Revisionism is rife in film appreciation. Sometimes it’s deserved (no, Birth of a Nation didn’t invent cinema). Sometimes it’s just contrarianism (of course Avatar has fans). But sometimes it’s just insane – like the idea that any of the post-Scream teen-friendly slashers were anywhere near as good as Wes Craven’s horror landmark. No one else could combine both brilliant scares and academic commentary so seamlessly, and his dismantling of all those well-worn terror tropes is what made them fresh again. From casting America’s sweetheart Drew Barrymore as the first to be dispatched to its convention-busting denouement, it’s clear why it’s so many people’s favorite scary movie. – Richard Whittaker
May 4 & 7
