“This time, it’s all about nostalgia,” Mindy Meeks-Martin — played by Jasmine Brown — said in “Scream 7.”
The newest addition to the “Scream” franchise lives up to this claim.
Deemed cult classics by fans, the “Scream” movies have long been a staple in the slasher genre. The first, released in 1996, gained popularity as a unique blend of comedy, suspense and horror that has now propagated six additional sequels.
This seventh film includes members of the original cast: Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher and Roger L. Jackson as the voice of Ghostface. One notable addition is Isabel May as Tatum Evans.
The plot follows Sidney’s daughter, Tatum, as she faces her first encounter with the latest Ghostfaces.
The franchise is famous for its commentary on movies, especially its own legacy. From the scenes that break the fourth wall in several of the “Scream” films and even the “Stab” movies within the “Scream” world, the films are acutely aware of themselves. Kevin Williamson, director and screenwriter, therefore chose “Scream 7” to highlight the concept of nostalgia.
“I’ve always thought it would be a wonderful thing to have Kevin Williamson direct,” Campbell said in an interview with SciFi Now. “He knows these films and these characters better than anybody.”
Williamson uses his knowledge of “Scream” to create a fresh narrative and blend of callbacks.
The traditional prologue scene uses Prescott’s childhood home, where the first murders occurred, to set the stage. Further, viewers find out that Tatum will be taking on her mother’s legacy. Finally, the choice of killer is a fitting nod to fandom craze and the maniacal appreciation many have for the “Scream” installments.
Each “Scream” movie has been an apt indicator of the time in which it was made. The films achieve this through fashion, casting choices and trends. “Scream 7” chooses to timestamp itself with deepfake AI in order to bring back the nostalgic character Stu Macher, who hasn’t been in a “Scream” movie since the original.
Unfortunately, there were a few unexplained inconsistencies that distract from the plot. For instance, when a camera angle makes it seem like one of the characters is stabbed several times in the torso and once in the head, this character is shown to still be alive several hours later.
Even still, the film is an improvement from the last two in the series and is projected to earn more at the box office than either respective movie.
At the Malco Oxford Commons Cinema Grill, viewers clapped first for Gale’s arrival and then for Evans’ memorable altercation with Ghostface. The sentiment seemed positive, with approving murmurings about the film’s watchability.
Overall, “Scream 7” seems to be an enthusiastic love letter to the film and its legacy, cementing its own place in the franchise.
