Ghostface Phones It In: Scream 7 Review (Spoiler-free)

The Scream franchise is at an interesting stage in its existence, with the beloved series turning thirty this year. The first entry that kicked it all off, 'Scream' (1996), remains, like many firsts in the vast array of horror franchises, the fan favourite. And although some of the other five entries made a decent stab at reaching the success and acclaim as its forefather, here's to you, 'Scream 4' (2011); no other Scream film has matched the excitement, nervy, whodunnit slashing frenzy that the 1996 classic achieved. But lying somewhere deep within every Scream fan is a hope, a small whimsical dream that each new entry will top that initial buzz and roar that was cemented three decades ago. Rest assured, however, these hopeful yearnings were not just dashed by the latest Scream film, 'Scream 7', they were completely obliterated in a dumpster fire of disappointing mess where slasher dreams go to die. 

A poor third act, questionable motives and even more questionable/out of place character choices have tainted the solid reputation of the contemporary Scream films, with the film seemingly leaving a sour aftertaste for many devoted fans. It has only been mere days since Scream 7 premiered, but the general pool of public opinion has rightly bashed apart the seriously questionable choices that the film made. There are a few remnants of positivity amongst the wreckage to come from the film, most of which will be discussed later, but the overwhelming consensus of post-cinema thoughts all agree on one thing: what on earth were they thinking? 

Neve Campbell reprises her role as Sidney Prescott, the final girl who catalysed the never-ending cycle of Ghostface killers hellbent on keeping the Woodsboro curse alive. Like its Big Apple set predecessor, Scream 7 is set away from Woodsboro, but in another small town, Pine Grove, Indiana, which, for all intents and purposes, is exactly like Woodsboro with its charm and picket fences. Nevertheless, the swapping from one quaint town to another is one of the film's few benefits, with Pine Grove acting as a tight-knit web where deadly murders contrast nicely against the humdrum vanilla backdrop. This time, we finally get to meet some of Sidney's brood, including her sheriff husband, Mark (Joel McHale), and her teen daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), named after Sidney's childhood best friend and Ghostface victim, Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan). 

From the get-go, the contention within Tatum and Sidney's relationship is abundantly clear, with the pair clashing over Sidney's refusal to discuss her loaded past with her daughter, whilst Tatum struggles to understand the gravity of what has happened to her mother over the last thirty years. In typical Scream form, these trials and tribulations are exacerbated when Sidney receives a call from Ghostface, which avalanches into a string of grisly murders as Sidney and Tatum work to unmask the latest crazed murderer. 

Momentarily stepping away from the doom and gloom, what Scream 7 excels in is the nostalgic factor. The smorgasbord of references to the various films, whether that be nods to the meta-universe 'Stab' franchise, or the inclusion of Wes Craven and his filmography disguised throughout, the film is like a bingo card where keen-eyed viewers can dab off the various crumbs of factoids and trivia. Also playing hard to the film's advantage are some truly commendable kills that spark jolts of lightning into the otherwise dull third act. Impalements, guttings, and the expected slicing and dicing of various body parts are displayed with quite a punch of ferocity throughout the film, providing a burst of much needed excitement. 

Rounding this off is the film's genuinely respectable first half, which is brimming with unexpected twists and turns, coupled with a decent laying of groundwork for the second half to flourish. However, it is this precise excellent first forty-five minutes that make the following hour even more painful. All the tools and foundations were there to create a worthwhile Scream film, but all the graft established for a successful slasher was swept away, leaving nothing but an extremely lukewarm finale in its wake. In keeping with the spoiler-free promise, the identity of Ghostface will not even be remotely uttered, but what can be said is how utterly dumbfounding and almost laughable the reveal is, let alone how shallow the motive is. 

Campbell as Sidney delivers a solid performance that saves the film from becoming entirely unwatchable, which is seconded by the return of Courteney Cox as the feisty Gale Weathers. At the end of 'Scream 6' (2023), we saw that twins Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding) miraculously survived the near-fatal stabbings from the various Ghostface killers, leaving a gap for their return in Scream 7 as Gale's new news crew. Joining the familiar faces are Anna Camp, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, followed by the stars of the cold open, Jimmy Tatro and Michelle Randolph. 

Horror cinema is a unique genre in that it requires its viewers to be forgiving of reason and take reality with a pinch of salt. Across the previous Scream films, audiences have had to suspend belief over the timing of murders, the resources of Ghostface and the ability for characters to carry on with full force despite fatal injuries plaguing them. The surrendering to the story is a non-negotiable affair of any slasher film, with Scream over the years including a plethora of meta jokes about the imaginative engagement that horror fans must undergo to enjoy a scary movie. However, there are limits, and Scream 7 pushes every facet of patience that horror fans can possibly muster up. Far-fetched scenarios and seriously dubious actions are rife throughout the film, leaving viewers with some stern 'how comes?' and 'what if's?' after watching.

Scream 7 is a film of two halves. Enjoyment is to be had as we watch the mayhem fall around Sidney, as we simultaneously attempt to piece together the clues of who Ghostface could be. Unfortunately, the grand anticipatory reveal that fans have waited years for appears as an afterthought, as if the script landed on a killer, filmed all the scenes and then decided after the fact to add in an overzealous monologue addressing the motives without ever connecting the killer to the killings. On one final cliché note that summarises these musings on Scream 7, alongside mimicking the archetypal, trope-ridden narrative of the film — I'm not angry, just disappointed.

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