Scream Queens is a TV series that mixes comedy, horror, and satire uniquely and entertainingly. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, the show has two seasons that follow different groups of characters whom masked killers terrorize. The show features a star-studded cast, including Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lea Michele, Keke Palmer, Billie Lourd, and John Stamos. But what is Scream Queens based on? In today’s article, we will know What is Scream Queens Based On.
What is Scream Queens based on? Season 1
The first season of Scream Queens, retroactively subtitled The Executioner. It was co-produced by Chiller and Super Channel and aired from March 4 to April 15, 2016. The season is set at Wallace University, a fictional college in New Orleans, Louisiana. There a serial killer terrorizes a sorority called Kappa Kappa Tau (KKT) in a red devil costume. The killer, later revealed to be the offspring of a former KKT pledge who died during a hazing ritual in 1995, seeks revenge on the sorority and its members for their involvement in the cover-up of the death.
The season draws inspiration from various teen movies, horror films, and real-life events and personalities. Some of the influences and references of the first season are:
Heathers:
Heathers (1988) is a dark comedy about two outsiders who kill the popular kids in school. The show pays homage to this film by naming some characters after the Heathers, such as Heather Chandler, Heather Duke, and Heather McNamara. The film’s iconic dialogue, such as “What’s your damage?” and “How very”, is also used by the characters in the show.
Psycho:
Psycho (1960) is a classic horror film featuring a shower scene recreated by Jamie Lee Curtis, whose mother, Janet Leigh, starred in the original. Curtis plays Dean Cathy Munsch, the head of Wallace University, who is attacked by the red devil in the shower in episode 44. The show also references other films by Alfred Hitchcock, such as Vertigo (1958) and Rear Window (1954).
The real-life email from a sorority executive board member went viral for its profanity and insults, which inspired the character of Chanel Oberlin. Chanel, played by Emma Roberts, is the president of KKT and the leader of her minions, also named Chanel. She is famous for her mean-spirited, selfish behavior and witty, sarcastic remarks. She often sends abusive emails to her fellow sorority sisters, similar to the ones sent by Rebecca Martinson, a former Delta Gamma member from the University of Maryland.
The Red Devil mascot is based on the actual mascot of Tulane University, where the show was filmed. The red devil costume was originally worn by Boone Clemens, one of the killers and a member of the Dickie Dollar Scholars fraternity. He faked his death and stole the costume from Coney, the school mascot killed by his twin sister Hester Ulrich, the other killer and a KKT pledge.
What is Scream Queens based on? Season 2
The second season of Scream Queens, retroactively subtitled The Green Meanie, was co-produced by Fox and FX and aired from September 20 to December 20, 2016. The season is set at C.U.R.E. Institute, a fictional hospital in Los Angeles, California, where a group of former KKT members and other medical staff are haunted by a serial killer in a green meanie costume. The killer, later revealed to be a trio of conspirators with different motives, seeks revenge on the hospital and its patients for their involvement in a Halloween massacre in 1986.
The season draws inspiration from horror films and real-life cases of medical malpractice and hospital serial killings. Some of the influences and references of the second season are:
Halloween:
Halloween (1978) is another classic horror film that stars Jamie Lee Curtis as a babysitter whom a masked killer stalks. The show pays homage to this film by naming some characters after the Halloween franchise, such as Laurie Strode, Michael Myers, and John Carpenter. The film’s iconic music, composed by Carpenter, also used in the show.
Scream:
Scream (1996) is a modern horror film featuring a group of teenagers who are terrorized by a killer who knows their horror trivia. The show has some character names from the Scream franchise, such as Sidney Prescott, Billy Loomis, and Randy Meeks. The show also displays meta-humor and self-awareness, just like the film.
The real-life medical malpractice cases and serial killings occurred in hospitals, such as Dr. Death and Nurse Ratched. Dr. Death AKA Christopher Duntsch, was a neurosurgeon convicted of maiming several patients during botched surgeries. Nurse Ratched, also known as Charles Cullen. He was a nurse who confessed to killing at least 40 patients by injecting them with lethal doses of drugs. The show references these cases by naming some of the characters after them, such as Dr. Brock Holt and Nurse Ingrid Hoffel.
The Green Meanie costume is based on the Swamp Thing. The Swamp Thing is a humanoid plant creature that protects the environment from human threats. It references this character by giving the green meanie costume a similar appearance and backstory. Cassidy Cascade was the original wearer of the costume. He was one of the killers and a doctor born with a rare condition that always made him feel cold. He inherited the costume from his father, one of the survivors of the Halloween massacre in 1986.
Conclusion:
Scream Queens is a TV series that blends comedy, horror, and satire uniquely and entertainingly. It has two seasons that follow different groups of characters whom masked killers terrorize. But What Is Scream Queens based on? The show is based on influences and references from teen movies, horror films, real-life events, and personalities. The show uses these influences and references to create humor, horror, and satire that appeal to the viewers. Scream Queens is more than a homage to horror; it also critiques society. It challenges the stereotypes and norms of the genres and cultures it parodies. The show exposes the flaws and absurdities of human behavior. Scream Queens is a pop culture melting pot, but can you handle the heat?