“Scream 7” centers around Ghostface yet again haunting the enduring “final girl,” Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell. Directed by Kevin Williamson and released Feb. 27, the seventh installment in the series revisits the trauma Prescott cannot outrun decades after the original killings took place. This time, her past consequently fractures her relationship with her teenage daughter, Tatum Evans, played by Isabel May. Despite the film’s attempt to flesh out its heroine through themes of generational trauma and the struggles of motherhood, it ultimately plays things too safe. Instead, relying on nostalgia and the franchise’s formulaic plot line instead of delivering a fresh reinvention it desperately needs.
The “Scream” franchise has built a strong foundation on its meta-analysis of the horror genre while simultaneously indulging in it. This is arguably what made it a standout in 1996 and still lasts today in the newest edition. As an audience member, being in on the joke makes you feel a part of something bigger, an “in” with the filmmakers. Viewers are met with that familiar internal scream of “Don’t do it!” as both familiar and new characters defy their own self-awareness to eventually emerge as the hero. The nostalgic nods to what they do best were endearing, but the film’s content was severely lacking.
The main subplot beyond Ghostface is Prescott struggling to protect Evans from any danger connected to her bloody past, creating tension between the two that comes with being labeled an overprotective parent. My main issue with the film lay with Evans, the new protagonist, who lacks sympathy to a severe degree, making her unlikable. At 17 years old, I would expect Evans to have some understanding of the result of an overprotective mother who has survived multiple targeted mass murders, but no. The relationship between the two had the chance to be challenging yet loving, but resulted in Evans coming off as angry and self-centered, which can be true of many teenagers, but not to this extent.
The other new characters from Evans’ life kept piling on with swift introductions and even swifter gory killings. When Evans’ inner circle faced their grim fates, she displayed little emotion as someone who was supposed to be close with them, which built upon my strong distaste towards her character. It was challenging to emotionally invest in any character except Prescott, who has been character-building for over 30 years.
On a positive note, “Scream 7” did what it does best, keeping audiences entertained and constantly guessing within the “whodunit” genre. Unapologetically, they use a foolproof formula that their audiences love to indulge in and in terms of intrigue, there truly was never a dull moment.
In times of fear, I was left clutching my jacket over my eyes with the iconic drop of the lights in the room, the silence of the music and the sneak-peek of Ghostface behind the victim before the eruptive and loud gore broke the sounds of nothingness. I was feeling all of the gross and scary feelings intended, but it was the plot itself that left any shock factors falling flat and deaths for the purpose of the blood and guts.
I would argue the original “Scream” did a tasteful job of gore, while the seventh edition was in your face. It felt like the filmmakers were trying to prove something and keep up with the appetite for constant excitement and new content for audiences, but audience captivation is also possible through plot and character building. It was laughable how many death sequences there would be, a non-stop surge of swinging guts and bloody squelches in 20-minute intervals. It simply wouldn’t let up and had me placing my popcorn to the floor in fits of nausea.
Yet through all of its flaws, no one can deny the impressiveness of the seventh edition of a long-standing franchise having the ability to premiere in theaters and draw a sizable audience. For long time fans, it appeared it was nothing short of a good time. The audience was electric, sporting Ghostface masks and merch, clapping and hollering at the satisfying “Hello Sidney” phone call with Campbell back after a hiatus from the sixth installment. In terms of appeasing its fans, it certainly seemed to hit the mark and coming together to enjoy something that has been around is a fun night for all.
But strip away the nostalgia safety net, and you see writers not delivering content to its full potential. The first movie is so beloved because it was a bold new idea for its time. Now the films risk blending in with every other horror franchise they seemed so self-aware against, sequels driven by cash grabs and not something creative. The franchise may seem review proof from its loyal fans, but this time, there will be a case of too much of a good thing. The scariest thing about “Scream 7” is not Ghostface, but money-hungry Hollywood not knowing when to stop.
3/5
