My quick rating - 5.4/10. Scream 7 kicks off exactly the way every Scream movie since the Clinton administration has begun. Someone picks up a phone and soon regrets picking up the phone. At this point, the franchise could open with a cooking montage, and we’d all still be waiting for the knife to enter frame like it’s a contractual obligation. But hey, the good news? Once that familiar Scream 7 title card slashes across the screen, Neve Campbell shows up. Yes, returns. As in, she’s finally back, playing Sidney Prescott again, and immediately giving the movie a boost it desperately clings to. She’s living her best suburban life with Mark, played by Joel McHale, which is either perfect casting or a cosmic prank, and their daughter Tatum (Isabel May) completes the Evans household. Cute family, shame one of them instantly becomes Ghostface’s new hobby.
Kevin Williamson returning to direct was one of those decisions that made fans whisper, “Okay, we might actually be cooking again.” In a way, he does bring Scream 7 closer to the vibe of the early entries, though he also looks like someone who rewatched the classic trilogy and said, “Ah yes, nostalgia. Let’s dump the entire bucket in.” Strangely, despite the franchise’s rep for meta humor, this one plays like a straight-up slasher. It sprints out of the gate, throws the killer on-screen almost immediately, and dares us to question whether we should trust our own eyes. Or did we just get pranked by someone who spent too long on Reddit conspiracy boards? Hard to say.
The opening sequence? Easily one of the best in years. Big, bold, bloody, and genuinely gripping. But once the movie starts racking up bodies like it’s trying to beat its own high score, the pacing gets wobbly. There’s a difference between suspense and “Wait, who died? Was that the barista from earlier?” And then we reach the Ghostface reveal, which lands somewhere between a shrug and an accidental spoiler in a YouTube comment. It’s less “OMG!” and more “Wait…who?”
Still, Neve Campbell remains the beating heart. Time has treated her so well that she could headline Scream 14 and still be the definitive final girl without breaking a sweat. She carries Scream 7 through its weaker spots, proving the series really does work best when she’s the one on the hitlist. It may not be at the level of the original Scream, but Campbell immediately makes this sequel better.
There’s nothing groundbreaking here. No reinvention, no surprising twists, no fresh angle. But fans of the original run will find enough nostalgia, familiar faces, and callbacks (Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Laurie Metcalf, to name a few) to keep the ride fun. And yes, AI finally gets dragged into the plot, though in the most predictable, “Yep, that tracks” way possible. If you expected Skynet, you’ll be disappointed. If you expected something you’ve seen in five Black Mirror episodes already, congratulations.
Scream 7 may not carve a new path, but it slices through 2 hours with enough style, legacy, and Neve-power to make it worth the watch. Especially for those of us who keep showing up for Ghostface like we never learn. And since this was clearly a long sequel setup for the future of Isabel May, I'll be in line.
https://jackmeat.com/scream-7-2026/
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