Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Horrific” Scream 2 Death Explained
One of the most iconic death scenes in the Scream trilogy is attributed to Jada Pinkett Smith, who plays a supporting role in the 1997 film. Six films that blend tribute, humor, and vintage slasher aspects make up the Scream series. In addition to telling gripping and terrifying stories, these movies parody horror tropes.
The survivors of Scream 2 attempt to move on from their prior experiences following the events of the first movie, maintaining the meta approach from the first film.
Moving on from the Scream killings is difficult, particularly given the curiosity they’ve aroused—a fascination that extends to the Stab movie, an in-universe film based on the events in Woodsboro. Scream 2 examines the pattern of horror franchises releasing varying degrees of quality sequels. After starring in Menace II Society and The Nutty Professor, Jada Pinkett Smith makes her big-screen debut in Scream 2. Despite not being the main character, she has a big impact on the narrative and has a particularly brutal ending in the series.
In Scream 2, Jada Pinkett Smith plays Maureen Evans, a senior at Windsor College, who attends the Stab premiere reluctantly with her boyfriend, Phil Stevens (Omar Epps). The theater is filled with fans wearing Ghostface masks, some of whom seem to recognize the movie’s connection to a real-life event but choose to ignore it. Maureen appears more distressed about being at a horror movie premiere than the insensitivity of turning a real tragedy into a pop-culture spectacle.
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Similar to Drew Barrymore’s role in Scream, Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance in Scream 2 stands out among younger co-stars due to her established acting career. Like Barrymore, Pinkett Smith’s role is also a surprise for the audience. Maureen represents those who are reluctant to watch horror movies, often dragged along by someone else. Just as some people dislike roller coasters, horror films can be polarizing. Unfortunately, Maureen’s intuition about attending the premiere proves to be right in ways she couldn’t anticipate.
While seated in the audience, Maureen’s boyfriend is murdered in the bathroom by Ghostface, who then takes his coat and sits beside her. When Maureen touches the jacket and finds blood, she realizes the masked person isn’t her boyfriend.
The killer stabs Maureen multiple times in the stomach, but her cries for help are drowned out by the movie. Theatergoers think she’s acting until she stands up and dies in front of the screen. This unexpected and brutal death was precisely what Pinkett Smith desired for her character. During an episode of Couch Surfing, Pinkett Smith expressed her wish for her character to die in a gruesome manner.
“I remember saying to the director at the time, ‘I want to die the most horrific death that has ever happened in a horror film. I want it to be long and excruciating.’ And he’s like, ‘Cool.'”
The death scene in Scream 2 is highly impactful, though it may not have the same surprise factor as Drew Barrymore’s twist in the first movie. Taking place in a public setting adds to the shock value, intensifying the horror as viewers empathize with Maureen’s desperation while surrounded by people who are oblivious to her plight.
Source: screenrant
Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Horrific” Scream 2 Death Explained
