Nearly three decades after Ghostface first appeared on screen, Scream 7 returns to the franchise’s roots while attempting to push the series forward. With original writer, Kevin Williamson, stepping into the director’s chair, and the return of “scream queen” Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, the seventh instalment blends nostalgia with a new generation of victims. The question, however, remains – does Ghostface still have something new to say?
This time around, the film brings focus back to Sidney, who has attempted to build a quieter life away from the Ghostface attacks that have followed her since the original murders in Woodsboro. Of course, in true Scream fashion, peace never lasts for long. When a new series of killings begin, the familiar mask returns and Sidney is once again forced to confront her past.
While Sidney remains central to the story, the film shifts its focus toward her teenage daughter, Tatum (Isabel May) – a name borrowed from Prescott’s friend who met her brutal ending in the original Scream. Much of the narrative unfolds from Tatum’s perspective as she and her friends become entangled in the investigation, gradually discovering just how deeply the Ghostface legacy has shaped their lives. This shift gives the film a clear “passing of the baton” quality, while Sidney remains present as a protector, but the story suggests that the burden of Ghostface may soon belong to the next generation.
The dynamic between Sidney and her daughter becomes one of the film’s most compelling emotional threads. Sidney’s attempts to shield her children from the horrors she endured mirrors the generational trauma that has always lingered in the franchise. It’s a subtle but effective way of shaping how the consequences of the Woodsboro murders continue decades later.
Behind the camera, Williamson’s involvement gives the film a strong sense of continuity. As the original writer, he clearly understands the formula that made the original film so effective: a blend of suspense, dark humour, and commentary about the horror genre itself. As always, characters openly discuss slasher tropes, the rules of survival, and the ever-changing landscape of modern horror.
However, as many fans have pointed out since the films release late last month, the opening kills feel strangely disconnected from the rest of the story – something unusual for the franchise. Traditionally, the opening victims tie directly into the killer’s motive. In Scream, Casey Becker’s (Drew Barrymore) death is linked to her relationship with Stu and Sidney, while Scream VI opens with Greg (Thom Newell) and Jason (Tony Revolori), whose murders stem from their plan to target Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega). These deaths typically act as a narrative catalyst, setting the tone and context for the story. In Scream 7 however, the connection between Scott (Jimmy Tatro) and Madison’s (Michelle Randolph) deaths with the central plot feels less clear.
One of the more contemporary ideas introduced in the film involves the use of deepfakes and AI technology. At several points in the story, digitally manipulated images and videos appear to resurrect figures from earlier murders, creating the unsettling illusion that the past is returning in a disturbingly literal way. The films use these moments sparingly, but they serve as an effective reminder at how easily modern technology can distort reality.
Despite these interesting touches, Scream 7 occasionally struggles under the weight of its own legacy. As the seventh instalment in a long-running series, certain plot beats inevitably echo earlier films. Some twists seem familiar, and the story sometimes leans heavily on call-backs to the past. Still, by positioning a new character at the centre of the mystery while allowing Sidney to remain a guiding presence, the film acknowledges the past while quietly preparing for the future.
Scream 7 may not reinvent the franchise, but it does suggest that Ghostface’s story is far from over.
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