It's a year or so after the events in the first Scream movie, and Sidney Prescott, now a college student, is terrorized by a killer wearing the same ghost-faced costume that terrorized her before.
Subgenres: postmodern, slasher
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Now we're cooking. Scream 2, as a sequel, adds an extra level of postmodernism to the mix--call it a meta-satire. It also includes a psychological subtext that eluded the first film, more likable actors, and a storyline that is structurally superior to that of the first Scream. Unlike its predecessor, it does not become like one of the films it satirizes but instead finds new, inventive ways of looking at the genre as a whole. And the scene on the college green, with Randy on the phone while Deputy Dewey and Gail look for the murderer? Killer. (Oct 20, 1999) philjohn.com - approaching the unexplained 
While I thought of its predecessor of being a bit lame and not really frightening, the contrary would be true for this one, which is quite a good example of how to make the sequel surpass the original. This estimate of mine seems to be strange, at least compared against the bulk of user comments at the IMDb. But I don't care, this is my site, my opinion. Personally, I think Scream 2 counts among the best horror movies ever made, also among the best movies ever made. So let me give reasons for that. Most of all, Scream 2 is self-reflexive, and it is very ironic. Further more, it is brilliantly made in how it sums up the previous part, playing literally on the word "sequel" itself. And it mades quite a point against the misconception that sequels would suck, naming some great sequels which exceeded their precursors by far (like The Godfather Part II, Star Trek II, or Alien3, while I think Aliens actually was worse than its predecessor). Maybe (or rather, for sure) sequels are made for money. But I don't see a problem in that as long as the result is such a great movie as Scream 2. Some Hollywood actors seem to like appearing uncredited and unforseen in such pictures - like Bruce Willis in Four Rooms, Brad Dourif in Urban Legend; and David Warner in this one. Another bonus in this movie was Sarah Michelle Gellar, of whom I've become quite fond of since seeing her on Buffy - The Vampire Slayer. --- Scream 2 is much more a horror film than Scream, and the cell phone scene is just great, so is the scene in which Sidney freaks out on stage while rehearsing her role as Cassandra. And as much as I realize that expectation can be a tricky thing, I'm really looking forward to Scream 3 this year. (Oct 31, 1999)
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This movie contains one small detail that's either a flub or a possible clue to the identity of the killer in the third film. To my thinking, anyway. Watch the van scene closely.
Follows Scream . Followed by Scream 3. The movies were originally planned by Scream and Scream 2 writer Kevin Williamson as a trilogy.
