Scream is a franchise that is very near and dear to the hearts of many Gen X and Millennial horror fans who experienced the first film at the perfect moment when their own media literacy and genre fandom was starting to take off. In many respects, Scream has turned into the very thing that it’s slyly been satirizing.

However, it’s still largely a slasher franchise that actually has something to say. Mileage varies regarding the Scream sequels’ reception, but 2011’s Scream 4 — Wes Craven’s final film — is right up there with Scream 2 as far as I’m concerned. Arriving a decade after Scream 3, Scream 4 has plenty of new material to pull from and sinks its claws into the whole horror remake craze that was ramping up during the 2000s. 

Not only does this give Scream 4 more to do than its predecessor, but the film’s grander message about destructive clout chasing and gaining fame through infamy in a social media-obsessed age is wildly ahead of its time. It’s a motivation that rings even truer 15 years later and a sequel that’s only gotten better in the context of the following decades of horror and the subsequent Scream films that have followed in its wake.

Scream 4 is available in Ultra HD 4K for the first time in a Lionsgate Limited 4K Steelbook, a Standard 4K Edition, and even a VHS release. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the franchise’s black sheep sequel before your next franchise binge. 

How Does Scream 4 Look in 4K?

The big reason to pick up this new set is that it’s the first time that Scream 4 has been available in 4K. The film is presented in Dolby Vision, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, and compressed as HEVC (H.265). From what I understand, Scream 4 was finished on a 2K digital intermediate and that a native 4K master was never created. This indicates that this 4K release is an upscale, but it’s well-handled, if that’s in fact the case.

There’s a clear difference in the crispness and details of this new version in comparison to 2011’s Blu-Ray. The colors, reds in particular, pop much better and there’s a greater sense of contrast and depth when dealing with darker tones and blacks. To this point, Scream 4 is a film that’s full of scenes that take place at night and in dark rooms. It’s crucial that the 4K’s black levels aren’t compromised and this transfer doesn’t disappoint. This is definitely the best way to see Scream 4 at this point.

One of the biggest sticking points with Scream 4 fans is the “vaseline filter” that gives the film a bright and hazy soft-focus effect. Some people absolutely hate this effect and were hoping that it would be removed in the 4K. The filter does in fact remain, but this look was always intentional on Craven’s part and an additional meta touch on the glossier look of the decade’s many horror remakes. It wouldn’t be right to remove this filter, yet, an alternate option on the disc that’s without the glossy look – or the ability to toggle it on or off – might have been a welcome alternative.

Audio Gets a Surprise Bonus Inclusion

Lionsgate Limited’s new 4K release also features Dolby Atmos, which rises to the occasion and provides solid audio design throughout the movie. There are no struggles between the broader surround sounds and the more precise and directional effects, the latter of which are boosted so that the simplest of sound effects cut right through a scene. There’s a lot more going on in the background of scenes that are evident in the mix’s rear channels, too.

It’s definitely an audio mix where you’re going to potentially notice new elements that you’ve never noticed before. Speaking of surprises, a bonus inclusion is an additional English 5.1 TrueHD audio track, which is the infamous “UK Version.” While largely the same, this audio track features a few line changes that were dubbed over in ADR and worth checking out for hardocre fans.

Scream 4 4K Release Comes Loaded with Features New and Old

Lionsgate Limited Extras (4K)

In addition to this new release including all the “Legacy” Special Features from the 2011 Blu-Ray, there are a handful of new extras that clock in at about 50 minutes of new material. These features include:

The Meta of Scream 

A 15-minute breakdown on the various ways in which Scream 4 is meta. There’s a playful nature to this, but it really doesn’t feel necessary, especially for an audience who is likely not buying Scream 4 for the first time.

Rebooting the Franchise: Scream 4 Revisited 

A 15-minute discussion with a handful of Scream 4’s actors (David Arquette, Marley Shelton, Nico Tortorella, and Erik Knudsen) while they talk about the film and share some stories. This is also a pretty light feature that’s full of anecdotes that you’ve probably heard before. It’s also too bad that such a small portion of the cast is assembled here.

Ghostface Revealed!

This segment is around eight minutes and gives the voice of Ghostface, Roger L. Jackson, his flowers. A feature on what Jackson brings to the Scream franchise is a decent idea and there’s a certain novelty to seeing Jackson do the voice on camera. While this is the 4K’s shortest feature, it surprisingly has the most depth. 

Wes Craven: The Maestro of Scream

A special feature on Wes Craven feels like a given, but this ten-minute segment does the bare minimum. About half of the feature is made up from archival interviews with Craven, with the rest featuring the cast from “Scream 4 Revisited” weighing in on the director. It’s sweet to hear these actors talk about Craven’s impact, but it’s a rather brief tribute.

In the end, all these new features are fine, but they come across as padded filler instead of anything that actually adds real value to the film’s legacy since its last physical media release. A special feature on how Scream 4 has been reappraised over the past decade, a breakdown on the legacy of Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts), or even a discussion on what the original sequel trilogy plan was for the next films. Roberts might not have been available, but it’s hard to imagine that Kevin Williamson couldn’t have chatted for 15 minutes, especially after he was back in this universe for Scream 7. Even a new audio commentary by Williamson or the Radio Silence team would have been appreciated.

These new features are not some treasure trove of undiscovered Scream 4 intel and they’re not the reason to buy this new set. That being said, the 2011 Legacy Special Features remain robust enough. 

Legacy Special Features (Blu-Ray)

Also included in this set are all the previous special features from the 2011 Blu-Ray release. These special features include: 

•     Feature Commentary with Director Wes Craven and Cast Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, and Neve Campbell (via telephone)
•     Deleted and Extended Scenes
•     Alternate Opening
•     Extended Ending
•     Gag Reel
•     EPKs: B-Roll, Soundbites, Junket Interviews
•     Trailers
•     TV Spot

All of this is pretty much what you’d expect and likely footage you’ve encountered before, at least in the case of the alternate opening and deleted/extended scenes. The Deleted and Extended Scenes are the most substantial of these features with around 30 minutes of material. There’s also optional commentary from Wes Craven on all these sequences, which honestly provides some enlightening context. The audio commentary occasionally sees Roberts and Hayden Panettiere dominate the conversation. It’s still a good reservoir of knowledge from Craven and two up-and-coming talents who clearly respect the hell out of him.

Conclusion

Lionsgate Limited’s 4K Ultra HD remaster of Scream 4 is easily the film’s best release and a must-buy for anyone who has never owned the movie before. Anyone who already has this chapter of the Woodsboro murders in their collection likely doesn’t need to upgrade if they’re purely interested in new supplemental features. However, video and audio hounds, plus hardcore Scream enthusiasts, will want to spring for the improved presentation and upgrades.