The first three "Scream" movies were clever parodies of slasher flicks . . . which had pretty much run their course by that time.
--But that was the '90s. Horror movies have changed, so "Scream 4" needs a new target. And it has one: The "Saw" franchise.
--Director WES CRAVEN says, quote, "It feels like the end of an era of a certain type of film. There are series of films, a lot of sequels, and a lot of remakes, and part of the humor of 'Scream 4' is when characters comment on that.
--"'Enough of 'Saw 25' and all'. A lot of films, directors, and studios are the butts of some of the jokes."
--He adds, quote, "In order to figure out what's happening around them, the characters have to figure out where the genre of horror is.
--"So this is a look at horror after ten years of a lot of sequels rather than original films coming up year after year. One film is successful, and then they make 25 of them."