Scream 7 is set two years after the events of Scream VI. Sidney Prescott (now Evans) is living a quiet life in Pine Grove, Indiana, with her family. When Ghostface tracks her down and begins to target her daughter, Sidney must race against time to save her daughter and confront an old foe – or so she thinks.
Having missed out on the action in New York, Sidney is once again front and center, only now she’s a wife and mother. The new family dynamic works for the narrative, bringing some much-needed freshness to the franchise and Sidney’s story. She clearly has a loving relationship with her husband, Mark (Joel McHale), and is raising three children. Her relationship with her teenage daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), is a strained one, which only serves to heighten the emotional stakes as the murders begin again around them.
I truly love having Neve Campbell back. Unlike a lot of fans, I didn’t dislike Scream (2022) or Scream VI. Both had their ups and downs, and ultimately, I found them both enjoyable entries in my favorite franchise. But Neve took a backseat to Melissa Barrera’s Sam in Scream (2022) and wasn’t involved in Scream 6 at all due to a salary dispute. With Scream 7, Neve slips effortlessly back into the role she’s best known for. This Sidney is weary, but she’s tough, and Neve doesn’t miss a step in her story.
Kevin Williamson wrote the screenplay for the original film, so I was thrilled when I saw he was coming onboard to help pen the script for Scream 7. I wasn’t so sure about the decision to allow him to direct the film as well, but he’s a man who understands the franchise, and the infamous opening kill definitely held a lot of promise. For the most part, I enjoyed where the movie was heading. It explores a range of relevant themes, including unhealthy nostalgia and the dangers of AI. Considering this is the seventh entry in a popular horror franchise, it makes sense to tackle progression combined with the toxicity of the past.
Unfortunately, the third act dampened my overall enthusiasm for the film. There were plenty of false leads, which is to be expected, but while Scream 7 builds expectation, it never delivers. The killer reveal was the most disappointing of the franchise. There was little to no explanation of motivation, and what we did learn was extremely weak. For me, the ending felt rushed, and that, combined with the killer reveal, means that the film just didn’t stick the landing the way it could have.
Perhaps to make up for the disappointing ending, fans of the franchise are treated to some delicious fan service as familiar faces return. But the film still spent too much time on nostalgia, and failed to maintain the momentum it created with the opening kill.
Scream 7 is fine! It’s a serviceable entry in the franchise, and I’ve always said that even my least favorite Scream movie is still one I enjoyed. For the most part, I did enjoy Scream 7. It’s just disappointing that such a promising premise gets squashed when the mask finally comes off.
