By Glenn Kay, For the Sun
Rating: 2.5 out of 4
Running Time: 114 minutes
This feature film from Paramount Pictures is currently in cinemas.
While it has been 30 years since the release of the original Scream, this reviewer is old enough to remember the buzz it created and the careers it helped launch and relaunch. As exceptional as the 1996 picture was, even I couldn’t have imagined that the movie would still be inspiring sequels this far down the road.
After a tumultuous pre-production, Scream 7 has ultimately veered off from the previous two installments. The first film’s screenwriter, Kevin Williamson, has stepped in as director and co-writer. Additionally, the story returns to its roots, focusing back on the first picture’s lead character. Admittedly, that means that audiences can’t help but to compare this follow-up to earlier films in the series. The latest edition does not match those earlier efforts, but every so often the movie delivers something special that makes you remember why you enjoyed the series in the first place.
Sidney Prescott-Evans (Neve Campbell), the teenager who survived the first Ghostface rampage, is now married to police chief Mark Evans (Joel McHale) and running a coffee house. Despite Sidney’s best efforts to live a quiet life in a new town, there is some tension between herself and her daughter Tatum (Isabel May). The teen is frustrated that her mom doesn’t want to talk about her trauma-filled past.
That all changes when a new Ghostface killer appears, tormenting Sidney and threatening the lead and her daughter. Even more shocking, the villain claims to be Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), one of the pair responsible for the first killing spree.
The family do come under attack by a costumed, knife-wielding maniac, and before long reporter Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) arrives on the scene with her assistants, consisting of Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding). The group attempts to uncover the murderer without getting themselves killed.
The movie gets off to a fun start, mixing horror film references with thrills. In fact, it literally pokes gruesome fun at a couple of horror fans who rent the original Woodsboro house, which has now become a tourist attraction. This sequence is exaggerated and not everything lands, but there are some fun references and twists on the formula that earn a jump scare and a few chuckles. Overall, this effort really pays homage to the original in several respects, with several characters referencing Sidney as an original “Final Girl” and poking fun at sequels playing off of nostalgia.
Williamson shows himself especially adept with the murder and attack set pieces. A chase through Sidney’s home early on is exceptionally tense, as those being pursued use an unusual escape route and end up trapped in a claustrophobic location. Another slaying set in a garage that is being renovated, also is tense, with lots of hanging plastic sheeting, providing plenty of options to show a character being stalked. There is also a sequence later in the film that delivers one of the series most memorable and amusingly unique slayings.
And, of course, it’s fun to catch up with Sidney, now as a mom. When the attention is focused on the family dynamic, her character and the inner struggles of trying to protect her daughter while also acknowledging the need to help the teen gain confidence and stand up for herself, the drama works well.
But there are many more characters, and not all of the subplots make lasting impressions. Some of Tatum’s teenage pals aren’t much more than cannon-fodder and don’t get much of an opportunity to make an impression. Siblings Mindy and Chad, from the previous two chapters, are shoehorned into the story as assistants. They have a few scenes, but the script doesn’t use them as much as it should and they are quickly pushed well into the background. And while the set-up for these Ghostface slayings is a bit different, the final reveal doesn’t wow. And honestly, after six movies there is a familiarity to the proceedings that could be part of the reason that the climax isn’t quite as memorable as expected.
Overall, Scream 7 is a decent slasher with some great moments. Considering how many predecessors have come before it, the film is far from an embarrassment. The older cast members are engaging, and there are a few dynamic set pieces that won’t be easily forgotten. However, the film really doesn’t compare to the Wes Craven efforts. Not all of the new cast members stand out and, in the end, the film doesn’t stray too far from the previously established formula. It’s a fine throwback for fans of the early chapters in the series, but it may be time for Ghostface to take a breather for a few years before returning, hopefully in a fresh, new way.
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