CALLS FOR `SCREAM 2' BRING RE-RELEASE.

Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer

Miramax Films, citing massive interest from horror buffs, will take the rare step of re-releasing its already successful ``Scream 2'' on April 24 at about 1,500 theaters.

The sequel, about a copycat killer on a college campus, made $96.3 million in its run from Dec. 12 to early March. It took in a meager $65,547 at 129 theaters in its final weekend, but Miramax said this week it has received extensive mail, faxes and phone calls seeking a re-release and found high levels of interest among potential moviegoers.

``There really is a groundswell out there,'' said Mark Gill, Miramax's distribution chief. ``It's an opportunity for us.''

The decision to bring back ``Scream 2,'' starring Neve Campbell and costing a relatively modest $24 million, reflects Hollywood's increased commitment to horror projects that can bring in massive numbers of teen-agers and young adults. The original ``Scream,'' with a price tag of $14 million, took in $103 million domestically after its late 1996 release, while Sony's ``Anaconda'' and ``I Know What You Did Last Summer'' were solid performers last year.

Robert Bucksbaum, head of the Reel Source tracking service, noted that studios have started slotting April as the logical period for horror films, such as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's ``Species 2,'' due out today. ``It's spring break for a lot of kids, and kind of a dead period without a lot of competition,'' he said.

The only other major release set for April 24 is Sony's ``The Big Hit,'' with Mark Wahlberg as a hired killer.

Bucksbaum also said The Walt Disney Co. subsidiary may be trying to attract young moviegoers who opted to see ``Titanic'' instead of ``Scream 2'' in late December and January. The first weekend of ``Scream 2'' generated $33.2 million, then plunged to $13.9 million against the $28.6 million opening of ``Titanic'' and the $25.1 million debut of ``Tomorrow Never Dies.''