The Scream franchise has always thrived on self-aware irony, but its seventh installment struggles to deliver the thrills fans expect.
Sidney Prescott Returns
Early in Scream 7, Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott is teased for skipping Scream VI. Her return is meant to anchor the film, as Sidney is the series’ original “Final Girl.” Now a mother, wife, and café owner in Pine Grove, Sidney’s quiet life is disrupted when Ghostface resurfaces, forcing her to confront her past once again.
A Messy Mix of Horror and Humor
Directed by franchise creator Kevin Williamson and co-written with Guy Busick, Scream 7 blends old and new characters with inventive kills — from impalements on beer taps to gruesome stage slayings. Yet the film’s pacing, dialogue, and editing often produce unintentional laughs rather than genuine dread.
Campbell is joined by Courteney Cox, reprising her role as Gale Weathers. Cox even jokes about Sidney missing the brutal events of Scream VI, a nod to fans who felt the previous film lacked heart without Campbell.
Themes That Don’t Land
The film attempts to tackle PTSD and generational trauma, but the effort feels misplaced amid the chaos of Ghostface’s relentless attacks. References to horror classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Halloween add flavor, but the meta-commentary that once defined the franchise now feels tired.
Final Verdict
With deepfake videos, helicopter parents, and over-the-top gore, Scream 7 tries to modernize its formula but ends up lumbering along like the very horror clichés it once mocked. Campbell’s presence is welcome, but even she can’t save a film that feels more like a parody of itself than a fresh chapter.
