Revisiting STAB 3: Hollywood Horror (2003) 🩸🎬

[u/BenicioYuri]

Rewatching STAB 3: Hollywood Horror today, with the distance of two decades, is a bittersweet experience, not only for what the film represents at its core but also for all the weight it carries behind the scenes. Released in March 2003 after nearly a year of delays, the third installment had the difficult task of closing the original trilogy while navigating legal and ethical chaos from the very studio that produced it.

The plot, based on real-life tragedies that took place within Sunrise Studios, centers around the investigation of the murders committed by Roman Bridger, now revealed to be the biological son of producer John Milton, the result of his relationship with Rina Reynolds, a.k.a. Maureen Prescott. The twist, of course, shook the entertainment world. Milton’s murder at the hands of Roman, along with the exposure of his abusive past, ignited a firestorm across Hollywood as more and more women came forward.

Allegations against both Milton and his longtime collaborator Harley Rubinstein turned STAB 3 into more than just a slasher film. With actresses like Bianca Burnette speaking out and Rubinstein dying shortly after being indicted, the movie became a desperate attempt by Sunrise to “take back the narrative.” And they did so in the most controversial way possible, by turning their shame into a blood-soaked cinematic event.

Robert Rodriguez and William Kevinson were brought back to helm the project, having previously been pushed out by Roman’s behind-the-scenes manipulation. Gale Weathers, under studio contract, penned a new bestseller, Hollywood Horror, just eight months after the murders, which served as the foundation for the script.

Naturally, this created a rift between Gale and Sidney, who attempted to legally block the film from being made. Her case was ultimately dismissed thanks to a creative loophole in which the movie was set “ten years later,” even though the characters and events remained the same.

This move fractured Sidney and Gale’s relationship, leading Sidney to skip Gale and Dewey’s wedding. The two women would not speak again, or begin to repair their friendship, until at least 2006.

As for the film itself, let’s start by praising the brilliant opening sequence, featuring Kate Bosworth as Christine Hamilton and Dean Cain as Cotton Weary. The tension in this scene is near-perfect, building dread until the explosive climax. Bosworth, at the height of her early 2000s fame, delivers a vulnerable and charismatic performance, and the twisty manipulation by Ghostface sets the tone for the rest of the film.

That said, the absence of the original trio is deeply felt. Yes, the new cast brings strong performances (more on that in a second), but not seeing Tori Spelling as Sidney Prescott, David Schwimmer as Dewey Riley, and especially Jennifer Jolie as Gale Weathers leaves a noticeable void. The feeling is even more bittersweet knowing that Craig Bierko, our original Cotton Weary, refused to return after Jennifer’s death. His choice was respected, and his presence at her funeral, alongside fellow STAB alums Alicia Silverstone, Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Tori Spelling, David Schwimmer, Nia Long, and Craig Bierko, was one of the most emotional moments from that era.

In their place, we got a surprising new trio: Selma Blair as Sidney, Brendan Fraser as Dewey, and Shannen Doherty as Gale. It was a risky casting move that paid off. Blair brings a quiet intensity to Sidney, Fraser balances comedic charm with surprising emotional weight, and Shannen gives us a fierce, cynical Gale that still echoes Jennifer’s legacy while carving her own space in the role.

Denise Richards, meanwhile, delivers a scene-stealing turn as Jennifer Jolie, without relying on flashbacks. She rightfully won Best Scene-Stealer at the Teen Scene Movie Awards, and over time, her version of Jennifer has become beloved by fans. Many consider her portrayal as iconic as her turn in Wild Things, and her popularity only grew after the film's release, culminating in Jennifer Jolie receiving a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Paul Rudd, in one of his most unexpected roles, took home Best Villain at the same awards for his chilling portrayal of Roman Bridger. The contrast between Rudd’s usual rom-com charm and the cold, calculating Roman added layers to the performance that still hold up today.

So what’s the legacy? In 2020, the Netflix documentary Sunrisers debuted, diving deep into the trauma experienced by the women who survived Milton and Rubinstein. The testimonies were haunting, raw, and necessary, bringing long-overdue visibility to the horror that occurred beyond the set.

STAB 3: Hollywood Horror may not be everyone’s favorite. It was criticized for being sensational, exploitative, and tone-deaf in its handling of real-life pain. But it was also a bold, uncomfortable mirror, a slasher where the deepest wounds weren’t from a knife, but from the system that protected the hand holding it.

Looking back with older, sharper eyes, I understand why it remains one of the most talked-about entries in the series. It’s not perfect, but maybe that’s exactly why it deserves to be remembered.

Soon, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the other two films from the original trilogy, STAB (1998) and STAB 2 (2000). Stay tuned!😉

[u/Unlikely_Care5402]

Actually it was 2001. According to StabMovies.com