Inspired by the big-screen slasher movie franchise created by Kevin Williamson (“Dawson’s Creek,” “The Following,” “Stalker”), the MTV version of “Scream” comes to us from “Matador” co-creators Jay Beattie and Dan Dworkin.
... The one episode of the new series made available for review vacillates between sort of scary and trying too hard. …
… For younger viewers just discovering irony and metafiction and possibly not acquainted with the screen originals, which have done them to death, this may seem fresh and fun. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
... The performances are bland, robotic and uninteresting--clearly these actors were recruited for their looks, rather than their acting chops. And most of the main cast white, which is inexcusable in this day and age and completely unrealistic. …
... thoroughly mediocre, with a cast of actors who are generically pretty playing characters who are generic types. …
... while the “Scream” films kept audiences jumping, “Scream” the TV series risks putting viewers to sleep. …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
... Whether "Scream" can overcome Noah's legitimate concerns about adapting a slasher movie for TV remains to be seen. But tonight's premiere gets the show off to a strong creative start. …
... leverages the initial murder to build suspense without much actually happening during the remainder of the hour, using a lot of dissonant strings instead of opened veins to set the mood. Yet the real trick will be teasing out the suspense as the number of viable suspects gradually dwindles, as well as making the audience see these characters as more than just chum. …
... The scariest occurrence in the first episode is Nina’s lightning-speed texting ability. If the series is going to continue as a high school drama that every so often is interrupted by a literal stab to the gut, then the stories need to be much more compelling and the performers much less central casting bland. …
10 p.m. Tuesday. MTV.
