Arriving on 4K UHD this week is Scream 7. It has been 30 years since Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson launched one of the most influential horror franchises of its generation with Scream. Since then, the series has spawned six sequels, with Neve Campbell reprising her role as Sidney Prescott in every installment except Scream VI. Courteney Cox remains the franchise’s lone constant, having appeared in every film.
In 2022, the series shifted its focus to a new generation of characters, centering on sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. The intention was clearly to establish a new trilogy built around the pair. However, behind-the-scenes controversy led to Barrera’s dismissal, followed by Ortega’s departure from the project. The original director of Scream 7 also exited, paving the way for franchise co-creator Kevin Williamson to step into the director’s chair while continuing his role as co-writer.
The result is a film that heavily leans on nostalgia, bringing back several fan-favorite characters—even some whose stories had seemingly reached definitive conclusions in previous installments. Securing Campbell’s return, reportedly with a well-deserved pay increase, was another major component of the film’s strategy.
While Scream 7 proved to be a financial success, it was met with a far less enthusiastic critical reception. Personally, I found it to be one of the weakest entries in the entire franchise.
The story finds Sidney living a seemingly peaceful life in Pine Grove, Indiana. She owns a coffee shop, is married to Mark (Joel McHale), now a local police officer, and together they are raising two children. While their younger child is away visiting family, their teenage daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), is the same age Sidney was when her own boyfriend was revealed to be a masked killer. Unsurprisingly, Sidney is wary of Tatum’s boyfriend, Ben (Sam Rechner), who has a habit of sneaking into her bedroom through the window.
Of course, no Scream film would be complete without a Ghostface killer and the mystery surrounding their identity. Unfortunately, unlike many previous entries, Scream 7 offers considerably less humor and far less fun. Much of the film feels as though it is simply going through the motions. While it is enjoyable to see Matthew Lillard return as Stu—at least in a manner of speaking—the narrative device used to facilitate his return is arguably the weakest plot mechanism the franchise has employed.
It has been quite some time since a Scream killer reveal carried genuine impact. While I have never been particularly fond of Scream 4, its reveal was at least surprising and entertaining. Here, the resolution feels forced and ultimately unconvincing. Although I am not ready to see the franchise come to an end, I would welcome a bold new direction. What that direction should be, I cannot say—but it would be difficult to deliver something less satisfying than Scream 7.
Bonus Features:
- Scar Tissue: The Making of Scream 7
- Building Tension: Production Design
- Dance of Death: Stunts
- Ice Nine Kills Presents “Twisting the Knife”
- Deleted Scenes
