By Ryan Turek – Director and Writer of Still Screaming, a passionate voice in horror cinema and storytelling.

As we reflect on the 14th anniversary of Scream, I’m taken back to where I was when the film came out and how it completely upended my expectations.

At the time, I was living in Jersey City, attending school in New York City, and deeply immersed in the world of horror. I had read about Scream in Fangoria, but truthfully, I wasn’t sold. Wes Craven’s A Vampire in Brooklyn had left me underwhelmed, so my excitement for his new project was lukewarm at best.

Then the TV spots started rolling out. They intrigued me. There was “that girl from Party of Five,” some humor, and a certain scene featuring a girl in a garage—a memorable moment that was clearly designed to catch the attention of theatergoers like me. It worked.

During Christmas break, while most of my friends went home to spend time with family, I decided to catch Scream on opening night at a local theater. It was a packed house in theater number 4, and what unfolded over the next 111 minutes left an indelible mark.

The audience was electric—couples jumping in their seats, groups of teens shouting at the screen. As for me, I sat back, popcorn in hand, thinking, “Holy crap… Craven got it right.” I’d never seen anything like it: a film that was smart, funny, self-aware, and genuinely scary all at once.

I was hooked. A few nights later, I went back for a second viewing.

Celebrating 14 years of Scream! Read testimonials from fans and contributors on the legacy of this iconic horror classic.