I’m Worried Scream 7 Is Going to Ruin the Franchise for Good (And There’s Proof)

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The Scream movies have always cleverly poked fun at horror tropes and reflected what’s popular in culture. The first Scream played with the audience’s love of scary movies, while Scream 2 examined how sequels differ from original films. Scream 3 focused on the pressure to raise the stakes in a final movie of a trilogy, and Scream 4 addressed the growing trend of people filming everything. The 2022 Scream reboot looked at legacy sequels and the rise of “elevated horror.” Most recently, Scream VI cleverly commented on how horror franchises often change locations, and thankfully, it took Ghostface to a big city instead of somewhere outlandish.

With the trailer for Scream 7 released, it’s clear the film seems focused on simply delivering more of the same – more Ghostface and another confrontation with Sidney Prescott. Unlike previous installments, it doesn’t appear to offer any new, clever commentary or a deeper storyline; it’s a straightforward continuation of the classic formula, almost asking ‘What about more of what people already like?’

Warranted but Not Overwhelming Trepidation

Neve Campbell and director Kevin Williamson have always intended Scream 7 to be a return to the series’ roots. While it’s good that they’re aiming for the same level of genuine scares as the original Scream film, this approach could be risky. The Scream movies have always been self-aware and played with horror tropes, and going for pure frights could make this installment feel like the very type of movie the series used to playfully poke fun at – though not to the same comedic degree as Scary Movie.

Bringing Sidney’s daughter into the story definitely raises the stakes and adds a lot of tension. It could make this installment of the horror series truly frightening, because we care deeply about Sidney and want her to finally be safe. But Ghostface keeps returning, and now, threatening her daughter makes this the most dangerous and emotionally charged fight for survival yet.

The storyline of a mother and child facing a masked killer feels very similar to Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, which itself was inspired by Scream. Like Scream, it playfully subverts horror tropes – remember the scene where Jamie Lee Curtis’ real-life mother, Janet Leigh, spoke to her character’s daughter, Laurie, and then drove off in the car from Psycho? Ultimately, Scream 7 feels like a straightforward version of a concept that was already a lighter take on a self-aware horror film. It feels like things have come full circle, but in a way that doesn’t quite capture the spirit of the original Scream.

There Is Reason to Be Hopeful

Ultimately, Scream 7 risks being unmemorable. This would be a disappointing conclusion for Sidney Prescott, especially since her story feels complete – she’s faced increasingly dangerous threats throughout the series, and now the focus is shifting back to the original style. Even if she survives, it’s difficult to imagine a compelling reason to continue her storyline in a future film. There’s a limit to how many times a character can realistically survive repeated attacks, and this feels like the natural ending point for her.

This raises the question of whether the Scream franchise can succeed without Sidney Prescott. She wasn’t needed in Scream VI because the four new characters introduced in the 2022 film quickly became popular with viewers. While Courteney Cox and Hayden Panettiere returned, those four characters really drove the plot of the New York-set Scream VI. However, due to some controversial choices, that group has been broken up, and only two of them are appearing in Scream 7 – and based on the trailer, it looks like they might not even make it through the movie.

If Scream 7 delivers a truly scary and consistent slasher experience, it could be a fitting end to the franchise. The first Scream is a classic, and a strong final installment could tie everything together nicely, even without the self-aware humor the series is known for. However, bringing back Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher – a popular fan theory – could be risky. It might end up like the controversial finale of I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025), leaving audiences unsatisfied.

There’s good reason to look forward to Scream 7 thanks to the returning and new cast and crew. Having Kevin Williamson direct is particularly exciting, as his writing was key to the success of the first two Scream movies. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding are all returning, and the film will also feature the original composer, Marco Beltrami, who wasn’t involved in the previous two installments.

I’m really excited about the new faces in this one – Mckenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, Ethan Embry, and Joel McHale all bring a lot of talent to the table. They seem more than capable of delivering the laughs, and if the movie leans into a clever, self-aware style like I’m hoping, they’ll nail it. We’ll find out how it all plays with audiences when it hits theaters on February 27, 2026.

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2025-11-02 19:11