Scream 7 (2026)
Review
Rating: 4.5/10
Where Watched: Theater
Adaptation? No
Quick Hook (First Impression)
Being a movie fan, we all have a favorite genre — drama, comedy, action, etc. I enjoy all kinds of films, but my all-time favorite is horror, especially slashers. As a fan, I understand there’s a formula to these movies — and a big reason that formula exists is because of the Scream franchise itself. The series built its identity on meta commentary and giving the audience “rules” to survive and figure out who Ghostface is before the final act.
With Scream 7, there are strong ideas at play… but it takes a severe nosedive by the end.
Story / Concept
One of the biggest positives is the opening scene — honestly one of the strongest openings we’ve had in a while. Jimmy Tatro plays superfan Scott, who brings his girlfriend (Michelle Randolph) to the former home of Stu Macher (originally portrayed by Matthew Lillard in the original Scream), which has now become an Airbnb celebrating the Stab franchise.
It’s a clever way to bring us back down memory lane while also showing just how brutal Ghostface will be this time around.
And speaking of brutality — the kills here are more creative than usual. The franchise has typically been tamer compared to other horror series, but this installment steps it up. My personal favorite was the beer tap through the head. Yes, the CGI makes it look a little silly, but I still appreciated the creativity.
Unfortunately, the strongest concept in the film — the AI angle — feels predictable. The movie tries very hard to make you question what’s real and what isn’t, but it becomes obvious what the trick is. I won’t spoil specifics, but if you watch it, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Performances
Neve Campbell delivers another strong performance as Sidney Prescott. She still understands this character and brings emotional weight to the role.
The Meeks twins, played by Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, are solid once again, carrying some of the franchise’s trademark commentary.
I was genuinely surprised by Joel McHale as Sidney’s husband. I’ve mostly known him from The Soup, but he gets a few strong moments — especially during his first fight scene with Ghostface.
However, the use of Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) feels unnecessary. She’s here because she’s legacy — not because the story truly needs her. That might be the film’s biggest misuse of a returning character.
Sidney’s daughter, played by Isabel May, isn’t bad at all. The issue isn’t her performance — it’s the dynamic. The strained relationship caused by Sidney’s overprotectiveness makes sense at first, but eventually Sidney becomes more frustrating than sympathetic, and her daughter ends up feeling smaller than she should in what’s supposed to be her stepping-forward moment.
The Biggest Issue – The Reveal
The killer reveal and motive are easily the weakest part of the movie.
In most Scream films, the reveal is the highlight. My personal favorite is still Scream 2. But here? This might be the dumbest motive in the entire franchise.
It undercuts the tension that was built up and makes the third act feel more frustrating than shocking.
Final Thoughts
There are solid moments here — a strong opening, more brutal kills, committed performances — but they’re overshadowed by weak new characters, a predictable AI concept, and a reveal that completely fumbles the landing.
For a franchise built on cleverness, this one feels strangely sloppy.
Who is this for?
Hardcore fans of the franchise who just want another Ghostface outing.
Who should skip it?
Casual viewers. You’re better off waiting for streaming.
One-Sentence Verdict:
A strong start with creative kills, but one of the weakest and most frustrating finales the franchise has delivered.
What Worked
- A strong, nostalgic opening sequence
- More brutal and creative kills than usual
- Committed performances from returning cast members
What Didn’t
- A weak and frustrating killer reveal
- Underdeveloped new characters
- A predictable AI concept that never fully pays off