'Scream 7' Struggles: Can the Franchise Recover After 30 Years?

"Scream 7" is the latest installment in the franchise, offering a mix of slasher horror and artificial intelligence themes. This film, rated R for violence and language, finds its main characters grappling with a new Ghostface threat.

Familiar Faces Return

Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott alongside her daughter Tatum, played by Isabel May. However, their performances offer little more than recycled energy from the previous films. The storyline lacks originality, focusing instead on familiar horror tropes.

Plot Twists and AI Elements

The film’s use of AI is an attempt to rejuvenate the narrative but ends up contributing to a predictable plot. Kevin Williamson, the original writer, reintroduces Sidney as an older heroine now living in Pine Grove, Indiana.

Nostalgia Without Substance

Despite efforts to inject nostalgia by linking back to earlier movies, "Scream 7" feels like a tired retread. It tries to imitate successful horror reboots such as David Gordon Green’s "Halloween" trilogy but falls short in both excitement and depth.

Characters from past films make obligatory returns, including Courteney Cox's Gale Weathers along with new faces like Chad and Mindy from recent installments. Unfortunately, these appearances seem superficial, serving mainly exposition rather than compelling storytelling.

The running joke about true-crime obsessions and high school dramatics fails to bring humor or freshness to the franchise. As predictable slasher events unfold in Pine Grove, viewers might find themselves yearning for thrills elsewhere.