Scream (1996)

There aren’t many movies that manage to reinvigorate a genre for an entire generation, but that’s exactly what “Scream” managed to do. With the fluid, experienced direction of Wes Craven, it’s impressively assembled and glides along seamlessly from the opening scene, itself a mini-masterpiece of escalating suspense that grabs the viewer by the throat and refuses to let go. Kevin Williamson’s extraordinarily clever screenplay manages to deconstruct the conventions of its genre without losing track of its characters and its intricate plot, and the climax is a downright bloodbath that keeps the viewers guessing. More than twenty years after its release, “Scream” is dated but no less effective and its strengths are still just as evident as they were upon initial release.

Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)

Boys (1996)

This loose adaptation of James Salter’s short story “Twenty Minutes” seems to have begun filming without a clear vision or direction. From scene to scene, the movie seems to be trying to figure out what story it wants to tell, who its characters will be, and where the plot will go. The final result is a befuddling, pointless mess of a movie, with a series of unlikable prep-school schoolmates threatening each other for 80ish minutes while Winona Ryder occasionally pops by, as though wandering in from a different movie altogether. By the time the credits start to roll, the movie has figured itself out but the audience is left wondering why anyone bothered to make it in the first place. There’s no reason to watch this other than for diehard Ryder fans.

Rating: ★ (out of 5)

The Craft (1996)

It’s a shame that this entertaining, likable thriller is held back from greatness by Robin Tunney’s weak central performance. The characters are well drawn, the special effects are dated but effective, and the movie’s central theme of female empowerment is treated with impressive focus (in particular for a movie from the 1990s). In addition, supporting players Fairuza Balk, Rachel True and Neve Campbell do terrific work both individually and as a trio. But lead Tunney seems barely awake throughout the movie and wounds its momentum, and the third act changes the movie’s tone so dramatically that it’s disorienting. Nevertheless there’s an overall charm to the movie that keeps things interesting, and it’s filled with terrific scenes and cool moments.

Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)

Riverdale (Season 1) (2017)

The first season of the CW’s distinctive adaptation of the Archie Comics is like crossing “Dawson’s Creek” with “Twin Peaks.” The characters are hyper-verbose and well-versed in esoteric pop culture tidbits not at all unlike the best of screenwriter Kevin Williamson’s amusingly self-referential voice. Similarly, like David Lynch’s aforementioned “Twin Peaks,” “Riverdale” revels in its own singularities and unfurling mysteries, shaking things up once in a while and having fun with its genre’s formulaic nature by playing around with timelines. It’s definitely not for everyone, but viewers looking for something undemanding and entertaining could do a lot worse than this.

Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)