SCREAM 3

SCREAM 3 (2000). Director: Wes Craven.

The third and final installment of the original Scream trilogy -- following Scream and Scream 2 -- takes place in Hollywood where they're making another sequel to Stab, the movie-within-a-movie featured in Scream 2. Someone has a copy of the script and is killing off the actors in the order of their demise in the "movie." Sidney (Neve Campbell) who is in hiding after the events of the first two films -- and who can blame her? -- comes to Hollywood when it is determined that these new murders have something to do with her late mother [whose murder precipitated the whole series], who was an actress in Grade Z horror movies. Courteney Cox and David Arquette reprise their roles, Scott Foley plays Stab 3's director, and Patrick Dempsey is the cop assigned to the case. There's some good misdirection and the picture keeps you guessing as to whom ultimately is responsible for the body count. Roger Corman and Carrie Fisher have interesting cameos. Much more of a burlesque than the first two films in the series, but undeniably entertaining.

Verdict: One last Scream for good measure. **1/2.