WHAT'S HAPPENING : ART.

Alternative art: Ready to scream the next time somebody says ``Getty?'' Up to your armpits in tasteful pastel paintings?

Sounds like you need to cross over the 405 Freeway and visit the Ernie Wolfe Gallery in West Los Angeles, where the offerings this winter are about as similar to the Getty's as a headbangers' ball is to a waltz.

Through Feb. 15, the newly reopened gallery at 1655 Sawtelle Blvd. is presenting ``Heavy Metal,'' a blast of ferrous and nonferrous artifacts from two continents. On one side are examples of traditional 18th- and 19th-century Central African currency, most made of copper, along with iron-bladed ceremonial weapons whose cruel beauty belies their lethal effectiveness.

Set in contrast are selected metal sculptures by contemporary American artists, such as John Chamberlain's crushed-car piece, a large iron wall sculpture by Charles Arnoldi, a bronze ram skull fashioned by Jack Zajac.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 15, long before you'll be able to get at a parking reservation at the Getty. Call [phone].

?13- Reed Johnson 

film

Frightful whodunit: ``Scream 2'' continues the slasher series' tradition of making fun of itself while serving up world-class scares. With director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson back on board, it's as smart and carefully crafted as horror movies get.

It's two years after the first film's small-town murder rampage. Among the survivors of that bloodbath, Neve Campbell's Sidney is attending college; Courtney Cox's Gale Weathers has written a best seller (which has been turned into a movie called ``Stab!'') and is an even sleazier tabloid TV reporter; Deputy Dewey (David Arquette) is coping with semi-disabling injuries; and wrongly accused Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) is freakishly trying to capitalize on his misfortune.

The campus offers an attractive new array of murder victims when someone in a ``Scream'' mask starts copying ``Stab!'' Its film school also provides an apt setting in which to question the absurdities of sequels, much like the first film commented on horror movie cliches. ``Scream 2's'' combination of beauty, brains and blood proves frightfully irresistible.

?13- Bob Strauss

theater

Family traditions: When it comes to close-knit family units, the Cratchits don't have anything on the Lockharts. Gene Lockhart, wife Kathleen and daughter June all appeared in the original, 1938 MGM film version of ``A Christmas Carol.'' Gene was Bob Cratchit, Kathleen played his long-suffering wife, Mrs. Cratchit, and June (age 12) made her film debut as Tiny Tim's sister, Belinda Cratchit.

Now June's daughter, Westlake resident Anne Lockhart, is playing the same role as her grandmother in a production of Dickens' holiday evergreen at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Forum Theatre. Joining the accomplished film and stage actress is her real-life daughter, Carlyle Taylor, a fifth-grader making her debut on the boards in the role of Fan.

God bless 'em, every one, we say - not to mention the rest of the Santa Susana Repertory Company, which is mounting the show through Sunday.

Anne Lockhart is returning to the Forum for the third time this year after previously starring in ``On Golden Pond'' and ``Love Letters.'' The frequent guest star of shows like ``Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' and ``Walker, Texas Ranger'' will turn up on the big screen next with Randy Quaid in ``Bug Busters.''

For now, though, she's busy squashing that unrepentant social parasite, Ebenezer Scrooge. The theater is at 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at [phone] or [phone].

?13- Reed Johnson

music

Singing a different tune: Los Angeles vocal group Inner Voices is known for its annual eclectic a cappella holiday shows.

This year, the group departs from its customary format and hosts three guest sopranos who will each take the lead on different songs and then join together for a spirited ``Hallelujah Chorus.''

The all-ages show takes place tonight at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City.

In addition to leader-arranger Morgan Ames and group regulars Melissa Mackay and Michael Mishaw, the program will feature guest singers Sally Stevens, Shelby Flint and Julie Delgado.

There also will be appearances by Mervyn Warren, Randy Crenshaw and Dave Mackay, ending with performers and audience joining on stage to sing carols.

The Jazz Bakery is at 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. Show times are 8:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $15. Information: [phone].

?13- Fred Shuster

television

Greed, envy, pride: Gentle as it is, Showtime telefilm ``Horton Foote's Alone,'' airing at 8 p.m. Sunday, takes a scalpel to the deadly sins of family dysfunction. But then playwright/screenwriter Horton Foote (``Old Man,'' ``Tender Mercies,'' ``To Kill a Mockingbird'') is a master of cunning understatement.

With ``Alone,'' Foote returns to his favorite setting - Texas. Hume Cronyn stars as cotton farmer and lonely widower John Webb, who needs comfort from his grown daughters and nephews. Instead, he gets selfish grappling over money when an oil company starts drilling on his farm. Ultimately, he finds sustenance in friends.

A slim story yes, but a deep one. Effortless Cronyn is a pleasure to watch, as is James Earl Jones as the farm's overseer. A dream team of actors plays Webb's shiftless relatives. The ensemble includes Roxanne Hart, Frederic Forrest, Chris Cooper, Shelley Duvall and Foote's daughter, Hallie Foote.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

Photo: (1) ``Scream 2'' is a to-die-for sequel that picks up where director West Craven left off in the first film.

(2) ``Heavy Metal'' incorporates ceremonial weapons, coins and contemporary metal sculptures into the show at the reopened Ernie Wolfe Gallery in West Los Angeles.

(3) The a capella singing group Inner Voices puts on its holiday show tonight at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City.

(4) Anne Lockhart and her daughter, Carlyle Taylor, appear in ``A Christmas Carol'' at the Forum Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.