‘Scream 7’: An Exhausted Slasher Franchise That Has Run Its Course

A deep critique of the latest installment in the Scream franchise, analyzing where the film disappointed, why it was destined for failure, and the franchise’s bleak future down the line. Photo by Aidan DeMatteis '28

The latest installment in the iconic “Scream” franchise, “Scream 7,” brings new terror and brutality to the silver screen as the horror icon Ghostface searches for new blood. With the return of popular legacy characters in addition to a brand new cast, this anticipated sequel looks to guide the franchise back on the right foot.

“Scream 7” sets itself in the rural town of Pine Cove, Indiana, following Sidney Prescott as she has reshaped her life with a new family.

When a new killer dons the Ghostface mask, setting their target on her daughter, Prescott must emerge to end this chaos and fight for the protection of her family.

There were major bumps leading up to the film’s production. Radio Silence, the previous directorial collective behind the last two installments, left production early. Lead actresses Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega left their main roles as Sam and Tara Carpenter; following online comments from Barrera that led to her firing and Ortega deciding to leave after seeing the team fall out. With this core group moving on to other places, this forced “Scream 7” to pivot in an entirely new direction.

Kevin Williamson surfaces as the new director and screenwriter of the original “Scream” and many of its sequels. Leading the cast once more is scream queen Neve Campbell, reprising her role as the franchise lead, Prescott. They joined along with other legacy characters such as Courtney Cox as reporter Gale Weathers and Matthew Lillard as the psychotic Stu Macher.

Now that it is finally upon us, is “Scream 7” able to conquer new highs or stoop to new lows?

Right off the bat, the cinematography and visual direction of “Scream 7” are a creative strength. Despite being Kevin Williamson’s first film in the series, various lighting and shot choices help to elevate the suspense and tension throughout certain sequences. Whether it be Ghostface stalking from the shadows or characters surrounded by visual darkness, there are many purposeful decisions that bring a different nuance to a Scream film’s aesthetic.

For the most part, performances are solid across the board. Neve Campbell lives and breathes the role of Sidney Prescott, even showcasing a trait of parenthood and guidance that adds to the character. Isabel May, as Sidney’s daughter, Tatum, is a compelling new lead in her introduction, sharing a compelling relationship with her mother while sharing a sizable role in the narrative. Finally, Matthew Lillard simply plays himself in his return as Stu Macher, chewing up the scene with his over-the-top charisma whenever given the chance.

While these positives showcase a lot of promise for “Scream 7” to be a top-notch addition to the franchise, it seems that the many red flags before its release have come into play, resulting in a disjointed and hollow mess.

The plot feels entirely disconnected, with no semblance of a cohesive through line that the film follows. Many scenes do not build; many plot points feel unimportant within the broader story, and there is no strong meta-commentary that builds a message behind the film’s existence. This can leave audiences in the dark, holding more questions than answers, and left empty by the time the credits roll around.

Moreover, major returning characters are almost meaningless to the whole narrative. Gale Weathers embodies this issue, who is absent from the second half of the film with little to no agency in the story. 

This is also the case for the two twin characters, Chad and Mindy, returning from the previous two films, who could have been entirely removed from the film with no drastic difference. This only adds to the notion of a disjointed plot, with many supporting characters being treated as pointless additions altogether.

Adding insult to injury, “Scream 7” features, arguably, the weakest Ghostface killer of the series to date, in terms of the reveal’s predictability, the execution of the reveal and the exposition behind the killer’s motive.

Aside from it being entirely obvious who the killer is the moment the character first appears, the moment where the killer explains their motive behind their murders sounds completely contrived when you think too deeply into it. The killer reveal is at the heart of every Scream film, but it failed to deliver a strong, memorable antagonist this time around.

As the sun sets on another installment to this long-running franchise, “Scream 7” serves as a disappointing 2026 release that may leave fans let down. While there are notable positives to take away, it's not able to mask the rest of the issues that bring it down to a new low. With there being no solid direction for the series down the road, it may be time to bury the hatchet and allow the franchise to rest for good.