Ryan Turek, the editor of the acclaimed horror website Shock Till You Drop and a rising documentary filmmaker, recently opened up about his upcoming project, Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective, in an interview with Rue Morgue. As a dedicated Scream fan himself, Turek ensures fans that the documentary is in capable hands, promising a deep exploration of the original trilogy.

Here are some key takeaways from his conversation:

The Birth of the Project

“With the fourth film on the way, the time was right to look back at the original trilogy,” Turek shared. “I pitched the idea to Anthony [Masi] and he, in turn, took the idea to our distributor, who responded positively, and we’ve been at work on it ever since.”

Securing Interviews

Turek emphasized the challenges of gathering interviews for the retrospective. “The biggest hurdle was ensuring Dimension Films was cool with the project,” he explained. “Anthony and I flew out to New York, while we were doing a few interviews out there, and met with Bob Weinstein. He understood what we were doing, got it, and gave his blessing.”

“Once that happened, we started reaching out to everyone involved in the three films, and I mean, everyone. It hasn’t been easy locking everyone down—many of them are still incredibly busy—but we’ve been very successful. I was thrilled that Wes Craven made time during his Scream 4 post-production schedule to talk with us.”

Turek’s Favorite Scream Film

Unsurprisingly, the original Scream remains Turek’s favorite. “It’s a breath of fresh air. Sure, some of the pop culture references might feel out of date, but the tension still resonates, and that ending packs a punch,” he said.

However, he also praised Scream 2: “I think so much of it works, and there’s a certain giallo-esque nature that’s more prevalent in that film than the first one. It’s a slick piece of work.”

Thoughts on Scream 4

Turek admitted to being curious about the franchise’s fourth installment. Reflecting on Scream 3, he noted, “It showed up too late to the party that Scream kicked off. By the time it hit theatres in 2000, it felt like Scream’s time had passed, but they had to finish up Sidney Prescott’s journey.”

Regarding Scream 4, Turek said, “There have been hints that the sequel will comment on horror films from the last ten years. Like I said, I’m curious.”

A Must-Watch Retrospective

With the 15th anniversary of the first Scream approaching, Still Screaming promises to be a celebration of everything that made the franchise a cornerstone of modern horror. From interviews with key players to behind-the-scenes stories, this documentary is shaping up to be a definitive look at the trilogy’s legacy.