Why SCREAM 7...Didn't Suck?

***SPOILER ALERT*** Do not read this unless you've seen SCREAM 7 in theaters or on streaming. But, for those who don't care - then, by all means read on.

So... I've seen "Scream 7" at least twice and yes, like so many, pooped on it after about forty-five minutes after a killer (pun intended) opening and a few great gnarly scenes with Ghostface offing a few cast members and pleasantly surprised by the return of Stu Macher aka Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise after 30 years. That's the good news. The bad news was, yes - it was underwhelming and after the shuffling of its "Scream" and "Scream VI" directors, Radio Silence, as well as the firing of star, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega's leaving as well as director Christopher Landon's exit, the cracks were very heir apparent.

But was it the worst of the franchise? Hold on to your pearls, folks. I still like it and consider it worthy - and here's why.

Kevin Williamson, the franchise creator who got Wes Craven (RIP) to revive 1970s and 1980s slasher films, now helms his first one in the series after Radio Silence/Barrera and Ortega/Landon directing debacle with his only film, "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" as his only credit. I think he was thrown into it with his hands tied more than willingly. With all of my prejudices and issues with the film aside and tell you why it's a worthy chapter in the franchise and here are some reasons why.

Legacy Burn/Franchise Fatigue.

The killer (pun intended) opening with Jimmy Tatro and Michelle Randolph as a Woodsboro Murders/STAB movie obsessed couple at the Stu Macher BnB Murder House is so on point as to how jaded a society we become. Idolizing mass murders as heroes through true crime podcasting and sequel/requel mania was kind of the point of the opening. Williamson was almost intentionally burning down his own legacy (on film at least).

"Scream 7" chose to announce it with balls of fury, chaos and confidence and it's bold, strange and yes - beyond messy. After seven of these movies, are we really to expect anything new or refreshing about the formula we got since 1996?

Neve's Return But With a Caveat.

Neve Campbell who has been in six of the franchise movies, but sat out the sixth installment due to a salary dispute that didn't pay her what she was worth. Sidney Prescott, now Evans has been the cornerstone of the franchise since the first movie - so she deserved every penny. She still remains an important fixture in the horror hemisphere, and it was refreshing to see her in a more adult version of her character now as a wife and mother to a teenage daughter - unironically named Tatum (Isabel May).

Matthew Lillard's Return/Nostalgia Rhymes With Corn.

So, with all the foaming-at-the-mouth fan theories about whether Scream King Matthew Lillard aka Stu Macher, the second killer along with Skeet Ulrich's Billy Loomis, survived that television whack to the head, Williamson decided to give the fans what they wanted - but with a caveat. He's an AI deep fake creation and never actually survived the bloody massacre at his home where he and Billy had tried to kill off Sidney for *ahem* reasons.

Williamson was giving the fans exactly what they wanted and yet, it wasn't enough. So, let's just say - be careful what you wish for.

Spoilers! These Guys Did it and We Weren't Supposed to Care!

So... let's reevaluate the mid killer reveal that turned out to be Marco, the friendly psychiatric hospital orderly (Ethan Embry) and sweet neighbor, Jessica Bowden (Anna Camp), who was just soooooo upset about being absent during the Ghostface 2023 massacre in New York City, may have been the most inconsequential killer reveal in the "Scream" franchise - but, was it really? For all it's worth - the painfully confusing quintet of Greg and Jason (who killed Samara Weaving in the opening) and then, the entire Bailey family (Dermot Mulroney, Jack Champion and Liana Liberato) stand hands down as the worst reveal in all of the "Scream" movies - with Scott Foley's Roman Bridger (the only sole killer in the series) being no. 3 on the list.

My Final Thoughts (I Promise).

In all its defense, "Scream 7" is a worthy entry in the franchise for a few good reasons.

1. Roger Jackson returns as Ghostface and his voice work still rocks.

2. McKenna Grace's Peter Pan kill is one of the most memorable in the series.

3. Williamson was clearly highlighting franchise fatigue.

4. It was a worthy exploration of toxic fan service and pointless slasher movie nostalgia.

5. It was intentionally uneven, messily plotted and yes - humdrum at best, stupid at worst.

I will argue it clearly was made to not satisfy all fans of the series (me included) and it in fact, mirrors the very chaos of modern franchise storytelling.

See you all at "Scream 8".