Coming off the success of Scream VI, Scream 7 ends up being a major disappointment. With franchise creator Kevin Williamson back in the director’s chair and Neve Campbell returning as Sidney Prescott, we had high hopes despite all the controversy surrounding the film. Unfortunately, those hopes quickly faded. What we get instead is a generic slasher riddled with logical loopholes, weak writing and the most underwhelming killer reveal the franchise has ever delivered. While the kills are admittedly fun, almost everything else falls flat.
Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has finally built a quiet life away from the horrors that have followed her for decades. But that peace is shattered when a new Ghostface killer emerges and this time, the attacks seem to be connected to an old Ghostface killer. Even worse, Ghostface has set sight on her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). Forced to confront the nightmare she thought she had long escaped, Sidney once again finds herself dragged back into the violence that has defined so much of her life.
From its opening scene, Scream 7 already feels like a warning sign. The original killer house from the first Scream is burned down, and in a strange way, that image feels symbolic of what the film eventually becomes. It tears down many of the key elements that made the franchise stand out in the first place. Most noticeably, the self-awareness and sharp commentary on horror tropes are largely absent here. Instead, the film plays things closer to a generic slasher with characters making illogical decisions that feel more convenient for the plot than believable within the story. One of the worst examples is Sidney running off on her own to save her daughter instead of simply waiting for Gale Weathers’ car.
Beyond missing its meta-commentary edge, the narrative itself is painfully basic. There’s little suspense in how the mystery unfolds, and the eventual Ghostface reveal is laughably weak. The motive behind the killings feels forced, unconvincing and nowhere near compelling enough to justify the carnage. For a franchise known for memorable reveals and layered killers, this one lands with a thud. The only real saving grace in Scream 7 is its kills. They’re over-the-top, gruesome and at times genuinely creative. If all you’re looking for is a handful of bloody set pieces, there is at least some fun to be had. But as a Scream film, this misses the mark badly.
Scream 7 (2026) Movie Review: Burned It All Down
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