The Scream franchise continues its story once again this year with Scream 7, released on February 27. There are moments throughout the franchise that are loved and hated, but you can’t help but respect it for staying around for this long. Being around for thirty years, the series has tasked itself with extending the narrative while finding new ways to comment on the horror genre, all while trying to appeal to a new audience. They succeeded in doing so, with the film being the highest-grossing in the series.
Where We Stand
The franchise has taken a couple of hits, as the internet was against the firing of Melissa Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter in Scream 5 and VI. This also led to Jenna Ortega’s exit as Tara Carpenter. With the Carpenter sisters’ story now cut off, its no surprise they wanted to use the feeling of nostalgia to bring audiences in and to forget any of the drama. But Neve Campbell wasn’t so easy to obtain; supposedly, she had turned down appearing in Scream VI due to a low pay offer.
We not only have returning characters but the return of Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original film,Scream 2, and Scream 4, which, to some fans, is the best of the franchise. He teamed up with James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, who wrote 5 and VI. You can feel Williamson taking the helm, with the cracking dialogue between the couple at the Airbnb in the beginning.
The Intro
In the film, Scott (Jimmy Tatro) is a “Stab Head,” which is a fan of the film inside the film that turned the “true” story of the Woodsboro murders into a slasher franchise. Madison (Michelle Randolph) is a horror movie nut but is not excited by her boyfriend’s idea of a fun getaway, as they find themselves staying at Stu Macher’s (Matthew Lillard) house. It has been turned into an Airbnb-type destination, decked out in Stab movie memorabilia and crime scene details.
This time, there is no search for easter eggs; only a wave from the creators showing as much as they can from the beginning. It is also a reminder that just because you know the movies doesn’t mean you will survive them. Scott’s mistake was chasing nostalgia.
The first kills are more graphic and vicious than those seen in the first Scream. They seem to be following a trend of violence that echoes the assault on Ortega’s character at the start of Scream 5. We see Madison subvert the expectations of the “dumb blonde” and still wind up dead, which sets the standard for the rest of the film. Williamson keeps the tension and quality high in every frame. It captured the Wes Craven era and follows a simple formula.
What Else Is There?
Nostalgia isn’t the only thing pulling you in; it also has an emotional core that grounds it. The messy relationship between Sidney (Campbell) and her daughter gives us something to start with. We know why Sidney is an overprotective parent, but Tatum (Isabel May) does not, which leaves their relationship rocky. Their mother-daughter conflicts are interrupted by a phone call that threatens her daughter. The question is, will another Tatum die?
Something that is done differently is how we’re shown who is on the other side of the phone call. If you followed any of the casting news or paid attention to the trailers. You should be aware that Stu Macher has apparently returned. It was a big draw for audiences. Especially seeing him in the horror genre again in the Five Nights at Freddy’s film. Didn’t he die from a TV to the head? We do see him with a grossly scared face. Well, in this series, if you aren’t shot in the head, there is always a chance to come back.
A Solid Addition
Without spoiling the whole film, we will say that the reveal itself? Not great, just based on who it was and why. Most of the series reveals are based on silly motives with ridiculous monologues. What should be taken seriously is the build and journey. It nails the tension. The almost 2-hour runtime seems to fly by.
Tatum’s friend group is not the most developed. But it seems Williamson understands that audiences don’t need every detail of their life story. They function as they are supposed to: red herrings, which keeps the whodunit alive. It’s the fun game of crossing off names from the suspect list, just as in previous films. The gore mentioned in the beginning is carried throughout the film, with the stabbings being inventive and violent. Overall, the film will not be everyone’s cup of tea. With production drama steering some away. The critics are ready to tear it apart, but it still stands on its own two feet. If you can see past that. See the film for what it is, you’ll find the mean, violent slasher that tells us all: that Scream is Campbell’s franchise; she owns it and is THE final girl.
