And speaking of the trailer give-aways there are a few. I really dislike this aspect of the film. I get that the marketing guys want to get asses in seats for an R-rated slasher film, but seriously, there is nothing worse than seeing a film and then going "Well, I could have told you that was going to happen from the trailer.". And while I refuse to say WHAT scene it is I am referring to, I will say that it involves a few of the more important cast members. The scene itself is heartbreaking to watch for the hardcore crowd, albeit a bit predetermined, but it is also effective in its necessity, and fans should at the very least appreciate the quality of the performances.
W.T.F. was my reaction, too. And just like every other Scream fan that read this review, there mind immediently went to the fearless Gale Weathers' barn chase scene highlighted in each trailer, so far. This review + the trailer implies that Gale dies at the Stab-a-thon. Anyone who knows the Scream trilogy knows that Gale has been the main character in all three after the protagonist, Sidney Prescott. Completing the surviving trio is Cox's real life husband, David Arquette.
When 4 was officially announced, fans speculated that the trio would die in the opening sequence of the film. It was shown over the summer, that's not the case. The trio was shown filming all over Michigan; combine that with the new trailer, fans were assured they were the main characters again. And speaking of the trailers....
Ever since Scream 4 promotion began in October, it broke free with a picture of Gale in the barn with Ghostface behind her, ready to attack. Fans were thrilled.
The first trailer was released at the Scream Awards (ironic, right?). It was basically the teaser trailer cut in half. The 50 second preview showed the following of that scene we saw in the first picture: Ghostface jumping at Gale; Gale being thrown onto a stack of hay or something in the barn; and the killer sitting on top of Gale, knife drawn, and Gale saying "Go ahead if you have the guts!"
This threw fans for a loop. If anyone of the trio would've been killed off it was expected to be either the heroine (ala Laurie Strode), Sidney Prescott or the clumsy, ex-cop who has had one too many close encounters, Dewey Riley, not Gale Weathers played by the most lucrative star of the bunch, Courteney Cox.
The teaser came out, same clip shown, as did with the 2:30 minute trailer a few weeks ago.
Fans, myself included, jumped to the conclusion that Gale survives, that the Wiensteins are throwing us for suspense, thrill-ride. Why would they reveal the biggest death of the film in the trailers when they know most fans are expecting one of survivors to bite it? Through the different trailers, it's shown that Dewey sees Ghostface behind Gale on the video monitors in the car. He runs into the barn, and jumps to the upper level of the barn with his gun drawn, saving his wife.
After reading that section of the new review, it seems that they are talking about this scene, implying that Gale does die, that Dewey doesn't get there in time.
Okay, let's just assume that is the case. The cons outweigh the pros::
Pros
- Gale's death would add emotional weight to the film
- Some may see it as a cliche that the main trio doesn't die
- Gale's a depressed woman now, a bored woman. Great way to be sent out?
Cons
- The character has survived three previous events, it's not fair
- Her death would make the first three pointless
- If there is a Scream 5 & Scream 6, having them without Gale would be almost unforgivable to fans, especially if Dewey and Sidney are in them
- Having her or either of the other two die would be the stronger argument for becoming a cliche. Since the sequels began, a survivor from the previous has died: Randy in Scream 2 and Cotton opening Scream 3. Fans weren't thrilled to say the least. And those two character were only in one previous Scream film without even 10 minutes of screentime. Just imagine Gale, the second main character in the first three? It's not a cliche yet, it's only been twice before, and the once was for the opening, so it's not as bad because he was the least important survivor.
- The Scream series would lose the specialty name it's created for itself. It's one of, if not the only slasher franchise to keep the same key cast members in all installments of the franchise. If Gale dies, that leave 2 original actors. Reputation: Lost. The Scream trilogy is where you root for the main character, not the villain (ala, Friday the 13th, Freddy Kruger, ect).
- Gale's arguably the most popular character of the series
- Where does this leave the character of Dewey? His wife on 10 years is gone. Goodbye comic relief.
Possible situations
1) Dewey could save her just in time
2) Gale could just die.
3) She could be cut up, but taken to the hospital
Comments/Questions
1) Again, restating: why is this scene being promoted excessively? Why have so much secrecy on set if they are just going to give away the biggest death in the trailer. That's like robbing a bank and burning the stole money
2) Maybe Cox is over the series. This story was put to rest 11 years ago, back when Cox was younger. Sure they were the only hit movies Cox has ever starred in, but she has her TV shows to fall back on. Maybe she has it in her contact for Gale's death to be revealed in the trailer, like Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween Resurrection.
3) Cox is the star of one of the biggest TV shows of all-time and has had two other semi-successful shows after it, one of which is still on the air that got her a Golden Globe nomination. She's obviously the biggest celebrity of the film, that could sell it. Some teenagers now-a-days don't know about Scream. They were infants when 3 came out. If they see trailer of TV spots they can say "OH Monica/Jules in that! We should go see it!" That was already present during the ET interviews back in the Fall, that that is the way they are promoting it. Why would they want to throw their moneybags of the franchise in the garbage?
4) Could be a fake out, like Dewey in 1 + 2.
5) Cox was asked about Scream 5 & 6. Her response was "There will be 5 + 6, but I don't know anything yet." Implying that she's awaiting news and information about it to sign on.
6) It's was stated in that new review that Sidney is the backbone of the series, but Gale and Dewey are the blood the runs through the veins that keeps the films fresh and alive. Without Gale there, uh......what?
7) If she does in fact die, this could explain Cox's bitterness in the ET and Ellen questions about the 4th film. Or she could just feel uncomfortable because of the separation between she and her husband that sparked during shooting of the film. I'll go with the latter, because in the new interview that I mentioned in #5, she was more enthusiastic.
8) Dewey is for sure confirmed to be in the finale. The barn scene is supposedly the end of Act 2, before the finale. Why, if his wife is dead, would Dewey go back on duty? If his wife of eight years was just torn from shred to shred in a barn full of teenagers, he'd be shaken up, especially all that he's been through with her. This, right here is a strong indicator that she doesn't die.
9) Other people who screened the film in PA has said the survivors are Sidney, Gale, Dewey, Hicks, and Kirby, with the killer being Jill and Charlie. Unless they saw two different versions of the film, someone's lying. And we've heard this statement on IMDb and Youtube many different times from different users (that she survives).
10) This could be a hoax, this review.
On a final note, I think today, I went into a deep depression over this. They just can't kill Gale. They can't. There will be hell to pay if she does die, though. It will ruin the movie for me, and probably other die-hard fans. Below is a picture of the chase scene I keep referring to...
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