‘Scream 7’ Review: A Fast-Paced but Flawed Franchise Entry

Ghostface in Scream 7 (2026) - Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Walking into Scream 7, I was cautiously optimistic. Okay, maybe a little more than cautious,  because whenever a new Scream release approaches, the excitement is hard to ignore. After the aggressive momentum of the previous two installments, there was absolutely some curiosity about where the franchise could go next. Of course, this chapter arrived with its share of turbulence. Following the firing of Melissa Barrera, along with the exits of director Christopher Landon and co-star Jenna Ortega, the production faced significant creative reshuffling. And while the film ultimately made it to the screen, it’s hard not to feel the impact of those behind-the-scenes changes. The script, at times, feels rushed, particularly in the character department. That’s unfortunate, because strong, layered characters have always been the backbone of a Scream film. When those emotional anchors feel underdeveloped, the whole structure wobbles a bit. 

Now, all that said, I’ll be upfront: I had a good time with Scream 7. It’s nowhere near as strong as the earlier entries, but it moves fast, delivers some fun and inventive kills, and presents a version of Ghostface that feels extremely efficient. There’s a lean, almost stripped-down quality to this installment that keeps it watchable, even when the storytelling doesn’t fully land. The story is simple: Ghostface is back and Sidney has to stop them once again, whoever they are. When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, she must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.

From a pacing standpoint, the film hardly drags. The opening scene is actually quite good. Better than I expected to be fully honest. I love how they focus on something we see a lot of people doing in today’s world - staying at an Airbnb that just happens to be Stu’s (yes, that Stu) house and Amber’s house from Scream (2022). It is funny because they do have opportunity for fan’s to stay in that house as well. So right off the bat, the Ghostface action is strong. From there, the story maintains steady momentum, jumping quickly between set pieces, occasionally stretching certain action sequences to help carry the runtime. A significant portion of the film is centered on Ghostface-driven action, arguably more so than in many previous installments. There’s a lean quality to this entry that works in its favor. The kills are creative enough to satisfy longtime fans, and Ghostface feels less theatrical and more mission-focused this time around. The chases are solid, and the attacks carry a noticeable efficiency: brutal, direct, and stripped of the prolonged gamesmanship that defined earlier versions of the killer.

That tonal shift gives the film a sharper edge. Even when the narrative doesn’t fully capitalize on its ideas, the streamlined approach to suspense keeps the experience engaging. It may not reinvent the formula, but it delivers enough intensity to remind audiences why Ghostface remains such an enduring presence in modern horror.

There are also several moments clearly designed as love letters to longtime fans of the franchise. Without getting into spoilers, certain callbacks and visual echoes will absolutely earn smiles from audiences who have been here since the beginning. The film understands its legacy and wants to honor it, and that effort is noticeable. At times, though, it leans so heavily on nostalgia that it forgets to build something equally compelling in the present. Almost as if it is a very high budget, studio based fan film. 

The characters as mentioned in my opening paragraph are without a doubt the weakest part of the film. Isabel May plays Sidney’s daughter, Tatum (named after her best friend in high school), and she has a horrible amount of substance to work with to be even remotely likable. I have seen a few projects that I have loved Isabel May in, such as Yellowstone spinoff 1883, and I know she is a solid actress, but her character does not work here in the slightest. Almost every scene she is on screen she is arguing with her mom and there is absolutely no relationship explored between the two of them. Same with Sidney’s husband, Mark, who everyone thought was Mark Kincaid in Scream (2022) when Sidney mentions his name, just for it to be revealed to be someone different, who also happens to be a police officer. Sidney definitely has a thing for the boys in blue. Regardless, every new character, including Sidney’s daughter has zero charm to them like previous installments and that is one thing this film has heavily going against it.  

Unfortunately, the third act is where things really begin to unravel. The killer reveal, traditionally the moment where a Scream film either elevates itself or stumbles, lands immensely softer than it should. The motive and the killers feel completely underdeveloped, lacking the emotional punch or thematic sharpness that made earlier reveals resonate. Instead of recontextualizing the film in a clever way, the twist feels more procedural than shocking.There is no big monologue about why they are after Sidney nor does there appear to be any real motivation behind anything. I quite honestly thought that ChatGPT could have written a better ending, and it might be what wrote this one. It is also I am pretty sure the quickest kind of finale in any of the current Scream films. 

What’s frustrating is that you can feel the outline of a stronger version of this story. There are interesting ideas present , threads that hint at deeper commentary or sharper psychological tension, but they never fully connect. It almost feels like there’s a more daring draft of this screenplay sitting somewhere, possibly one that included the Carpenter sisters and pushed the concept further or takes bigger risks in its finale. 

All that said, I can’t say I was bored. Scream 7 is still entertaining, still aware of its identity, and still capable of delivering suspenseful moments. It just doesn’t quite stick the landing in the way fans have come to expect from this franchise. At the end of the day, it’s a solid, enjoyable entry  just not a great one. A fun ride with flashes of what could have been something sharper.

Verdict:

★★★☆☆