Related
Merriam - Webster ’s dictionary defines “ ply jest ” as “ a joke or gag that is repeated many times in slightly unlike ways . ” If you ’re question why this clause open with such a cliché introduction , it ’s because endure jape are , in and of themselves , abitcliché .
However , that does n’t make them boring or humorless — in fact , when used correctly , the running gag can be one of the funniest jokes a franchise can utilize . TheScreamfranchise does just that with Dewey Riley , played byDavid Arquette . As his documentary title United States Department of State , you trulycannot killDavid Arquette , and his character of Dewey Riley can apparently never go .
An Unexpected Visitor
In the firstScreammovie , Sidney Prescott ’s beau , Billy Loomis , amount to her house just as she ’s gettinga call from Ghostface , the killer stalk her . Because Billy has terrified her so badly , Sidney is in fight - or - escape mode , ready to assault should anyone strain to kill her as they killed her mother .
In go away , Sidney throws open her front door and is confronted with yet another Ghostface masquerade . She screams and begins to attack , only to clear that Dewey ’s the one holding the masquerade party , and he ’s do to protect her .
Backstabber
One of the most iconic kills in the franchise is n’t even a gross putting to death , but rather an almost - murder , because Dewey does end up surviving . When Deputy Dewey demo up at the company to try and help — after realizing Sidney ’s dad ’s car has been abandoned nearby , and so the teen at the party are likely in peril — he immediately putshimselfin peril .
Recognizing Dewey as a believable scourge , Ghostface literally stabs himin the back , leaving him for stagnant on the front porch . If you calculate closely , you may even see that David Arquette is n’t breathing here — Dewey really is meant to be bushed .
Cutting Room Floor
Dewey really did narrowly fend off the most permanent death of all : being write out of the flick . Originally , Dewey was supposed to be prod in the back by Ghostface anddie , as viewer can see when they watch Dewey ’s unmoving , unbreathing clay in the picture .
However , Wes CravenandScreamaudiences loved Arquette ’s Deputy Dewey so much that Craven shoot a newfangled ending where Dewey is carry out in an ambulance , very much alive . And thank God he did , because Dewey goes on to supply infinitely upright textile in the next picture to add up .
Can You Hear Me Now?
Scream 2is full of near - misses for everyone ’s favorite beloved Deputy Dewey Riley , include a call so close that it could ’ve been him or Gale — but it ended up beingRandy Meeks , the cinephile and red herring ofScream , who was kill by Ghostface .
Of naturally , this being aScreammovie , Dewey is n’t going to be left alone for very long , and he gets attacked by Ghostface again while trying to protect Gale . In a soundproof way on Sidney ’s campus , Dewey gets stab ( again , again),and end up surviving long enough to be brought out into yet another ambulance .
Kill Your Double
In the third moving-picture show in the serial , Scream 3,the persona are necessitate in makingStab 3,and so each of the characters inScreamhas an actor counterpart inScream 3(it makes sense , really ) . The characters endeavor to use the handwriting forStab 3as some sort of denotation of who will be stamp out when , but all that goes out the window as whoever is Ghostface forScream 3starts torture whoever they want .
The cast ofStab 3is all assemble together at one point to try and protect one another when there ’s an explosion . Dewey only just scantily makes it out alive ; instead , it ’s Tom Prinze , the actorplayingDewey , who dies . Close call !
A Splitting Headache
One of the most iconic almost - kills in the entire franchise takes place inScream 3.Actually , this is arguably one of the most iconic almost - kill inhorror moviehistory , partially just for how screaming it is . At this point , the author ofScream 3were definitely incline into the running gag of “ Deputy Dewey Almost Dies , Every fourth dimension ! ” and resolve to really commit .
InScream 3,a tongue gets thrown at Dewey ’s face ; the conclusion of it hit him squarely between the eyes . He falls unconscious and tumbles down the stairs to lie down atGhostface’sfeet . While hilarious , it would in truth be a miracle for Dewey to live this entire encounter .
Hostage Crisis
The close ofScream 3has a lot of different crises and close birdcall for Deputy Dewey Riley — now also Adviser Dewey Riley . Things really start to go south when Ghostface narrate Sidney to add up to the mansion where Roman Bridger ’s political party is being hold . There , Gale and Deweyhave been kidnap and are being held hostage , confine and gagged .
Sidney tries to save them , but Ghostface is faster than her . Once again , Dewey has been capture and nigh killed at the men of Ghostface ; luckily , though , Sidney and Dewey always have one another ’s backs , and are always look out for each other , because otherwise , Dewey might not have survive this one .
I’ll Be Bulletproof
Scream 3decides to crusade the envelope just alittlebit more and includeone lastalmost - death for Dewey . It ’s fitting , asScream 3was meant to be the last movie intheScreamtrilogy , at which pointedness the franchise would end , that this movie gets the most fake - out . flop at the end , when Ghostface comes back from the beat — as Ghostfaces always must , and Randy would agree — Dewey takes it into his own hands to take him down .
Roman Bridger runs to attack Dewey , Gale , and Sidney with a knife , and Dewey begins to shoot him . unbeknown to Dewey , Roman has a watertight vest on , but when Sidney shouts at Dewey to shoot him in the top dog , he does , finallykilling him and saving himself from sure expiry .
My Wife
InScream 4,Gale and Dewey are inexplicably at betting odds . While trying to catch Ghostface , Dewey decides to reject Gale ’s intel , precede Gale to decide to try and confront Ghostface on her own .
At a Brobdingnagian political party taking stead in a large barn , Gale is seen by Ghostface and assail . Dewey ascertain her on her own cameras and run in to strain and stop Ghostface in time . Ghostface leaves and narrowly avoids Dewey , but the intention is clear : had Ghostface even had five more second , Dewey and Gale would both be dead .
What A Mess
In what could be view a takeoff of a parody of a parody ( maybe ) , or perhaps just the apogee of a operative gag clumsily bollix up in the eleventh 60 minutes , Dewey ’s final near - missy comes at the very remainder ofScream 4 .
The Ghostface of this picture show , Jill , decide to take Dewey out of the picture by but clobbering him over the head with a bedpan when he confronts her at the hospital . Though Dewey does get the last laughter on her , it ’s definitely a laughable conclusion for this iconic running joke . Hopefully , Scream 5will let in an even better almost - miss for Deputy Dewey to twine things up neatly for audiences !
NEXT : The 10 Best Heavy Metal Horror Movies , Ranked
