With Cursed following the Kevin Williamson era of slasher whodunits, it's only natural to wonder what Cursed would be like if it were actually a Scream sequel. So let's dive in.
If Cursed had been reworked as an actual Scream sequel, it would likely have kept its meta-horror elements but integrated them into the Scream universe, possibly as Scream 4 (though this was years before the actual Scream 4 in 2011). Here's how it could have played out:
Premise:
Instead of being a standalone werewolf movie, Cursed would follow Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers, and Dewey Riley encountering a new kind of horror: a masked killer whose attacks seem supernatural, tying into urban legends and Hollywood's obsession with reboots. The movie could have played out on the idea of horror evolving beyond slashers -- what if Ghostface wasn't just human anymore?
Plot Breakdown:
- Opening Kill: A meta opening featuring a Scream-style murder but with an unusual twist -- after the victim is stabbed, their body is found seemingly mauled by an animal. Ghostface is still the killer, but he's staging the kills in a way that suggests something supernatural.
- Sidney's Return: Sidney, now trying to live a peaceful life again, is pulled back when news spreads of a new series of murders happening, seemingly linked to an urban legend of a "Hollywood Curse."
- Gale and Dewey Investigate: Gale, now a struggling journalist post-Scream 3, is eager to uncover the truth behind the bizarre killings. Dewey, still skeptical of supernatural explanations, believes this is just another Ghostface with a gimmick.
- Introduction of Ellie and Jimmy: The Christina Ricci and Jesse Eisenberg characters could still exist but as Hollywood insiders -- maybe Ellie is a rising horror actress, and Jimmy is a genre-obsessed fan who starts noticing how the murders mimic werewolf movie tropes.
- Twist on the Werewolf Angle: Instead of actual werewolves, the film plays with the audience's expectations. The killer wears a monstrous version of the Ghostface mask, using practical effects and animalistic tactics to sell the illusion.
- Third-Act Reveal: The killer(s) would be someone involved in rebooting Stab -- maybe a producer trying to bring back interest in the franchise by manufacturing a "real-life horror story."
Meta Commentary:
- The film would deconstruct the horror trend of supernatural reboots taking over slashers.
- It could poke fun at the Hollywood myth of "cursed productions" (The Exorcist, Poltergeist, etc.).
- The final act could involve a battle in a Hollywood studio, where horror movie sets blur the line between fiction and reality.
Ending:
Sidney, Gale, and Dewey prove that Ghostface is still just a person -- no supernatural elements -- reinforcing Scream's core message: horror is scary because people are scary.
Does this version of Cursed work for you? Either way, it's just fun speculation.
