After writing the screenplays for “Scream” (1996), “Scream 2” (1997) and “Scream 4” (2011), Kevin Williamson steps into the director’s chair for the first time in the franchise with “Scream 7.”
The film follows Sidney Prescott, who must protect her family while facing the horrors of her past when a new Ghostface killer emerges.
From the fallout of stars Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera to original director Christopher Landon departing, everything about “Scream 7” has screamed “mess.” Even the trailers themselves haven’t inspired confidence.
As a long-time fan of the series, part of that hope still remained. And that… wasn’t for good reason.
“Scream 7” proves this franchise may be running out of juice.
Nostalgia Over Innovation
“Scream 7” is pure nostalgia bait. There are times where this works. And others when it does not.
Neve Campbell (Sidney) is the star of the movie. She elevates many of its shortcomings. This is Campbell’s best performance since the original and the most well-rounded version of her character. Campbell heightens the emotional aspects of Sidney while still excelling in the “final girl” role.
“Scream 7” is full of callbacks. Whether that is the original house, previous killers or repeated lines, it will likely satisfy fans in this regard. There are a number of moments that had me smiling. But… what’s really the point?
Eventually, nostalgia needs to be abandoned. And it’s really all that “Scream 7” is. You can only keep the same characters and retread similar plot points so many times. While “Scream” (2022) and “Scream VI” (2023) attempted to somewhat move the needle, this installment only looks back at the past.
Because of this, it doesn’t push the overarching narrative in any bold new directions. And with a tagline like “Burn it all down,” the film should feel more like a gut punch.
Instead, it ends up as an awkward middle chapter – except there’s no beginning and certainly no end in sight.
Strong Craft, Familiar Thrills
“Scream 7” does integrate unique set pieces. Production designer John Collins offers several creative scenarios that make you question “what would I do?” Director of photography Ramsey Nickell also captures these scenes well. Utilizing tight spaces, various lighting sources and obscured views, these technical aspects pair together to create multiple genuinely tense sequences.
General audiences looking for that alone will likely be pleased. Ghostface is brutal. The scares are plentiful. Blood is all over “Scream 7,” even if the body count isn’t especially high.
Surrounding Campbell are Courteney Cox (Gale), Isabel May (Tatum), Joel McHale (Mark), Mason Gooding (Chad), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy), Anna Camp (Jessica) and more.
May delivers a solid performance, with her and Campbell’s dynamic proving to be the heart of the movie. While May doesn’t exude much range, she still gets her character’s identity across. In some ways, she turns into a scream queen of her own.
A Weak Final Act
Even at 114 minutes long, “Scream 7” largely flies by. It spends a lot of time pausing on the past, but moves in fast-paced style when the action begins. It delivers a solid mixture of drama and horror, though the meta nature of the franchise feels slightly lost.
Much like the previous two installments, the satire within “Scream 7” is forced. As characters ramble on about the rules, it grows more and more tiresome.
It also needs to be said. The final act of “Scream 7” is undoubtedly the worst of the series. The killer reveal can easily be described as boring. There are no stakes and certainly no gasps. For a movie that needed to reinvent the wheel, this one ends with a complete thud. In the process, it actively makes the overall experience less enjoyable.
There’s no more core four in “Scream 7.” The seventh installment relies purely on nostalgia, pushing forward a narrative that has no more story to tell. Ghostface is brutal, sure, but everything else has been done better before.
Rating: 2 out of 5
