So you think you know all about Scream 2?
The concept of a sequel to Scream was idealized by Kevin Williamson when he was finishing the script of the first film. The filming began only 6 months after the original was released and was released before its first anniversary.
The original title of the movie remained unknown until the post production. “At times we’ve called it Scream Louder and Scream Again. But it’s been going so fast, we haven’t had a chance to name it“, says Wes Craven. But as we could observe in the crew chairs, during the behind the scenes of the production, the movie was called Scream: the Sequel.
The early script of the movie leaked in the internet causing major rewrites.
“They went almost immediately on the Internet. So all that was blown and we had to go into rewrites“, remembered Wes Craven.
After that, an alert of secrecy was lightened in the production. Even the actors weren’t aloud to know what was going to happen next, since they used to receive 10 pages at the time right before the shot the scenes.
“We got our scripts. They were burgundy with a black line through them. You can’t even read them really. So you can’t photocopy them” recalls Neve Campbell.
“When we first got the script, I got everything but the last twenty pages. I think they rewrote the ending — I’m not sure if it got leaked or what, but the script had a weird non-copyable pattern on it that you couldn’t make xerox copies of it” told Jerry O’Connell.
Since 1997 there is a SCREAM 2 script circulating in the web where the ending is dramatically different.
The killers were Mrs. Loomis, Derek, Hallie and Cotton.
Gale (Courteney Cox) got killed by Cotton (Liev Schreiber). Sidney (Neve Campbell) and Cotton fight to the death, and it’s possible Dewey (David Arquette) died from his injuries in the projection room. The veracity of this was debunked by Kevin Williamson.
“The Hallie and Derek ending was a dummy draft. At the time the script was written, the studio was determined to keep the plot details under wraps. They were worried the killer’s identity would be leaked, so we wrote several endings. Three in all, if memory serves, and when actors and potential crew members asked to read the script, we would send the script with the dummy ending. There was even a fake ending where Dewey was the killer. They existed as a decoy and nothing more. Extreme measures, but we really wanted to keep the killer’s identity a secret!”
Because of the leaking of the script, the production began without it completed and lots of sequences were simplified to “Wes will make it scary”.
The cast was not informed of the identity of the killer until the last day of principal photography. Also, the cast did not receive the last ten pages of the shooting script until it was time to film the scenes contained therein. Furthermore, the last ten pages of the shooting script were printed on gray paper in order to deter illicit duplication of them. All cast members were required to sign confidentiality clauses as parts of their respective contracts that precluded them from discussing the outcome of the story and the killer’s identity.
Sarah Michelle Gellar signed on to the movie without even know exactly what part she was destined to play.
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jerry O´Connell dated during the filming.
Gellar told Wes Craven that she used to do her own stunts in some scenes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but in here she was too scared to be thrown out of a balcony.
In most films, the additional voices are recorded later, but Roger Jackson was kept in a separate room actually doing the calls. This increased the fear in the set, especially to Heather Graham and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Wes Craven and Roger Jackson did a lot of prank calls during the filming. One of the victims was Sarah Michelle Gellar.
The scene where Ghost Face talks to Randy, there were some lines that were improvised by the actors. “Jamie (Kennedy) said to me, ‘Forget the lines. Just go wild. Try to scare the shit out of me’. So I improved some stuff. His mom was sitting next to me watching on the monitor, so I said stuff like ‘I’m gonna cut your mom a new smile from ear to ear’; and one of my improvs, ‘Have you ever felt a knife cut through human flesh and scrape on the bone beneath?’ was used in the movie. That was cool!” remembers Roger Jackson. (trivia by Wednesday´s Korner)
Paulette Wilson, the girl who hands the masks to Maureen and Phil, won this cameo in a MTV contest.
Peter Deming, the cinematographer of the trilogy, makes a cameo as the popcorn man.
Kevin Williamson plays a reporter who interviews Cotton Weary in a talk show called Current Edition.
Joshua Jackson does a cameo as a student in the cinema class.
Scream 2’s associate producer and assistant to Wes and Kevin, does a small cameo in the cinema class.
Matthew Lillard, also known as Stuart, did an uncredited cameo as a fraternity guy during the party at Alpha Lambda Zeta.
The girl in the phone with Cici Cooper is the actress Selma Blair.
Wes Craven does a cameo as a doctor in the hospital right after Derek is attacked.
Tori Spelling who was mocked in the first movie showed great sense of humor by doing a cameo in this one.
The journalist made also cameos in Scream 3 and 4.
Robert Rodriguez was considered to direct the first SCREAM and then SCREAM 2 when Wes and Kevin had a disagreement over the script.
Dimension offered the movie to Rodriguez, who declined because of Wes Craven.
For many years, people believed the STAB sequence was directed by him, which is not true.
Read the whole story here!
Rebecca Gayheart, who dropped the role of Tatum Riley in the first one, tried so hard to get a part on Scream 2 that she auditioned for Cici, Hallie and Maureen.
Eric Mabius auditioned for the role of Derek.
Natasha Gregson Wagner auditioned for the roles of Cici and Hallie.
Paula Marshall auditioned for the roles of Cici and Hallie.
Jamie Kennedy revealed recently in the series “How I got cast” that Tobey Maguire was one of the options to Mickey.
The main focus of references of “Scream 2” is the original film. The sequel somehow elevates the conversation to a new level. Some people even said that the movie have completely destroyed the genre while others think that it become more intelligent and aware. I’m with the second option.
At the beginning of “Scream 2”, we found that Gale Weathers has written a book called “The Woodsboro Murders”, which just won its celluloid version. The self parody is self references are here again. For instance “Psycho” (1960) shows up again when Casey, now portrayed by Heather Graham on the big screen, turns on the shower.
The phrase “sequels suck” is heavily exploited and prevail in discussions, for example, in film class. “So, of course, the big discussions in [Randy’s film] class are whether sequels are bullshit or not“, says Wes Craven.
Films that were mentioned during this sequence included “The Godfather” (1972), “The Godfather: Part II” (1974), “Alien” (1979), “Aliens” (1986), “The Terminator” (1984), “Terminator: Judgement Day” (1991) and “House II: The Second Story” (1987).
While zapping trough the channels on TV, Cici stops in a scene from “Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens” (1922). Again a self-reference, since that year the show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, “Buffy, The Vampire Slayer” (1997), had scored a resounding success.
After mentioning Mrs. Vorhees, during the gender conversation of the possible killer, Randy also speaks of the daughter of “Candyman” (1992).
The play “Cassandra” (1986) reflects the life of Sidney.
Randy is not happy that they cast Joe Blow nobody to play him in “Stab” – a fictional actor who had just made a cameo in the series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” (1992).
When Joel arrives at Omega Beta Zeta, he says that he don´t want to be a part of “Faces of Death” (1978).
While talking to the killer, Randy says his favorite scary movie is “Showgirls” (1995). He also mentions the classic university horror “Final Exam” (1981), “Graduation Day” (1981), “Splatter University” (1984), “The House on Sorority Row” (1983) and “The Dorm That dripped Blood” ( 1970).
Cici’s friend over the phone, played by Selma Blair, mimics the theme of “Friday The 13th” (1980) on the phone.
Later Randy mentions the movie again during a conversation about the gender of the murderer, saying that Jason’s mother, Mrs. Vorhees, was a memorable killer. This is indeed one of the major references of “Scream 2” to the classic – Mrs. Loomis, Billy’s mother, is revealed as the author of the crimes later.
Check this video we did with all the references between those two sagas!
Dewey was portrayed by David Schwimmer in “Stab”, who was with Courteney Cox on “Friends” (1994), at the time.
Gale also mentions Jennifer Aniston.
While talking to the killer, Randy says his favorite scary movie is “Showgirls” (1995). He also mentions the classic university horror “Final Exam” (1981), “Graduation Day” (1981), “Splatter University” (1984), “The House on Sorority Row” (1983) and “The Dorm That dripped Blood” ( 1970).
“Halloween” (1978) emerges again when they introduce the characters Officer Richards and Officer Andrews. The names of the detectives are in reference to Kyle Richards and Brian Andrews who portrayed the two young kids in that movie.
Another reference is when, while talking to her director, Gus Gold, in rehearsals for the play “Cassandra”, Sidney listening to him talk about destiny and fate. So does Laurie Strode in her classroom.
A girl is killed in a movie theater, just like Maureen, in the first scene.
Maureen says she wants to watch a movie by Sandra Bullock that is playing on across the street. Many people believe that is a reference to “Miss Congeniality” (2000), released two years later, due to the expression “Miss Ethnicity”, which is used a few lines of dialogue later.
When Hallie goes to her closet, there is a sweater with red and green stripes that is an unintentional reference to “Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984).
While zapping trough the channels on TV, Cici stops in a scene from “Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens” (1922). Again a self-reference, since that year the show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, “Buffy, The Vampire Slayer” (1997), had scored a resounding success.
Cici tells of an episode of “Party of Five” (1994) while chatting with her friend on the phone. The TV series was a drama starring Neve Campbell.
The opening of “Stab” has a shower scene.
When Mrs. Loomis looks through the hole of the shot to try to get a glympse of Sidney, there is a resemblance to the scene where Norman Bates observes Marion in “Psycho”.
Joel mentions the TV show “Saved by the Bell” (1989).
While talking to the killer, Randy says his favorite scary movie is “Showgirls” (1995). He also mentions the classic university horror “Final Exam” (1981), “Graduation Day” (1981), “Splatter University” (1984), “The House on Sorority Row” (1983) and “The Dorm That dripped Blood” ( 1970).
While talking to the killer, Randy says his favorite scary movie is “Showgirls” (1995). He also mentions the classic university horror “Final Exam” (1981), “Graduation Day” (1981), “Splatter University” (1984), “The House on Sorority Row” (1983) and “The Dorm That dripped Blood” ( 1970).
The whole “Star Wars” trilogy is covered during the fraternity party. Mickey and Randy argue about “Star Wars” (1977) and “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980). Hallie then brings up the “furry” Ewoks from “Return of the Jedi” (1983).
Mickey, who has a hard on for James Cameron, tells Sidney she has “a Linda Hamilton thing going”, which is a reference to Hamilton’s role in “T2: Judgement Day” (1991).
T2 is also mentioned as an example of a good sequel during the film class.
Hallie asks Sidney which one of the police detectives is Kevin Costner, which is in reference to The Bodyguard (1992).
While talking to the killer, Randy says his favorite scary movie is “Showgirls” (1995). He also mentions the classic university horror “Final Exam” (1981), “Graduation Day” (1981), “Splatter University” (1984), “The House on Sorority Row” (1983) and “The Dorm That dripped Blood” ( 1970).
The Ghost face that flies over the head of Maureen when she enters the movie theater is a reference to “The House on Haunted Hill” (1959). They used to play things like that for publicity stunts.
While talking to the killer, Randy says his favorite scary movie is “Showgirls” (1995). He also mentions the classic university horror “Final Exam” (1981), “Graduation Day” (1981), “Splatter University” (1984), “The House on Sorority Row” (1983) and “The Dorm That dripped Blood” ( 1970).
“Top Gun” (1986) is referenced when Derek sings a song from “The Partridge Family” (1970).
“Top Gun” (1986) is referenced when Derek sings a song from “The Partridge Family” (1970).
Scream takes place in 1996, and Scream 2 takes place two years later (1998). However, in the beginning of the movie at the movie theater, we see the date of filming, April 12, 1997 on the ticket booth window.
When Sidney gets the instant message from the killer, in the library, the man next to her tells her to hit Alt-M. She punches a lot more than two buttons to bring up her instant message.
SPOILER: At the end, where Mickey shoots Gale, Sidney shouts Gale but her lips aren’t moving.
SPOILER: In the climax scene, Mickey’s gun makes the sound of a hammer cocking, but his gun is a Glock, which has no hammer.
When Maureen Evans goes up to the concession counter to order her popcorn and Pepsi, the clerk gives it to her without accepting any money, or ringing it up on the till, yet we see her with the money in her hand.
SPOILER: During the last stabbing of Maureen Evans, the killer puts his right arm around her and stabs her with his left, but from the back view, his left arm is around her and he is stabbing her with his right hand.
The position of Sidney’s head near the end of her first conversation with Dewey in the gazebo.
When Sid smacks Gail Weathers in the courtyard after being introduced to Cotton for the first time, Gail’s hair alternates between being tucked behind her ears and being in her face in between shots.
While Cici is running away from the killer, she makes her way to the second floor, where the killer is right behind her, yet in the next scene, she is far ahead of him.
SPOILER: After Cici is thrown through the window and is lying on the balcony, you can see blood on her back before she is stabbed.
SPOILER: In the scene where the killer is after CiCi on the balcony, the killer stabs her in the back twice but when the killer removes the knife from her back both times you can clearly see there is no blood on it.
When Sidney is rehearsing in the play as Cassandra, after she gets up, in one shot she is covering her face with her veil and in the next shot, she has her arms and her veil up and she is lowering them.
When the killer talks to Randy on the phone, he mocks Randy about not being the leading man, to which Randy replies “Fuck You!” But when Gale and Dewey watch the killer’s tape, Randy says “Fuck You!” before the killer mocks him.
SPOILER: When Randy is being stabbed in the news van, the blood on the knife stays the same each time he gets stabbed.
SPOILER: When Sidney and Hallie get in the police escort car Hallie gets in first sitting on the left, but later when the car is driving down the street and eventually crashes, Sidney and Hallie have switched places and Sidney is now on the left. (This was explained in an outtake. As a joke, the girls got out and ran around the car when it stopped at a red light.)
Sidney has a zit on her chin toward the end of the movie, when she gets into the car. But in the climax, it isn’t there.
The police chief conducts a press conference. Later, when videotape of the press conference is reviewed by Gale, the person to his left (frame right) is different.
When Gale kisses Dewey in the lecture theatre, all her dark red lipstick is wiped off or smeared around her mouth, but none of it appears on Dewey.
When Dewey is pounding on the soundproof glass, trying to get Gale’s attention, his hand alternates between being open palmed and balled in a fist.
SPOILER: When Cici is thrown over the balcony, a crew member’s head pops up just beyond the edge of the balcony on the right for about a second.
This was corrected in some DVD versions.
There is a Los Angeles County Seal on the rear window of the ambulance at the end of the movie, but the scene does not take place in California.
In the beginning when Maureen Evans goes to the concession stand, she orders a small Pepsi. However, when she turns around, her drink is anything but small.
Randy “corrects” the film student about an Aliens (1986) quote “Get away from her you bitch.” Randy was wrong, film student was right; since Randy is supposed to be an expert, this is surprising.
