Scream 7 Review: A Couple Welcome Returns and Good Kills Can’t Save A Doomed Slasher

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A straightforward opening for Scream 7 was never likely. This new installment moves the horror action from California to Indiana, and a fresh wave of Ghostface murders sends a clear threat to Sidney Prescott. Though it’s great to have Kevin Williamson back as director, the film suffers from several issues that prevent it from coming together as a cohesive whole.

After Radio Silence Productions took charge of the Scream series, Scream V and VI centered on new characters, particularly Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega). When Barrera voiced support for Palestinians and accused Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing” – a claim later confirmed as genocide by the UN in Gaza – Spyglass Media abruptly fired her from the next film, labeling her advocacy as antisemitic.

Things got really messy after Jenna Ortega, my co-star, had to leave Scream 7 because of conflicts with her schedule. It threw everyone at Spyglass into a panic, and they had to completely rethink the story, plus they were switching directors! To try and save things, they brought back as many of the original cast members as possible – even Neve Campbell, which was amazing! The new plan is to set the story in Indiana, a couple of years after the last movie.

The latest installment in the series underwent significant changes during production, seemingly driven by factors unrelated to the story or established continuity. Despite the return of creator Kevin Williamson, the film lacks a clear focus. While Scream 7 features some impressive kills and a few standout scenes, it largely feels like a forced combination of nostalgic elements from previous Scream movies, struggling to come together as a cohesive whole.

A Talented Cast Can’t Quite Save an Aimless Sequel

In Scream 7, Sidney Prescott, who has been the final girl in the Scream movies for years, has moved from Woodsboro, California to Pine Grove, Indiana, hoping to escape her troubled past. She’s now a mother working at a coffee shop, but she’s finding it difficult to bond with her daughter, Tatum. And, as expected, a new Ghostface killer emerges, but this one is particularly unsettling: it seems to be Stu Macher, the villain from the very first Scream, even though he was supposedly killed off years ago.

Honestly, I don’t think the Scream movies need Sidney Prescott to be good. I believe a slasher series aimed at horror lovers should always have lots of compelling characters, and I thought Sam Carpenter was a great example of someone who really grew into the role as the series went on. That being said, Neve Campbell is fantastic, and I’m really happy to see her back in the latest film!

Isabel May delivers a strong performance, and her character’s development feels natural throughout the story. The relationship between her and her mother creates some tension, but the reasons behind their distance don’t always feel believable. The story focuses on how they struggle to connect – Sidney wants to shield Tatum, while Tatum tries to understand Sidney’s past. This is confusing, though, considering Sidney’s trauma has been widely publicized – both in a popular book she wrote and in a series of movies based on her life.

The cast benefits from some strong additions, though a few have drawbacks. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding are great as the Meeks-Martins, now working for Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and their quick wit and chemistry are a highlight. However, their characters don’t really impact the main story and feel like they were added later. Courteney Cox, usually a reliable presence, seems strangely wooden, while Matthew Lillard stands out as a particularly strong point as Stu, who returns in the film.

No Characters Feel Necessary in Scream 7

What makes the Scream movies unique is their clever self-awareness. The characters are often horror fans themselves, and they use their knowledge of scary movies to either outsmart Ghostface or inspire his attacks – it’s a key part of what makes the series work. This is further emphasized by the fictional Stab movies within the Scream universe, which are parodies of the Scream films themselves. The series also stands out by often having multiple killers, who are always ordinary people with relatable motives, and who are usually connected to Sidney in some way.

This installment of the series is different – it actually steps back from the big, self-aware stuff we’ve come to expect. Characters even directly push back against talking about ‘rules’ or analyzing the story itself. There’s a lot of talk about Sidney returning, and the movie does acknowledge what happened in the last two films, but it feels like the self-referencing doesn’t quite land as well without the clever, bigger picture it usually has. It’s like they’re pointing things out, but without the really smart commentary that made it work before.

This installment of the series features some impressively staged kills, but the way the Ghostface killings are explained isn’t very satisfying. It’s difficult to discuss specifics without giving away spoilers, but some of the villain’s actions feel both arbitrary and uninspired. Traditionally, Ghostface’s attacks are driven by personal connections, but in this film, some key motivations feel weak and uninteresting. This might be the first Scream movie where it feels like none of the characters are truly essential to the plot.

It’s clear the recent sequels were carefully setting up a future storyline for Sam, and there wasn’t a backup plan when the actress was let go. Trying to shift focus to other characters or create new reasons for their actions just doesn’t work, leaving us with a sequel that feels directionless. It’s disappointing for a series once famous for its clever and original stories, though at least there’s Scary Movie 6 to look forward to.

Final Rating: 5/10

Scream 7 hits theaters on Friday, February 27, 2026.

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2026-02-26 19:35