Scream 3 (2000)

Scream 3 (2000), directed by Wes Craven and written by Ehren Kruger, is the third installment in the iconic slasher franchise. While it leans more heavily on meta-humor and Hollywood satire compared to its predecessors, it still delivers the bloody kills, mystery, and plot twists that the series is known for.

Detailed Summary

The Opening Kill

Unlike the first two films, which began with shocking phone-call murders, Scream 3 opens with Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber), now a talk show host, receiving a menacing call from Ghostface. The killer reveals that Sidney Prescott is the ultimate target. Cotton and his girlfriend Christine are brutally murdered, setting the tone for the film.

Sidney’s Isolation

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has gone into hiding, living under a new name and working as a crisis counselor for abused women. Her secluded life shows how trauma from the previous killings still haunts her.

Stab 3 and Hollywood Satire

Most of the action takes place on the set of Stab 3: Return to Woodsboro, the latest film within the Stab franchise that dramatizes the Ghostface killings. Actors portraying Sidney, Gale, and Dewey are suddenly being picked off by Ghostface, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Gale and Dewey’s Return

Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), still chasing stories, teams up with Dewey Riley (David Arquette), who is now working as a technical adviser for Stab 3. Their romance rekindles amidst the chaos, adding some levity to the bloodshed.

The Murders Escalate

Ghostface begins targeting cast members of Stab 3, leaving behind clues tied to Sidney’s mother, Maureen Prescott. The investigation becomes less about the film and more about uncovering hidden secrets in Maureen’s past.

Sidney Enters the Game

Drawn out of hiding, Sidney joins the investigation when it becomes clear the killer won’t stop until she’s dead. She learns that her mother’s history in Hollywood, where she once sought fame, holds the key to the murders.

Movie Ending

The climax takes place in a mansion belonging to Hollywood producer John Milton. Ghostface reveals himself to be Roman Bridger (Scott Foley), the director of Stab 3. The shocking twist: Roman is Sidney’s half-brother.

Roman explains that he is the son of Maureen Prescott, conceived when Maureen was assaulted during her time in Hollywood. Rejected by Maureen when he sought her out years later, Roman grew resentful. He admits he orchestrated the events of the first Scream by manipulating Billy Loomis into targeting Sidney, meaning Roman has been pulling strings from the shadows all along.

A brutal showdown follows. Roman shoots Sidney, but she survives thanks to a bulletproof vest. After a tense struggle, Sidney and Dewey ultimately kill Roman. Before he dies, Roman desperately insists that Sidney is just like their mother—someone who abandoned him. Sidney refuses this, symbolizing her breaking free from her family’s tragic cycle.

The film ends peacefully: Sidney leaves her gate unlocked, signaling that she no longer lives in fear. Gale and Dewey, now officially a couple, prepare for a calmer future together.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. Scream 3 does not feature any post-credits scenes. The story closes on Sidney’s moment of peace, intentionally leaving the franchise without dangling threads—at least until Scream 4 was released in 2011.

Type of Movie

Scream 3 is a slasher horror film infused with satire, mystery, and black comedy. It critiques Hollywood filmmaking, particularly the exploitative nature of the industry, while delivering the genre’s familiar kills and twists.

Cast

• Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott
• Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers
• David Arquette as Dewey Riley
• Scott Foley as Roman Bridger
• Parker Posey as Jennifer Jolie
• Patrick Dempsey as Detective Mark Kincaid
• Liev Schreiber as Cotton Weary
• Lance Henriksen as John Milton

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Marco Beltrami, who returned after scoring the first two films. His tense, atmospheric music underlines both the horror and self-aware humor of the movie.

Filming Locations

The film was primarily shot in Los Angeles, California, using both studio lots and real Hollywood locations. The use of Hollywood as a backdrop was intentional—it emphasized the satirical theme of the film, blurring reality with fiction through the Stab 3 movie set.

Awards and Nominations

While Scream 3 didn’t win major awards, it was nominated for several teen and horror-focused accolades, such as:

• Saturn Award nominations for Best Horror Film and Best Actress (Neve Campbell).
• Blockbuster Entertainment Award nominations for Favorite Actress (Courteney Cox).

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Kevin Williamson, writer of the first two Scream films, couldn’t commit to the script due to scheduling conflicts. Ehren Kruger stepped in, leading to tonal differences.
• Studio interference forced rewrites, with demands for less violence following the Columbine tragedy. This explains why Scream 3 leans more toward comedy and mystery than outright gore.
• Parker Posey’s over-the-top portrayal of Jennifer Jolie was partly improvised, earning her a cult following among fans.
• Wes Craven, always self-aware, added in-jokes mocking Hollywood’s tendency to water down edgy material.

Inspirations and References

Like its predecessors, the film is packed with references to horror and Hollywood culture. It specifically critiques the idea of sequels and trilogies in horror, parodying the “rules” of the genre established in earlier films.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Early drafts had different killers, including an idea where multiple killers returned. One abandoned concept included Stab 3’s cast members being Ghostface copycats. Deleted scenes also expanded on Maureen’s backstory, but were trimmed to maintain pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is no direct novelization of Scream 3, but the film diverges from Kevin Williamson’s original outline. Williamson’s version reportedly involved multiple killers and a different conspiracy angle surrounding Woodsboro.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The brutal opening murder of Cotton Weary.
• Sidney walking onto the Stab 3 set, confronting a replica of her childhood home.
• The reveal of Roman as Sidney’s brother.
• Sidney leaving her gate open in the final scene.

Iconic Quotes

• Roman: “You’re gonna pay for the life Mother made me miss.”
• Sidney: “I’m not like my mother.”
• Jennifer Jolie (meta-commentary): “You can’t kill me, I’m the killer in the third act!”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Randy Meeks (from Scream 2) reappears via videotape, explaining “the rules of a trilogy,” foreshadowing the plot.
• Numerous nods to horror franchises, especially Halloween and Friday the 13th.
• Lance Henriksen’s character John Milton is rumored to represent a composite of real-life Hollywood producers accused of exploitation.

Trivia

• Neve Campbell’s availability was limited due to other projects, which is why Sidney appears less frequently compared to earlier films.
• Scream 3 was marketed as the “final” chapter of the trilogy.
• Courtney Cox’s bangs became an infamous pop culture talking point.
• The only film in the series with a single killer.

Why Watch?

Scream 3 offers a clever twist on Hollywood horror, blending meta-commentary with slasher thrills. It’s essential viewing for fans who want to see how the original trilogy closes and how Sidney finally gains closure.

Director’s Other Movies

• A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
• Red Eye (2005)
• The People Under the Stairs (1991)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Scream (1996)
• Scream 2 (1997)
• Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
• Urban Legend (1998)
• I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)