SCREAM 2 (18). Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Jamie Kennedy. Time: 2 hours. PREPARE to re-enter a world where death waits around every corner and it's unsafe to be in or out of the house alone - or with anyone else, for that matter.

Following the mega-success of Scream, Wes Craven brings back his string of heroes and anti-heroes for a slasher flick of delicious devilry.

The master horror director shamelessly uses this slick sequel as a discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of follow-up films.

It helps, of course, if you saw the original movie which took cinemas by storm last year as it thrilled audiences and deconstructed the horror genre in equal measures.

That masterpiece is ably followed by its fearless child, as the surviving characters of the original cast come together again on a college campus with fear in the air and a killer in their midst.

Poor Sidney Prescot (Neve Campbell). The heroine of Scream has left behind the horrific events of hometown Woodsboro and is trying to erase memories of multiple murders, including her mother, boyfriend and best friend, which stalked her there.

It's the year after the serial killings and Stab, a new blockbuster film adapted from a book about the murders by ruthless TV journo Gail Wethers (Courteney Cox), is showing across the country.

Opening night hype - including free grim reaper costumes and fake plastic knives for the audience - is cut short when fantasy becomes reality as two students are butchered.

Slowly, Sidney realises the past is coming back to haunt her. The media - including Wethers - descends and old friends Randy (Jamie Kennedy) and ex-cop Dewey (David Arquette) rally round to protect Sidney.

An ensuing blur of twists, unexpected slashings and undeniable thrills will keep you on the edge of your seat as you try to pick out the killer and hope your favourite characters don't meet their maker too soon.

Scream 2 is an extraordinary exploration into the blase way of thinking that life is like a movie as the campus kids play on among the terror - it's like Scooby Doo with blood.

As you'd expect from Craven, there are some imaginative and graphic death scenes, a high body count, howling humour and ladles of self-reference.

Once again, the film is punctuated by some truly terrifying chase sequences.

Just as the main players pretend real life is a movie, comfort yourself with the fact Scream 2 isn't real, sit back, enjoy - and wait for the sequel!

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