening Scene Almost Stopped It From Happening
Scream’s Opening Kill Was Too Much For Some Producers
Scream’s opening scene is regarded among the best openings in horror history, which is why it’s surprising to learn that it almost stopped the movie from happening. Scream begins with Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) alone at her house in Woodsboro when she gets a call from an unknown person. Although friendly at first, the caller turns increasingly aggressive and sadistic, and the night quickly takes a horrifying turn. After killing her boyfriend right in front of her, the caller, wearing the Ghostface costume, kills Casey and hangs her body from a tree for her parents to see.
It’s a graphic and suspenseful scene with a disturbing conclusion, so with that in mind, it’s understandable that some people might not have been convinced by it. Speaking at a panel at MegaCon 2025 in February, Skeet Ulrich shared that Casey’s murder scene almost shut down filming (via People). Ulrich explained that, after they shot the opening sequence of Scream, Miramax stopped production as they didn’t want to continue after watching the scene, which they “didn’t know what it was”, and this was after just two weeks of filming.
Ulrich added that Craven and two producers edited the sequence and rushed to show it to the producers so they could get their approval and continue shooting the movie. In the end, they got the green light again and Scream was completed, but Ulrich adds that they were enjoying themselves but also taking a risk. Casey’s death ended up being one of the best scenes in the whole Scream saga, and it became highly influential in the slasher genre.
Scream’s Opening Scene Isn’t New, But It Broke Some Rules
Scream Did Some Things Differently In Its Opening Scene
Ulrich didn’t go into the specifics of why the producers at Miramax weren’t on board with Scream after watching the opening kill, but different sources have said through the years that they didn’t like the Ghostface mask and felt Barrymore lacked “sex appeal.” The violence in it could have also played a role, but Scream isn’t the first or only horror movie with an opening kill or a graphic opening sequence. Classics like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Jaws have opening kills, but what Scream did differently is related to the actress in that scene.
Drew Barrymore was the biggest name in the cast at the time, and she was even the face of the poster. This was intentional to sell the movie to the audience and shock them at the same time with her death in the first minutes, thus breaking the tradition of the biggest actress not being a lead and dying right away. This became a tradition in the Scream saga, which continued to have popular actors killed in the opening sequence, and became one of the most influential slasher movies.
How Scream’s Opening Kill Impacted The Horror Genre
Scream Has Been Highly Influential
Scream is credited with revitalizing the horror genre in the 1990s, as well as popularizing teen-centric horror movies. Scream’s opening kill quickly establishes the movie’s self-aware commentary and satire, shooting shots at the genre and its most popular movies. This became the saga’s style, and it has been copied in many other slashers ever since. The success of Scream even made way for the parody franchise Scary Movie, which of course did its own version of Casey’s murder.
Having Drew Barrymore in Scream’s opening scene also raised the profile of the horror genre, which was often looked down upon by actors. Given Barrymore’s popularity and legacy at the time, her involvement in Scream made the horror genre and slasher movies more attractive for other prominent actors, benefiting both the saga and many horror movies since then. Scream might not have had the same impact without its opening sequence, and it’s a relief that it was kept and the movie was completed as planned.
Source: People.
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