SCREAM QUEENS (2015) Pilot Review by Tim Helfrich

I was recently lucky enough to attend a screening of FOX’s new horror comedy series,Scream Queens, from the mind of Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story). Although after seeing the episode, my feelings were somewhat teetering on the edge of madness and despair, I began to feel that sudden urge to watch more of it.

These days, I feel that T.V. shows that can captivate an audience are like diamonds in the rough. With the likes of Ty Pennington and Simon Cowell dominating our evening programming, horror fans have always yearned for a bloody getaway from the next failing sitcom or reality show.

While Scream Queens creates a somewhat similar “pop-culture” premise and generic feel, the show does portray homages to some of the greatest iconic slashers we were all raised on.

Scream Queens begins twenty years earlier, with a murder at the ever-popular Kappa House, the most sought after sorority at Wallace University. As one of their sisters dies from an unexpected child birth in the bathroom during a party, the other “sisters” decide to cover it up, and not ruin the hormone raging, alcohol fueled bash.

Flashing forward to present time, we meet the Queen Bitch of Kappa House, Chanel Oberlin (played by Emma Roberts). Though I personally despise the roles she usually plays, especially in American Horror Story, I feel that this was the role she was born to play.

She brings a distinct coldness and remorselessness that really sets the tone for the main protagonist in the show. She and her minions, the Chanel’s, create a gang like presence at the university, and are usually feared by the student body, with good reason.

As the story unfolds, we meet the Dean of Wallace University, Cathy Munsch, played by the amazing Jamie Lee Curtis. This sorority-hating badass has a pure loathing for Kappa House and everyone in it. Fueled by her animosity, she changes the rules for pledging at Kappa House; whereas initially only the elite of the elite were invited, now any and every student can join.

Chanel is not very happy with this new change, obviously seeing this as the act that will bring Kappa House to a pile of rubble. It’s at this point that we meet Grace Gardner, played by Skyler Samuels, who is going off to college and looking to fit into a new environment after the unexpected death of her mother. What better way to fit in than by joining a sorority, right? With all of these characters in play, you can only sit back and watch the disasterpiece begin.

At this point in the show, we discover that someone has a very distinct grudge against Kappa House, and will not stop slashing and stabbing their way through the sorority until these girls get what they deserve.

A devil-clad murderer, whose presence makes you the least bit paranoid, begins piling up bodies. This devilish killer was probably one of best aspects of the show from first glance. As the homages start to roll in, particularly a “stalking” scene with tones and presence that echoes John Carpenter’s Halloween, you can tell that some honest thought and detail was written into the script. If more horror filmmakers today were to just go back to the roots of the genre and reproduce what we all fell in love with at the beginning, I think the world would be a better place.

Scream Queens doesn’t hold back any punches, and does not slow down in terms of comedic horror. While some scenes fell flat, others seemed to work in their favor in terms of frightened laughs and applause. It’s usually somewhat difficult to find the balance between horror and comedy, (although I’m sure those who have seen Tucker and Dale vs. Evil may disagree with me), Ryan Murphy has found what he was looking for. With the momentum of American Horror Story propelling him, he shouldn’t find it too difficult to make Scream Queens a running success.

The unusual cast featuring Nick Jonas, KeKe Palmer, and Abigail Breslin, will truly be put to the test as the series grows, with the slightest hope that we may one day get to see the death of a Jonas brother on screen! Hey, if Paris Hilton can get killed in House of Wax, there’s no reason that a Jonas brother should be exempt from the bloody guillotine.

When I think of Scream Queens, one saying always comes to my mind (and fans of The Walking Dead will somewhat agree): “If Jamie Lee dies, we riot!” Even though the pilot episode focused mostly around Emma Roberts and Skyler Samuels, Jamie Lee Curtis stole the show. Just to see her behind the blood again brings back every hope my childhood once held. Despite the body count mounting and the killer becoming more and more bloodthirsty with every kill, he will have his work cut out for him if/when he tries to place Ms. Curtis on the chopping block. He should take a lesson from the great Michael Myers’ ultimate defeat. Don’t mess with that badass bitch!