Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) now lives in the idyllic small town of Pine Grove with her family. But it seems nowhere is safe from the Ghostface Killers, who have stalked her for decades. 

This time, a killer claiming to be a vanquished villain from her past has their sights on her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), who just happens to be the same age as Sydney was when she was first stalked by Ghostface. Alongside the only series mainstay, Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox), two returnees from the two most recent franchise instalments, who feel rather extraneous, and some new blood for the slasher series, this entry is keen to recreate the feel of the opening movie and put the two most recent films in the rear view mirror. 

Scream 7 is going back to basics. After all sorts of political controversy, that I am not going into, the franchise jettisoned its two new leads and directors in favour of handing the reins to Kevin Williamson, who wrote the 1st, 2nd, and 4th entries. Williamson’s masterstroke is to firmly hand back the leading role to Neve Campbell, whose absence in the 6th film due to an apparently insulting financial offer was sorely missed. Campbell’s final girl, Sydney Prescott, is front and centre in this episode and proves that she is the best part of the franchise. In fact, the worst entries, 3 and 6, are the films she is sidelined and absent from. Characters mention her absence in the previous film numerous times in an almost open apology. 

Everything about the film draws comparisons to the brilliance of the first instalments. Pine Grove mirrors Woodsboro perfectly, a small town where everyone knows each other and everyone is a suspect. Musical cues from the original feature appear in scenes that correspond almost exactly, such as when Tatum’s boyfriend climbs in through her window. In fact, Tatum’s friends all seem familiar down to the slightly creepy friend who is obsessed with scary movies. We also get a curfew and a cop who can deal with a lot of physical damage and still keep going. 

Its efforts at making statements about the horror genre feel less front and centre given its focus on giving itself a new, older direction. But to make up for it, there are some seriously good kills here. The inventive use of a high wire and a beer tap is well worth watching for alone. 

The only real disappointments lie in the franchise’s traditional opening kill and its reveal of Ghostface. Both feeling rather underwhelming. And the almost mandatory mention of AI as being bad just feels a bit too much like following the zeitgeist even for a Scream film. 

As a fan of the franchise, I was really entertained, but be warned, this is likely only the fifth best film in the series. But if you like the franchise or slasher movies, this one is worth it just to see Kevin Williamson and Neve Campbell back at the forefront.