The Scream franchise is arguably the most consistent horror series of all time. With Scream (2022) revitalizing the nearly 30-year-old franchise and Scream 6 being the biggest domestic hit of the series so far, there isn’t much more the filmmakers could’ve done to be more successful. Scream 6 also had the most intriguing ending of the series so far, teasing a potential villainous turn from the new lead, Sam Carpenter, played by Mellisa Barrera. Sadly, plans for a sequel turned chaotic after losing not only Barerra, but Jenna Ortega and three different directors. Because of this, it was a huge question mark about the direction this series would take, and with Scream 7, it is extremely evident that they had no clue where to take this franchise.

Scream 7 sees the return of Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, as she attempts to live a normal life away from the horrors of Woodsboro. Struggling to build a connection with her teenage daughter, Tatum, played by Isabela May, danger returns to Sidney as a Ghostface killer begins attacking those closest to her, fearing for her family’s life as well as forcing Sidney to reconnect with her dark past.

Despite its troubled production, Scream 7 maintains some of what makes this franchise so beloved. Writer/director Kevin Williamson does an excellent job of keeping the tension high, with every scene featuring some element of uneasiness. The cinematography, especially, does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of building tension, framing the background in a way that makes it feel as if something is about to pop out at any moment. The kills have become more imaginative in recent entries in the franchise, and Scream 7 continues that trend, with a play and a bar standing as two of the strongest in the series due to the severity of the kills and the stellar practical effects. Those solely eager for solid horror sequences will likely find something to enjoy here, but it’s every other aspect where the film truly falls apart.

The crux of Scream 7 lies in the relationship between Sidney and her daughter, and while the two don’t deliver poor performances, they have zero chemistry. The sequences at the beginning of the film, which introduce their disjointed relationship, come off as extremely dry due to bizarre editing choices and a lack of chemistry between the two. It was almost as if the scenes were filmed without the two being in the same room, since there were very few frames in which both were present. Because of this, it made it extremely difficult to care about their emotional journey throughout the film. While the series isn’t known for compelling character arcs, the handling of the characters is so poor that it’s impossible to ignore.

The supporting cast, sadly, isn’t any better than the leads. With actors such as McKenna Grace and Anna Camp, who have appeared in numerous big projects over the past couple of years, one would think they would at least stand out for their physical presence alone, but the writing gives them absolutely nothing to work with. Each character is a bland horror-genre archetype: the mysterious boyfriend, the party-crazed best friend, and the creepy neighbor. For a franchise known for its self-awareness, it is insane how much of this is the product that this series has made fun of, and the characters are one of the big reasons for this.

The film follows the current MCU strategy of using nostalgia to bring audiences back to theaters. While there are tons of examples of this working in the past, including Top Gun: Maverick and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the attempts at nostalgia in Scream 7 come across as extremely lazy. Whether it’s bringing back old cast members for a quick cameo or blatantly recreating scenes from the original film, the film lacks creativity in nearly every department, which is extremely disappointing for a franchise known for its creativity.

The killer reveals have always had some form of shock value or intrigue in the Scream films, even in the lesser films, but the reveal in Scream 7 is the first to leave genuine confusion and utter disappointment. Not only does the initial reveal lack suspense, but their motivations are mind-boggling. Usually, the killer’s motives tie into the film’s commentary on horror movies and franchises, but because the film is completely void of commentary, their motives come across as entirely lackluster and purposeless. If there was ever a moment where the film felt like a cash grab the most, it was with the killer reveal.

For a franchise known for its innovation and sharp social commentary, Scream 7 stands as the major outlier, lacking anything new or interesting to push the franchise forward. Whether it is the redundant screenplay or wooden performances from the entire ensemble, this is the first major miss in the franchise. If the film weren’t making tons of money at the box office, this could’ve easily become a franchise-ending entry due to how poor the quality is in nearly every aspect.

Scream 7 is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Rating: 4/10

Oscar Prospects:

None.