After the massive box office numbers from Scream 5 and 6, a quick green light was given for another immediate sequel. The franchise, under the new breed of scream kings, Busick, Vanderbilt, Gillet, and Bettinelli-Olpin, was critically acclaimed, fresh, and bringing in cash in dump trunks. Then a real-life horror show began. After two stunning performances, Melissa Barrera spoke out about the conflict in the Middle East. She was quickly removed, followed shortly by co-star Jenna Ortega exiting due to Barrera’s removal. Before this incident, Scream legend, Neve Campbell refused a part in the 6th film due to contract disputes and rumored to being killed off in the last installment.
For Scream 7, the producers scrambled to put together a quick cash in, bowed to Campbell’s demands and absurd salary request, then brought back original creator/writer Kevin Williamson. Will this return to the old school pay off with franchise legacy storylines replacing the popular Carpenter plot, or will the people behind the mask present a dull blade for the fans to chew on?
Wanting to eternally hide from the horrors of the past, Sidney Prescott has escaped to Pine Grove, in the middle of America. Now dealing with the all too real scary situation of raising a teenager, Sidney has overall found peace with her family, while shadows of her legacy still linger. When a Ghostface attack occurs back in Woodsboro, Sidney goes on high alert, with good reason. Original killer, Stu Macher, thought to be dead, begins to contact Sidney. With advancements in AI, the question remains, is Stu really dead or alive and ready to strike? Quickly, teens start dying, and Sidney and her family are under attack. With the help of old friends, Sidney goes to battle once more, but this time she must prepare her daughter for a fight with the mask that has stained her entire existence with blood.
A half-million-dollar re-write was rushed for Scream 7, and it shows over every frame of this redundant terror tale. A few great kills, including the best kill in the franchise, are spoiled with a plot and characters so wooden that the audience might get splinters from watching. Campbell, much like the second and third installments, puts in a basic shift as she inexplicitly avoids doom yet again, looking more like John Wick than a damsel in distress. Isabel May, portraying Sidney’s daughter, stumbles through the run time as she attempts to go from a shy teen to heroine with zero proper acceleration. Even the brief appearance of the Meeks siblings is bland. Only Courteney Cox shines with the limited time she is given, showing the only glimmer of sub-text throughout the film. While even secondary characters have become iconic in the franchise, with the exception of a very good opening scene, not a one new character will be remembered from this tired plot. It is absurd that talented writers Williamson and Busick followed fan boy theories and decided that the “Stu is alive,” storyline would work best. A choppy pace, boring performances, and the absolute “we just winged it,” Ghostface reveal, present a sequel that will sit at the bottom of the franchise rankings for eternity. With pre-sale sales records being smashed and a tremendous opening weekend projected, we will no doubt be getting another quick turnaround. Perhaps the producers should count their money, breathe a bit, then take their time to wrap up what is becoming a repetitive artistic disaster. This will never happen as the money train keeps on rolling, so get ready for Scream 8…The Boredom Continues!