Although Sam and Tara Carpenter, the principal characters in the revamped Scream series, were expected to return for the next movie, unfortunately, they won’t be reprising their roles. This absence might impact the continuity of the franchise as a whole. In the fifth Scream film, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega were introduced as Sam and Tara Carpenter, sisters who become the focus of the new Ghostface. An intriguing twist reveals that Sam’s biological father is Billy Loomis, the original killer from the first movie, thus connecting them to the series’ broader narrative.
By the fifth movie, Sam and Tara had firmly established themselves as the leading characters in the Scream series. This was made official when Neve Campbell’s character, Sidney Prescott, departed after that film. However, significant changes occurred between the sixth and seventh installments. The franchise dismissed Barrera due to a real-life issue, which led to Ortega also leaving. With Sam and Tara Carpenter no longer around, the Scream series may find it challenging to replicate its recent achievements.
Sam’s Connection To Billy Made Her A Different Kind Of Final Girl
Sam Is The Daughter Of A Previous Killer Who Became A Hero
In the fifth Scream movie, one of the most surprising plot twists occurred when Sam disclosed to her sister that her true father was Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) – the initial antagonist from the first film. Back in the first movie, Billy and Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) were romantically involved during the Ghostface killings. However, it wasn’t until the end that Sidney discovered her boyfriend and his accomplice, Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), were the actual killers.
The Scream series has consistently linked the Ghostface killers with previous killers or victims. But in a fresh twist for the franchise, they introduced the daughter of a killer as a new victim rather than the killer herself. This narrative shift, given her connection to Billy, added an intriguing dimension to the storyline. Many fans had expected her to be the killer in Scream and Scream 6, but by making her a protagonist instead, they offered something novel to the series.
Whether Or Not Sam Would Go Bad Was An Intriguing Arc
The Killers Were Almost Always Related To Past Victims/Killers
Given that many characters connected to killers in the Scream series eventually turned out to be antagonists themselves, it was widely assumed that Sam would follow suit. In the initial film, Billy harbored a grudge against Sidney because her mother had an affair with Billy’s father, causing significant distress in Billy’s family life. Billy’s mother was the murderer in the second installment, seeking retribution for Billy’s demise. The third movie unveiled that Ghostface was Sidney’s half-brother, who felt overshadowed by her throughout his life.
Every Ghostface Killer In Scream:
| Movie | Killer | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Scream | Billy & Stu | Sidney’s mom cheated with Billy’s dad |
| Scream 2 | Mrs. Loomis & Mickey | Mrs. Loomis is Billy’s mom |
| Scream 3 | Roman | Sidney’s half-brother |
| Scream 4 | Jill & Charlie | Jill is Sidney’s niece |
| Scream (2022) | Amber & Richie | Fans of the stab franchise |
| Scream 6 | Det. Bailey, Ethan, Quinn, Jason | Det. Bailey is Richie’s father |
In the fourth installment, Sidney’s niece emerged as the murderer, for the same motive that her half-brother from the previous film had. However, the fifth Scream movie introduced a twist. Characters related to both Billy and a former victim, Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy), were potential suspects, making it plausible that one of those young adults could be the new Ghostface. The series, however, took an unexpected turn when it revealed the killers as mere fans obsessed with the movies depicting past murders within the franchise.
As a cinephile, let me share my thoughts on the chilling thriller, “Scream”. One of the film’s most intriguing aspects was the masterful subversion of expectations, achieved by none other than Sam, who found herself at the heart of the investigation due to her father’s sinister connection to Billy.
Given her lineage of kin involved in heinous crimes, the cloud of suspicion hanging over Sam became one of the most gripping elements of the narrative. It left audiences and the characters within the movie questioning her innocence, adding an extra layer of tension that made every scene more suspenseful.
Sam Is A Flawed, Layered Character
Sam Was Always Battling Her Dead Father’s Influence
In contrast to Sidney Prescott in the Scream franchise, Sam Carpenter stands out due to her internal conflicts. Unlike Sidney who was prepared from the beginning to protect herself and friends, Sam grapples with the knowledge that her father was a serial killer. She constantly worries that this dark past could taint her and potentially harm those she cares about. Even when it became clear that she and her sister were innocent, others continued to suspect her as the Ghostface killer.
In “Scream 6,” Sam (the protagonist) explored this theme more deeply since she had brutally slain one of the Ghostface killers, Richie (played by Jack Quaid), in the last film. This act seemed to imply that she had chosen to follow in her father’s footsteps, Billy (who she never knew), as he was also a Ghostface killer. However, Sam was plagued by visions of her father urging her to embrace the role, and she grappled with the decision to discard the mask and forge her own identity or risk being corrupted by his influence. This ambiguity made Sam an intriguing ‘final girl’ throughout “Scream 6.
Sam’s Relationship With Her Sister Felt Realistic
Sam & Tara Were Highlights Of The Last Two Scream Movies
In the Scream series, a notable distinction between Sidney Prescott and Sam Carpenter lies in their family dynamics. While Sidney essentially stood alone, save for her friends, Sam had a younger sister named Tara to safeguard. Unlike Sidney who discovered she had an unknown brother attempting to harm her, Sam was not only battling for her own existence but also worked tirelessly to shield Tara. This selfless act put her life on the line as well.
Witnessing Sam and Tara as a duo was one of the standout aspects of the revamped franchises. While characters like Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin were strong additions, it was Sam and Tara who truly supported the films they headlined. The success stemmed from Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega’s exceptional on-screen chemistry, creating an authentic portrayal of sisters who deeply care for one another, to the point where they would sacrifice everything for each other.
It’s beneficial that they departed before the seventh Scream movie, as rumors suggested that the plot for Scream 7 would have damaged their relationship within the franchise. In a discarded script, Tara was set to die, which pushed Sam to embrace her father’s dark influence entirely, showcasing her internal struggle. However, the demise of these sisters would have been heartbreaking and unfortunate.
Not Finishing Sam’s Arc Could Seriously Hurt Scream 7 & Beyond
Sam Deserves To Finish Her Story
Although it’s not preferred by many fans for Tara to be killed or Sam to become evil, or for Sam not to appear in Scream 7, it feels strange without the sisters. It appears that Scream is going backward after exploring fresh narratives and characters in the last two movies by focusing on Sidney again.
In the upcoming movie, we’ll find Sidney, her husband Mark (Patrick Dempsey), and their children who hid following the fifth film. The new Ghostface killer aims for this tight-knit family.
It appears unfair and out of place to exclude Sam and Tara Carpenter from the storyline, particularly as Sam seemed to have found closure in “Scream 6”. If the series were to eliminate either sister or both, it would undermine the development achieved in the last two movies. On the other hand, if the franchise chooses to ignore their story and focus solely on Sidney, it might be perceived as an injustice, especially towards Sam. Leaving her story unfinished could potentially impact the longevity of the “Scream” series, given that there seems to be more untold tales about her character arc.
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2025-06-06 01:39