Resurrected for the post-“Scream” meta phase of 1990s horror, the 1980s slasher franchise arrives fully rejuvenated, thanks in large part to the unexpected but entirely welcome arrival of Jennifer Tilly. The ultra-likable actress seems to be having the time of her life in the titular role, while returning series star Brad Dourif switches his pitch from terrifying to hilarious, biting into his deliberately comedic lines like nothing could be more fun. A subplot involving Katherine Heigl and John Ritter is occasionally tiresome to watch, but the movie is so well-done and so much fun that it doesn’t take anything away from the finished movie, which is a blast from beginning to end and reinvents the franchise along the way.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
