Wes Craven's slasher films are making the jump to the small screen . Here's some advice for turning the modern horror classic into must-see-TV.
Keep it bloody.
Shows like True Blood and Hannibal have pushed the boundaries of violence on TV, and that bodes well for how far Scream will take it. The show shouldn't be all gore all the time, but it is going to have to get a little messy if it wants to stay true to the spirit of the original. What would a slasher series be if not for the occasional blood splatter? Don't worry — as Billy Loomis reminds us, it's really just corn syrup and food coloring.
Via: Dimension Films
Update the rules for TV.
What are the scary TV show rules, and how do they differ from the scary movie rules? This is new terrain, so it's a little harder to reference established tropes, but MTV's Scream can still be pretty meta. Play around with the constraints of television (it'll take a lot longer to find out who the killer is, for one thing), or acknowledge a lackluster history of horror on TV. However it's done, Scream needs to stay somewhat self-referential. Them's the rules.
Via: Dimension Films
Maintain the emphasis on strong female characters.
The slasher film is criticized (by Sidney herself at one point) as being all about dumb girls getting stabbed. But Scream took the model of the Final Girl and amped it up, giving us two relentlessly badass leading ladies who both survive all the way till the end. Let's hope the series can create a character as memorable as Sidney or Gale. And yes, as lovable as Dewey and Randy, though that will be a more difficult feat to accomplish.
Via: Dimension Films
Lure the original cast back in some capacity.
No, not as regulars. Face it — there's no way Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, or David Arquette are joining up as full-time cast members. But the occasional guest appearance would add some much needed legitimacy for diehard Scream fans. And hey, if any of the original actors do want to sign on for a weekly series, more power to them. MTV may be into promoting what's fresh, but that doesn't mean it should shy away from vintage.
Via: Dimension Films
