‘Scream 7’ Review: Heavy On Nostalgia, Light On Substance

Scream 7 definitely is the horror movie of the big returns. Both director/co-writer Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries) and Neve Campbell (Wild Things) return to the franchise after being absent since 2011 and 2023, respectively. Alongside them, return Courtney Cox’s (Friends) unfiltered Gale Weathers and Jasmin Savoy Brown (Yellowjackets) and Mason Gooding (Heart Eyes) as twins Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin. While they’re once again finding themselves at the heart of small-town murders, the question remains if there’s still enough life in Ghostface to make the seventh movie of a franchise that has been going on since 1996 successful.

At first, the murderer is definitely more alive now than ever. The ghost from Sidney’s past resurfaces, forcing her to confront her fears from her previous life. One she kept a secret from her own daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), as she’s now living a quieter existence in Pine Grove. To protect the people she loves, including her cop husband (Joel McHale), and end those killings once and for all, she spares no effort, bullets, or fights. However, when Ghostface’s presence over the small town grows one kill after another, it’s only a matter of time before fear and murder hit home too close for Sidney once again.

While the ominous killer brings back dark times for the ultimate final girl, it also brings back a blast from the past for both her and the audience. If there were an award for best entrance in a 2026 film, Cox would already have it in the bag. Her character shows up at one of the film’s most crucial moments in true Gale Weathers style. Fast, fun and applause-worthy! Despite Cox’s appearance only being swift, as she reportedly has only 22 minutes of screentime, her extra blunt and emotional performance does leave a lasting impression.

Also, the dynamic energy between her character and Sidney has never been more present, and their evolving bond, which feels more like a push-pull relationship, faces nightmare after nightmare. This not only results in a very cathartic moment that has been in the making for 30 years, but also in a few of the movie’s most iconic scenes. While seeing the Scream OG’s making (brief) appearances in this slasher makes us feel like we’re getting old (gracefully, though!), it also feels like a warm hug from very close friends.

The movie’s self-awareness only heightens that familiar feeling. Some of the self-references feel a bit too on-the-nose, but most land perfectly, delivering the right balance between familiarity and dread. Also, don’t expect a rulebook à la Randy because this feature doesn’t play by the rules. While there are multiple laugh-out-loud moments, the tone is much darker this time. Writers Williamson and Guy Busick (Ready or Not) have definitely dialled up the killings to a more Final Destination-like level, resulting in a much more bloody Scream.

While the opening scene certainly adds more campiness and fun to this feature, the rest of the movie is brightly red. Suppose you thought that the killings in Scream 6 were bloody and gnarly. Wait until you see how gory someone meeting his demise on a beer tap can be. The impeccable dread, the long-drawn-out sequences, and the visceral kills ensure the movie hits the mark as a full-throttle horror movie.

However, while the killings are razor-sharp, the film itself isn’t by a long shot. While the mother-daughter dynamic is excellent, as May (1883) shows she’s both a rightful successor to Campbell and a great actress, many of the new characters add little weight to this film. That’s because Williamson underuses them drastically. They’re either bait for Ghostface or there to make you think, “The character is obviously the killer,” more times than you can count. Whatever the reason is that they’re in this feature, the filmmaker better pick some of the survivors and fully flesh them out if he wants them to carry on the dark legacy.

The director not only keeps the franchise fresh by introducing new characters but also brings it firmly into the modern age by weaving contemporary technology into the story. What that piece of technology is, we’ll leave out, as it spoils the fun, but the (real-life) impact and the dread would be bigger if Williamson used it to its fullest potential. Now it feels more like an afterthought and a quick solution to a significant danger that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. There are certainly wonderful ideas running through this movie, but they’re lacking a lot of depth.

With Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds once again leading the way with their Red Right Hand, Scream 7 veers towards both familiar and brand-new territories. It might not reach the same heights as other instalments, but the kills and the heartfelt show that even a seventh movie in a franchise can feel refreshing at times. This movie may or may not be the last Scream film – only time will tell – but if this is it, Williamson delivers a satisfying full-circle feature with the necessary fear and gore.

Scream 7 is out in cinemas on the 27th of February, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.