Neve Campbell is back to take a stab at her horror legacy.
Directed by Kevin Williamson, Scream 7 focuses on the return of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), now the wife and mother of a family in a new small town. Having finally put Woodsboro behind her, Sidney spends her days running a local coffee shop and taking care of her three children, including her precocious teenage daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). But we all know that the past never truly dies. And, when a new Ghostface killer emerges in her neighbourhood, Sidney prepares for war with her past in the hopes that she can—finally—put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
Scream 7’s tagline suggests its time to ‘burn it all down’. And, in some ways, the film does exactly that. Having built up their own pattern of storytelling, 7 finds a way to strip away the more predictable elements of the franchise and restructure it into something almost surprisingly traditional. Yes, the film features beloved characters, callbacks and the obligatory ‘meta-scene’. However, Williamson’s first crack at the franchise’s director’s chair feels almost like an homage to classic slashers as opposed to something that’s trying to undercut them.
Courteney Cox stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream 7.”
Instead of banking on the franchise’s smarmy tone of self-awareness, Scream 7 seems almost feels like the resurrected Halloween franchise. Even with its teases about ‘the rules’, the latest entry simply seems to own itself as a classic slasher in voice and style. It’s a return to the primary story with a focus on the central character that the world was built upon three decades ago. (In fact, at one point, 7 even compares Sidney to Jamie Lee Curtis.) The killings seem more personal than they have in some time. (And that’s saying something considering that they’re always personal.)
As a result, the series seems as though it’s willing to lean into its role in the pop culture zeitgeist, as opposed to attempt to meta-justify it. For a franchise that (still) seems interested in passing the torch, it’s clear in 7 that its immediate future still lies in the past.
After all, this entry is all about ‘nostalgia’, we’re told.
Neve Campbell stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream 7.”
And that means a thoroughly resurrected role for Campbell’s Sidney. Having missed the last film (and taken a much smaller role in the one prior), Campbell is fully back and willing to reclaim her crown as an ‘OG Scream Queen’. Armed and dangerous, Campbell is fully combat-ready and able to defend her family. Here, Sidney is smarter and angrier than we’ve seen her in some time, prepared for the next wave of attacks from whomever takes up the mask next.
“This doesn’t stop until I stop it,” she growls.
While that comment is used in the film to refer to Ghostface, it could just as easily be applied to the franchise itself, which seems revitalized by her performance. Campbell accepts the mantle of Scream Queen once again with fire in her eyes that keeps the film entertaining.
Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream 7.” © 2025 Paramount Pictures. Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. ©1999. All Rights Reserved.”.
Having said this, the film’s best performance stems from the return of another ‘OG’ character, if you will. (While the actor in question has spoken openly about their return, I won’t spoil it here.) However, needless to say, the energy that they exhibit in their role – and the surprisingly logical way that they return – elevates and energizes the film in a surprisingly effective manner.
Interestingly though, much of the context of the story focuses on that ability to pass the torch – and whether or not the franchise is ready to do so. For example, Sidney’s daughter Tatum argues that she’s been kept away from her mother’s past. Having suffered a great deal in her youth, Sidney’s desire to move on from her past meant keeping it private. But, in doing so, Tatum is ill-prepared for what’s to come. Strangely, this sort of commentary seems like more than the film’s emotional core, suggesting that the franchise wants to find a new way to pass the torch.
Certainly, much of this refocus has to do with the studio’s bungling of Melissa Barrera and its surrounding controversy. Barerra’s notable disappearance after having built the franchise around her isn’t mentioned and, thankfully, the film never ‘forgets’ the last two films. As a result, the opportunity for her to return is certainly on the table for future entries. However, given the nature of the controversy, it remains to be seen how fans will respond to this iteration of Sidney’s world.
Courteney Cox stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream 7.”
It’s also worth noting that, from a story perspective, Scream 7 does make some leaps within the script that aren’t always justified. Even though the film always remains enthusiastic and fun, there are a few moments within the script that seem random. That sort of erratic storytelling makes for a messy affair at times, beyond increasingly gory blood splatters.
All the same, these moments shouldn’t trip up the film’s bloody celebration of pop horror for its fans. While not perfect, Campbell’s renewed fire and Williamson’s return bring the love back to the franchise. Even with the controversy offscreen, Scream 7’s entertaining energy suggests that, maybe, it’s not time to burn it all down yet.
Scream 7 is available in theatres on Friday, February 27th, 2026.
