"Scream 7" (2026): Running out of Fresh Screams

This is the seventh time we’ve had a Ghostface crisis.

Scream 7 is the latest edition of the Scream franchise. Sydney Prescott and her family are under attack by another anonymous killer dressed in a Ghostface costume. While having issues with her daughter, Tatum, they run from the bloody murders, trying to determine who is behind it all.

The bent knife that gets jammed in the wall is the perfect way to describe the Scream franchise; it’s lost its edge. Scream 7 has engrossing suspense and gore, but the writers avoid new territory, littering the film with reused storylines.

Neve Campbell returns to the franchise as the fearless fighter, Sydney Prescott. Sydney has constantly been on the run, being interrupted from enjoying a quiet life with her family. Campbell adds many well-rounded layers to this character. She works well with what she is given because all Sydney does is run from one place to another.

In the midst of bloodbath murders, Sydney is having issues communicating with her 17-year-old daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). Tatum’s character is never explored. There are well-acted discussions and arguments between Campbell and May.

The film was leaning towards a storyline about how Tatum felt overshadowed in her mother’s legacy. What if the galore got to her head and she attempted to do something similar to Sydney’s past?

Courtney Cox returns and does the usual Gale Weathers routine. I did like the scenes between Sydney and Gale. They become a detective duo. Cox has one emotional line delivery. Just when I thought Gale would have a prominent role, she disappears in the climax.

Scream 7 gathered a great cast together, I’ll give it that. Too bad the supporting characters are here for one reason: bloody kills.

McKenna Grace was my favorite of the supporting cast. Her performance is how you make a small role stand out. More credits include Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Joel McHale, and Anna Camp. Jimmy Tatro and Michelle Randolph sold a memorable and thrilling appearance in the opening. Roger L. Jackson returns as the cryptic voice.

Fan favorites Jasmine Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding reprise their roles as Mindy and Chad. They’re here purely for the fan service.

For more nostalgia bait, several OG characters return in AI caricatures. While an interesting idea, there is one glaring issue. One popular character from the first Scream is prominent, and since they appear as said actor’s current appearance, wouldn’t you de-age them to look as they did over three decades ago?

Kevin Williamson, who wrote the Scream movies, was asked by Campbell to direct the new film. He was excited to take the helm, but the film lacks substance.

Don’t think the film tones down the bloody murders. Ghostface guts one character like a fish in a nasty, gory scene. Williamson perfects the suspense as characters hide or run down the streets. Oh yes, there’s a lot of running.

One thing I liked was the theater angle. It’s brief, but growing up as a theater kid, it was a new layer. Think of what the film would be if it stuck with this storyline.

The killers' revelations felt like something out of fanfiction. The new “Ghostface villains” are so cartoonish and campy that I thought I was watching an SNL skit. They have nothing to do with the plot and are unrelated to any of the characters. Of all the time spent on unnecessary scenes, Scream 7 could have been more engrossing.

Scream fans will enjoy the thrills in the theater. It’s a new franchise low, signaling that it has run its course.