Scream 7 Review
Let’s be honest: there was never an easy way that Scream 7 was going to recover. When the previous two films were released, they created something that resonated with a new generation. From characters they loved like Melissa Barrera’s Samantha and Jenna Ortega’s Tara to the most shocking reveals of the franchise yet, these Scream movies felt refreshing, if a bit nostalgic. However, when things behind the scenes took a hit, it put much of Scream 7’s story into question. How could it continue this storyline that fans reveled in? That answer was short and simple: it couldn’t, and that’s not for the better.
Instead, Scream 7 sees audiences following Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her daughter Tatum (Isabel May). The Prescotts are trying to leave a peaceful life outside of Woodsboro, but of course, there’s no way any Scream character can find peace. With the new Ghostface targeting Tatum and using Stu Macher’s (Matthew Lillard) face, Sidney must do all she can to protect her daughter and stop this new line of murders.
So, if audiences aren’t following Samantha and Tara, then who is Tatum? Outside of being Sidney’s daughter, she’s got a bit of a rough edge to her, but that’s because Sidney doesn’t want her to know about the many Woodsboro murders. Tatum is someone who questions whether or not she’s being the best person for others because she feels soft-spoken. In a way, she’s very similar to Allyson Nelson from 2018’s Halloween: infatuated with her family’s past, but restricted by her mother.
Outside of these traits, Tatum doesn’t have much to her character. Even though her namesake is a reference to Sidney’s best friend that died in the first Scream, Tatum’s complaints about not being as confident or strong as her mother feel forceful. There’s one scene where Tatum is talking with her boyfriend, Ben (Sam Rechner), about what makes her a good girlfriend, but it comes off as overtly steamy. Another scene near the endgame of Scream 7 sees her confront Ghostface, but even with Sidney’s guidance, she cries out that she doesn’t know how to use a gun. While Tatum does have these moments of emotion, they don’t have much use as the film has this need to keep the characters on the move.
However, what Scream 7 proposes to do with Tatum and Sidney’s relationship, story-wise, shows potential. The killers want to keep this cycle of matricide and vengeance going by inspiring Tatum to kill her own mother. It has the potential to show that deeper familial bond and test if Sidney’s ideas for escaping danger can work. There’s even a scene where Gail (Courteney Cox) finally gets the interview she’s been asking for, which does have that bit of intrigue to their personal connection.
Unfortunately, the Ghostfaces who are revealed have barely any connection to Sidney’s past, let alone not being from Woodsboro. Their explanations for wanting to intrude into the Prescotts’ lives are barebones and explained at the very last minute, with no hints to tease that they could actually do that. Given how Scream 7’s story is based around the use of artificial intelligence and modern deepfakes, it would have been better if the Ghostfaces were characters that didn’t appear for less than ten minutes. It also doesn’t help that, because of the AI element, they can also bring back previous Scream killers and even Dewey in a five-second cameo. If Williamson wanted to subvert the audience’s expectations, then it doesn’t really work the way it intended to.
Of course, there are some fans wondering if Scream 7 has some connection to the previous two films. It does with the returning Meeks-Martin siblings, Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad (Mason Gooding), but it also takes potshots at the events of those films as well. Throughout the film, there are multiple lines where Sidney, Tatum, or the returning icons indirectly citing certain things as “failed comebacks” or “not having as much grit” as the original.
Sure, some may consider this to be about something different, but it feels as if this film doesn’t want to do anything with the previous two. They constantly refer to the New York incident in the previous movie as if it were a narrative annoyance rather than an incident they’re trying to make peace with. If burning down the Macher household wasn’t a literal reference to writing around 2022’s Scream and Scream VI, then I don’t know what is.
The only good things that come out of the Ghostfaces and their reveals are the kills, which always gets the adrenaline pumping. Two of them in particular, one involving Tatum’s friend Hannah (Mckenna Grace) and the final act fight sequence, really show all the guts and gore fans want. Additionally, there’s one chase sequence involving Tatum and a Ghostface in the streets of Pine Grove that feels actually intense. If there’s one thing that always works in a Scream franchise, it’s the kills. That being said, it’s the only thing that works.
As much as Scream 7 wants to be a nostalgic return to form for the franchise, it tries to impose its reset in a way that looks down on the fans rather than celebrates them. Given how this film was supposed to wipe the slate clean, Williamson’s attempt to honor what came before doesn’t hold weight to the beloved sisterhood that Samantha and Tara shared.
Scream 7 releases in theaters on February 27.
Rating: ★★
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.