Almost three decades after Ghostface first asked, “What’s your favourite scary movie?”, Scream 7 brings the story back to where it all began — with Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). Directed by series creator Kevin Williamson, this new chapter attempts something ambitious: reminding audiences why the earlier films mattered while proving the franchise still has something urgent and relevant to say.
While Scream VI focused on a new generation — the Carpenter sisters — and shifted the spotlight away from Sidney, Scream 7 deliberately changes direction. Sidney is back at the centre. She is no longer a frightened teenager running through dark hallways. She is now a mother who believes she has finally escaped the horrors of her past. That illusion of safety collapses when a new Ghostface begins targeting her family — especially her teenage daughter Tatum Evans (Isabel May).
This is where the emotional bridge between the original 1996 film and this latest chapter becomes powerful. In Scream, Sidney was fighting to survive. Now, she is fighting to protect. The fear has not vanished; it has simply shifted to the next generation. The film quietly but constantly asks – can trauma ever truly end, or does it just find a new host?
For longtime Scream fans, the film is layered with references to earlier chapters — the Woodsboro murders, the legacy of multiple killers behind the Ghostface mask, and the emotional scars Sidney carries. These callbacks are not just nostalgic nods. They reinforce the idea that the past in the Scream universe is never buried. It lingers, it watches, and it waits.
Neve Campbell delivers a performance that feels mature and grounded. This Sidney screams less and strategizes more. There is visible strength in her stillness — the resilience of someone who has endured unimaginable horror and refuses to let it define her family. Courteney Cox returns as Gale Weathers, and the dynamic between the two has evolved beautifully. Gone is the sharp rivalry of the early films; what remains is mutual respect — two survivors who understand each other’s wounds without needing to speak them aloud.
Another significant thread tying past and present is the lingering shadow of Stu Macher, originally portrayed by Matthew Lillard. The franchise has always teased the idea that its ghosts never fully disappear. By revisiting earlier villains and long-running fan theories, Scream 7 reminds audiences that the Ghostface legacy has deep, unsettling roots. Whether this feels like clever continuity or overindulgence may divide viewers — but it undeniably strengthens the connective tissue to the original massacre.
Unlike the previous films, which leaned heavily into meta-commentary about reboots and horror ‘rules’, Scream 7 adopts a more serious and contemporary tone. The story incorporates present-day anxieties, including references to AI and deepfake technology — even delivering pointed dialogue like “AI is the death of civilization.” These elements ground the horror in today’s world, suggesting that deception has evolved far beyond prank phone calls. In an era where reality itself can be manipulated, Ghostface feels disturbingly modern.
Certain lines trigger instant dread for franchise fans. When a character ominously says, “There is always more than one,” it sends a chill down the spine — a reminder of the saga’s long-standing rule that Ghostface rarely works alone. That single line carries decades of history and instantly raises the stakes.
The film’s setting also amplifies tension in clever ways. In the climactic stretch, a neighbour’s house under renovation — with plastic sheets hanging loosely, carpentry tools scattered about, and darness — becomes an eerie playground for suspense. The sight of Ghostface faintly visible behind translucent plastic is particularly effective, heightening adrenaline without relying solely on jump scares. The atmosphere in these sequences is thick with unease.
There are also moments that are genuinely gruesome. The film does not shy away from graphic violence, and certain scenes are intentionally uncomfortable to watch. This rawness adds to the chilling impact, reminding viewers that beneath the franchise’s clever dialogue lies brutal slasher horror.
The background score — both the music and selected songs — effectively raises the tempo during high-tension sequences. It swells when necessary, retreats into silence when suspense demands it, and supports the emotional beats without overwhelming them. The action choreography is engaging and competently staged, especially in close confrontations where desperation feels physical and immediate.
Some viewers may argue that the film leans heavily on nostalgia. By centering Sidney again and invoking past villains, it risks appearing backward-looking rather than forward-thinking. Yet there is something fitting about this return. Sidney is the emotional foundation of the franchise. Bringing her back creates a sense of completion — as though the story is circling back to close a wound first opened in 1996.
In the end, Scream 7 feels less like a reinvention and more like a reckoning. It does not radically reshape the franchise, but it deepens it emotionally. It presents Sidney not just as a survivor, but as a guardian determined to finally end the cycle of fear.
And yet, in the quieter moments between mother and daughter — particularly in the conversations shared by Sidney Prescott and Tatum Evans — there appears to be a subtle suggestion that the story may not be over. Their exchanges carry more than reassurance; they hint at transition. There is an unspoken possibility that the torch could pass, that the fight against Ghostface might belong to a new generation. Whether intentional or simply thematic layering, the film leaves the door slightly ajar for the franchise to continue — not by repeating the past, but by evolving through it.
Whether this chapter revitalizes the series or signals a closing act will depend on audience expectations. But one truth remains undeniable: Ghostface may change faces, evolve with technology, and adapt to the times — yet the fear he represents continues to endure.
Movie: Scream 7
Directed by: Kevin Williamson
Featuring:Starring
Neve Campbell, Joel McHale, Isabel May, Sam Rechner, Courteney Cox, Celeste O’Connor, Anna Camp, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, David Arquette, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Mark Consuelos, Tim Simons, Matthew Lillard
Run Time: 1hr 54 mins
Theatrical Release Date: February 27, 2026
