It’s been thirty years since we watched what would become one of the most iconic opening scenes for any horror film. The success of Scream spawned a handful of sequels and further cemented a legacy in the genre. Its latest installment, Scream 7, has been mired in controversy. Scream 6, which brought back Courtney Cox as Gale Weathers, was blatantly missing Neve Campbell, who did not return due to a pay dispute.
Scream is the franchise that never intended to become a franchise. As a result, sometimes creative decisions are made that don’t quite make sense but are needed to further an evolving plot. Most of the time, it works. Ghost Face becomes an enduring boogeyman, emulated over time by fans, highlighting not just the danger of celebrity but also of obsessive true crime fans.
Following screenings of the film on Wednesday, viewers took to X to post their thoughts on the latest film. One thing many agreed on were the kills: And indeed, Scream 7 does have some brutal, clever kills. The underlying heart for others was the mother/daughter storyline between Sidney and Tatum Prescott.
Nostalgia was also a clear factor in the creative process. For those of us who grew up watching the Scream franchise, it’s something we’ll lean heavily on, and there is an interesting generational divide among some of these opinions. Ghost Face endures, even thirty years later, much like he does in the franchise itself.
Epic Film Guys on X called it “legacy sequel fans have been waiting for. A rip-roaring blast of bloody fun, with Craven-esque vibes fully in tact. Ghostface is back and as brutal as ever. Neve Campbell proves once again that she is THE all-time great Scream Queen.”
Check out some of the first reactions below.
Scream 7 is now in theaters.
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