Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic/ Sophia Philips)

For years, Scream has been at the forefront of the horror genre. Ever since the original film released in 1996, the franchise and its iconic Ghostface killer have stabbed their way into the hearts of fans worldwide. 

Recently, the franchise has seen a revival with its new trilogy of films in the last few years. On Feb. 27, 2026, Paramount Pictures released “Scream 7” in theaters to mixed reviews. After her absence in the last film, series icon Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) sees a return to the series that began with her story long ago. Sidney is now a mother to Tatum, her daughter named after her best friend from the first film, Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan). Sidney and Tatum have a strained relationship due to Tatum being curious about her mother’s past and Sidney not being willing to share that trauma with her. 

The strain increases when Sidney’s past comes back to haunt her again in the worst way. The Ghostface killer has found her again at her new residence in the fictional town of Pine Grove, Indiana. This time, Ghostface is looking to finally put a permanent end to his oldest foe. 

“Scream 7” not only sees the return of Sidney, but also of famous series reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox). She’s flanked by interns Mindy (Jasmin Savoy-Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding), twin siblings who return from the past two films. Although they don’t have the same focus that they once did, they still play a vital role in figuring out who the Ghostface killer is this time around. 

Some scenes between certain characters are actually endearing and add an element of emotion to the film beyond horror. It makes for a more enjoyable watching experience to actually care about the characters while hoping that they don’t die in a gruesome way. 

On the topic of dying in gruesome ways, the Ghostface killer holds nothing back this time. The kills are possibly the most horrific that they’ve ever been. The opening scene alone sees two deaths that may make even the most hardened audience members physically recoil. The franchise has always been one for creative kills, but ‘Scream 7’ kicks it into high gear. 

By following the format set by the original film and adding its own modern spice, “Scream 7” keeps the classic series alive. Not only does it pay homage to the original with returning actors, but it also recreates shots and uses the same music to help the feeling of nostalgia. This, combined with the harrowing kills and emotional scenes, makes this entry of the series a true standout. While nothing will ever top the original, films like this definitely do their best.