Plot: What’s it about?
The students of Bulimia Falls High School are under attack, but not from the usual student terrorists this time, but instead a lethal killer that wears a ghost mask. This killer is not the usual, run of the mill hack ‘n’ slasher either, he is a bumbling moron who usually ends up killing his victims by accident, as opposed to his planned methods. But in any case, this killer stalks the hallways and looks for new victims, but with some heavy guns on the case, his stint may come to end. The expert mall security guard Doughy (Tom Arnold) is on the scene and since the killer’s costume was stolen from his mall, that makes the case his business. Also in town is news reporter Hagitha Utslay (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen), who wants to uncover the truth and also single out new kid in school Dawson (Harley Cross), whom she thinks is behind the murders. But since Dawson and his band of friends have all gotten notes from the killer, it seems like this plan goes deeper than anyone ever imagined, but who could be behind this heinous scheme?
I know what you’re thinking here, that Shriek is a simple Scary Movie clone, but that isn’t the case at all. Yes, both take aim at teen slashers, but since both were made around the same time, I wouldn’t accuse Shriek of plagiarism, not in the least. Of course, Scary Movie went on to rake in a ton of cash at the box office, while Shriek was ported onto cable television and now has been released on our beloved format. So the obvious issue here is thus, which is funnier and worth owning, right? I have to admit, I find both to be hilarious and in the end, I know my collection would be incomplete with both discs. Shriek, which is really called Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday The 13th is a Naked Gun kind of comedy, a barrage of quick gags, both verbal and visual. You can tell this film lacked resources at times, but it still packs a comedic punch and takes some risks at times, which is welcome of course. I know the silly and sometimes offensive sense of humor used here isn’t for everyone, but fans of spoofs should look into this one, as I think it is very underrated and overlooked. I do wish Trimark would have done more with this disc, but even so, I recommend it with no hesitations.
This is an ensemble piece to be sure, with five main characters and a plethora of smaller roles spruced about. Some of these smaller roles are more robust, while others are just cameos, but all add some humor and that means a lot in a flick like Shriek. The leads turn in decent performances, but with material like this, they needed to be hapless and overact, so it is hard to judge their turns on any normal scale. The lines work and the timing is usually good, which is enough to pass them as good enough within this film’s premise. The main performers here are Harley Cross (Dance With The Devil), Danny Strong (Pleasantville, Dangerous Minds), Simon Rex (Tv’s Felicity), Julie Benz (Jawbreaker, As Good As It Gets), and Majandra Delfino (Traffic, Tv’s Roswell). The rest of the cast includes Tom Arnold (True Lies, Big Bully), Coolio (Submerged, In Pursuit), Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (The Ladies Man, Love Stinks), Mink Stole (But I’m A Cheerleader, Cecil B. DeMented), Artie Lange (Lost & Found, Dirty Work), and Aimee Graham (Timecode, Jackie Brown).
Video: How does it look?
Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday The 13th is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is not as refined as some other recent releases, but I think this is due to the equipment used to shoot the film on, as well as some budget issues. The image looks more than solid however, with good source materials used and minimal grain, although some scenes have more than others. I do think the contrast is a little dark in some places, but never enough to obscure detail and as such, no real knocks on that end. The colors look bright and accurate, while flesh tones seem natural and consistent also. I’m pleased to finally see this in widescreen and in the end, I am giving this transfer and above average score, it deserves it.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc uses a basic 2.0 surround presentation, which seems to be enough to get the material’s needs covered. The musical soundtrack is the most active element of course, but some of the insane sound effects also chime in, which adds to the experience. This is a dialogue driven film however, so don’t expect the speakers to explode while you spin this disc. The vocals are excellent though, very crisp and always at a proper volume, so all the jokes come through in fine form. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French, in case you might need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
