Scream 7

Even though the seasons are starting to change and the evenings are becoming longer and brighter, the Scream franchise still believes there is time and space for another blood-curdling slasher movie. You would be forgiven for losing track of how many instalments there have been in this 30-year saga, with the long wait between the third and fourth movie and the subsequent onslaught since 2022, but despite this, the Scream movies have always enticed audiences back with a cast of recognisable faces and rising stars. With original writer and director Ken Williamson back at the helm, Scream 7 is no exception.

In a bid to build some form of normal life for her family, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has moved to the peaceful town of Pine Grove. Much to her daughter Tatum’s (Isabel May) frustration, she takes extra precautionary measures to keep her family safe, but with her horrifying backstory ubiquitous in the conversations of her neighbourhood, Sidney can never truly escape her past. When a new Ghostface killer emerges from the shadows, her darkest fears become reality as Tatum becomes the next target. With the help of some old friends, Sidney must do everything she can to save her daughter and finally put an end to the Ghostface legend that haunts her.

The return of franchise legend Neve Campbell is a welcome one after her character’s previous exclusion due to contract disputes, and her inclusion, along with a number of familiar characters such as Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and the Meeks-Martin twins, makes Scream 7 feel like a warm embrace amidst the darkness. The movie is nowhere near as gory as some of its predecessors, but while it isn’t as chilling and deadly as you might expect, it still gives it a damn good go. The numerous murders are creative and inventive, leaving you squirming in your seat while simultaneously laughing at the absurdity of it all.

However, this appears to be as far as the feature can go. It’s good that there is a mix of jump scares and top-tier sound editing to keep you on your toes throughout, because Scream 7 treads very familiar ground, using the same twists and tropes that we have seen before. You’ll struggle to find anything unique in this film as it relies endlessly on a heavy overdose of nostalgia, felt instantly from the opening scene. By the time the end credits roll, there has been such an oversaturation of these easter eggs that you’re left worrying that it may have damaged the legacy of a number of characters.

Does this bland seventh instalment really feel needed? Not really, but will it be welcomed by fans of the franchise? Absolutely, but with practically all plot tropes and twists seemingly exhausted, maybe now it is time to scream for the final time.