The newest installment in the Scream franchise, Scream 7, was recently released in theaters on February 27. Still, fans are already having conflicting opinions over this movie. It started before this film even came out because of intense controversy surrounding the firing of the previous film’s lead actress, Melissa Barrera, over her posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Eventually, co-star Jenna Ortega left as well, which sparked even more skepticism for this recent addition to the franchise. Despite all of the differing opinions about this film, the question is: is it worth watching?
Scream 7 is the latest installment of the beloved horror franchise that is now approaching its 30th anniversary. So, fans were extremely excited to hear that they are still coming out with a new movie, especially with the original protagonist, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), returning after she wasn’t in the previous film. This installment follows Sidney, as well as her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), who has become the new target of Ghostface. Her past has come back to haunt her, as Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) could be alive and behind the mask.
I like the return of the old characters, as well as the new additions. However, Scream 7 features AI as a central plot point, and while I do think it’s important for movies to be about what’s relevant in the world today, the use of AI seemed unnecessary. I was not alone with this opinion, as the film’s use of AI received backlash. The killers utilizing AI-generated versions of past characters, rather than actually bringing the real actors back, were seen as “cheap.” Additionally, this AI technology was used to address the rumors of Stu Macher being alive, which reflected fears of digital manipulation in modern society. My friend, whom I saw the movie with, even said, “I thought it was really good besides the AI parts,” which further shows how successful the film could have been without it.
There were also some good kills in this chapter, which is why this film was considered one of the most brutal and gory entries in the entire franchise. Still, reactions were mixed, with some fans praising its “jaw-dropping kills,” while others found them more stagnant than suspenseful. People also had conflicting opinions on the killers and their reveal. There were multiple Ghostfaces revealed in this installment, and I was shocked when they took their masks off at the end. Even my friend said, “I didn’t expect the killer to be that girl and him,” which I and many other fans can agree with. Some claimed this reveal to be better than the previous film in the franchise, as it was refreshing for the killers to not be so relevant. This reveal was alternatively seen as the worst in the series because of a lousy motive and because it was too obvious. I personally didn’t see this reveal coming, which was one of the main reasons I enjoyed the movie, but I can agree with the fact that the motive seemed thoughtless.
Even though people were skeptical of this movie due to controversy in its performance, the departure of prominent actors from the previous installment raised additional doubts about whether it was worth seeing. Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega were both removed, which caused significant fan backlash and calls to boycott the film. Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter, was fired by Spyglass after they deemed her social media posts about the situation in Gaza antisemitic. Shortly after, Jenna Ortega, who played her sister, initially claimed to be leaving due to scheduling, but then confirmed that it was because the project was “falling apart” following the departures of her co-star and one of the Scream 6 directors, Christopher Landon. Without these beloved characters, fans were skeptical of this new installment to the franchise due to a shift in the storyline and the impacts on production. I can definitely say that the Carpenter sisters were missed in Scream 7, but I can also say that the new plot was equally interesting and appeared to be well-made.
An important aspect of the Scream movies is nostalgia, which starts from the opening scene in Stu Macher’s house. Especially with the return of legacy characters and revisiting past plot points, this movie was criticized for relying on “nostalgia-bait” to drive its narrative. People argue that the nostalgia feels forced and was merely a substitute for coming up with original ideas. It almost seems as if the film is mimicking earlier installments, making it feel dated, instead of offering a fresh storyline. While some may enjoy rehashing old memories, others see the excessive references to the past as predictable and failing to move forward with the franchise. I personally enjoyed the nostalgia aspect of the film, especially seeing beloved characters from the past. However, I do think that this movie felt rushed and needed more structure in the story.
One major moment in Scream 7, designed for the nostalgia-driven narrative, was the burning down of Stu Macher’s house at the end of the film. This act symbolized the end of an era for the franchise and marks a more destructive turn for its next chapter. I am excited to see what’s to come in the next movies as we are entering a new storyline. While I don’t think Scream 7 was as bad as many fans claim it to be, it will be interesting to see how the franchise continues now that major fan theories and plot points were ended. If you enjoy the Scream franchise and haven’t seen this movie due to all of the controversy, it is certainly worth the watch.