Scream 7 Review: Does Ghostface Still Have the Edge or is This Legacy Sequel DOA?
- Je-Ree
- 51 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Ghostface is back and frankly, at this point, the masked killer has more lives than a local shelter. Welcome back to the slash-happy world of Woodsboro or wherever we are now because Scream 7 has officially slashed its way into theaters. In a franchise that simply refuses to die, we’ve reached the point where the nostalgia is laid on thicker than the stage blood.
Full disclosure: I haven’t sat through a Scream flick since I was a teenager. Scream 3 was the last one I can vividly recall watching before I decided my nerves couldn’t take the jump scares. I’m the "cover your ears and peek through your fingers" type of horror viewer. I don't do excessive gore, and I certainly don't do cardio, but since reviewing the latest in film and television for The TV Cave is the job, I grabbed my popcorn and headed to an early screening.
I wasn't alone, though. I brought along my resident expert, my daughter, who is a legitimate superfan of the series. I actually had to lean over and ask her questions for once. Apparently, they killed Dewey?! When did that happen? Between the six movies and a whole television series, this franchise is a sprawling multiverse of trauma. And with word on the street that Scream 8 is already in development, it looks like we’re strapped in for the long haul.
The Prescott Legacy: New Generation, Same Problems
The big selling point here is the return of the ultimate final girl. Neve Campbell is back as Sidney Prescott and this time, the stakes are domestic. Sidney is now a mother to a teenager named Tatum, a poignant, if slightly heartbreaking, nod to her best friend from the 1996 original.
Tatum is played by Isabel May (1883), who is becoming Hollywood’s go-to for playing "the annoying teenager." She does a fantastic job here, perfectly capturing that specific brand of Gen Z defiance that makes you almost, almost, root for the guy in the mask. Joining the family dynamic is Joel McHale as the husband and father. Usually, McHale is the king of snark but he’s surprisingly competent here as the protector of the household.
The rest of the teen cast is brimming with "Gen Z-ness," delivering meta-commentary on horror tropes while simultaneously falling victim to them. They play their parts well, providing the necessary fodder for the inevitable body count.
Plot Holes You Could Drive a News Van Through
Where Scream 7 begins to wobble like a Ghostface victim on a slippery floor is the logic. I understand that horror movies require a certain "suspension of disbelief," and characters must do dumb things to keep the plot moving, but there’s a limit.
At one point, the entire town is under a strict curfew. The streets are deserted. Everyone is locked inside. So, why pray tell is a character standing in the dead center of the town square, surrounded by empty storefronts, just... screaming? Not running. Not looking for a weapon. Just standing in the open like a human target. It was less "terrifying suspense" and more "please just get on with it."
While I won’t spoil the "Whodunnit" for those planning to brave the theater, the big reveal felt flat. When the mask finally came off, the payoff just wasn't there. Even my superfan daughter walked out disappointed, agreeing that the motive felt thin compared to the legendary reveals of the past.
To Torch or Not to Torch?
So, should you head to the theater or leave this one in the dark?
It’s a bit of a toss-up. You should torch it for the sheer nostalgia and the "popcorn movie" energy it brings to the screen.
There is something undeniably fun about hearing that iconic phone ring and seeing Sidney Prescott handle business. However, you might leave the cinema with the nagging feeling that they probably could have stopped about three movies ago.
Scream 7 proves that while the franchise won't die, it is starting to show its age. It’s a fun ride for the fans but if you’re looking for a plot that makes sense, you might be looking in the wrong town.
What's your favorite scary movie? It might not be Scream 7.
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