I was lucky enough to sneak out and see Scream 7 in the theaters Thursday night before it's official release. Lucky in that, as a full time caregiver for both my Parents , going to the movies is not something I can just do whenever I feel like it. Certain things have to be in place before I feel comfortable leaving them at home. And to be fair, most weeks , there is hardly anything playing that I am even remotely interested in seeing.
However, with Scream movies, there is a bit of a urgency to see it soon. Especially before someone intentionally ,or even absentmindedly , reveals the killer(s). For me, the mystery of the murderer is the main draw for me to these films. I love the guessing game.
I say, without bragging, that I called the final killers in this one. Though to be fair, I thought there was a third in the end. Unfortunately, with this being the seventh in a series, it has become rather easy to spot the killer. Much like a Murder She Wrote episode, the casting gives it away. They aren't going to put a recognizable face in what appears to be a small role for literally one scene. Though they should. Play with audiences expectations .Cast a face, someone unexpected to appear in a horror movie, and then give them one simple scene with our main character. In fact, do it twice, with a second actor whose star factor stands out so it really throws off the viewer. Could always set up the sequel, they were orchestrating the events, but their lackeys were the ones killed without their reveal till the follow up feature.
They used the familiar face in the first movie to great effect with the casting of Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker.She was front and center and prominent on the poster, and had a name familiarity with the audience that would make one easily believe she was safe in the opening of the movie. This is something they could have pulled off easily with a larger name in a second or third movie, when hype and interest was high in the series. But here we are in movie 7. So the options and draw may not be there. Unless the actor was a fan.
The mystery continues to be a main draw even for the 7th movie, with the motive behind the murder a second. What inspired them to kill or influenced their targets? What might be the cutting metaphorical commentary attached to the blade?
The first Scream had a fascinating place in slasher horror history. It came to theaters just a few years after that genre of horror had sequeled itself to death. It presents the feared outcome to the question asked by conservative religious and parental groups for years " What happens to a person who grows up watching all these horror movies?".
No surprise,it was written by someone who HAD watched all those movies. Knew the tropes. And knew the viewer would too.
But even then, seasoned watchers of slashers were probably not expecting the final reveal. Traditionally, it's always been some adult who seeks out and slaughters the teenagers. But kids killing kids? We hadn't reached that monthly school shooting level of desensitization yet as a society. Columbine wouldn't occur until another 3 years.
And despite the overreacting, handwringing of adults, in the end ,it wasn't the movies that made them kill ,it was parental neglect & abandonment. Stu's folks go away for the weekend....though I imagine it was before they heard that two of Stu's classmates had been violently murdered. Especially one he use to date. Their absence was most likely the reason Stu & Billy decided to go ahead with their plan that night. But his parent's absence doesn't automatically mean they were always neglectful.(Though they certainly don't rush home after most likely hearing the news of murders in their hometown. The First attack got a lot of press.)
Where Stu's parents were is never revealed, but the casualness of the note on the dry erase board suggest there might have been a previously discussed reason. It doesn't say they had to leave to address a family emergency. They didn't just drop everything and leave unexpectedly. Rich families like Stu's ,they probably had a beach house they liked to go to on weekends. Leaving Stu with some pizza money. This wouldn't be out of the norm for them. But it could be symptomatic of a pattern. Stu being left on his own.
Stu was probably a lonely child. If the Macher house was where he grew up, then he probably spent a lot of time alone with his imagination and eventually movies on the TV as a little kid. That house was in the middle of nowhere. Not someplace kids could just ride their bikes over for a visit to hang out. While he may have had friends at school, there were probably few playdates outside because of the distance.
Side thought; The note left by Stu's parents has a "feed the dog" P.S. . A dog that we never see or hear during the climax. With all the activity & screaming, even if it was an outside dog, there would be barking. But we don't hear that. Research in psychology and criminology suggests a strong, documented link between childhood animal cruelty and future violent crimes. It is reasonable to believe that the night before Stu went to kill Casey Becker , Stu needed to make sure he could murder someone he once cared about. So he started with his dog. Perhaps under Billy's suggestion?
"Stu, I need to know you aren't going to chicken shit out on me. I need you to show me you have it in you"
Billy we know had abandonment issues. Mommy left because Daddy cheated. If Daddy was prone to cheating, he probably wasn't attentive to the needs of his home, wife or child. Off pursuing other self interests. Add anger issues and a diet of horror to give him the wrong creative ideas and we get the manipulative murderer of Scream.
Nancy Loomis clearly had mental issues even before her college caper. Strange that she would concoct a whole complicated scenario to avenge her sons murder after the fact, the same son she abandoned without contact after his father cheated. She couldn't be there for her kid before, but now that he is gone?? She wants to do this grand gesture for him? If she could just leave her kid so easily before, she must have had some interesting parental skills when she was home. Maybe she was the type of Mom to sit her kid down in front of the babysitter known as the television. And that's where Billy discovered horror movies, unsupervised, at a young age.
Odd that Billy never blamed or punished his father for his part in Nancy Loomis' abandonment of her son. Takes two to tango.
Would have made more sense if he tried to use his father as the patsy to be blamed for the Woodsboro Murders instead of Sidney's father.
Generational family trauma. Parent keeps passing it on to their kids.
Something very much in Wes Craven's filmmaking wheelhouse. A Nightmare on Elm Street was about the parental trauma laid upon their children. The danger comes from not only the past actions of the Parents but in the not telling their kids about this past. Sidney Prescott suffers the same danger. Her Mother's past comes to haunt and hurt her. Multiple times. The fame she never asked for as a result of her past personal attacks even puts a continuing target on her.
We saw in Halloween (2018) the results and family trauma of teaching your child to live in fear with Laurie Strode over preparing her daughter for a feared attack. From not just Michael Myers, but others. And now, in Scream 7, history repeats itself. But this time, it's a case of the Parent not wanting to infect their child with the trauma of their past. Withholding the truth. Once again
Overall, I enjoyed the new Scream movie. It's always a thrill to see Sidney mocking and prepared to fight her would be attackers. The first two thirds of the movie felt strong. For a two hour movie, I never once felt the urge to check the time. But I do feel a few marks were missed:
1) I think the troubled relationship between Sidney and her daughter Tatum should have been more of the emotional crux of the movie. Affecting both characters decisions. And explored in their every interaction. We essentially get Sidney really not wanting to talk openly with her daughter about the Woodsboro past and subsequent violence. She doesn't trust her own daughter to handle it. Sidney apparently never even mentioned her daughters namesake connection to her deceased best friend Tatum.
Sidney tried to over protect her own daughter from the past. And while the context is different from her Mother Maureen's traumatic past, the behavior of Sidney refusing to talk about it is what potentially endangers her own daughter. Refraining from sharing with her daughter about how she faced and survived the attacks and killings that were then turned into worldwide entertainment in the multiple Stab movies that most likely exaggerated the truth left her daughter with questions. That her own Mother refused to answer. Having a situation where the whole world seems to know more about your own Mom's experiences than you the child, would most likely create relationship tensions. Especially when that Mom seems to have trouble emotionally sharing herself with the daughter.
Sidney's intentions are good, She doesn't want to inflict her trauma on her daughter, Tatum. To have her daughter live in fear and distrust from the same young age her trauma began.Whether Sidney wanted it or not, her past was going to come for her daughter. Not preparing her was a mistake. After five personal attacks, Sidney had to know there would eventually be another. And at one point it would be directed at her daughter. Tatum needed to known what happened. Why, how and who. To not only understand how she could protect herself, but also to better understand her own Mother.
2) The killer reveal is where I felt the movie faltered. I honestly thought it was going to be a Mother/Son Ghostface duo. Echoing the crazy Loomis family of Killer Mom and mad son from the earlier movies. Contrasting with stable Sidney and Tatum. The killer being upset that Sidney moved on from the trauma and got on with her life? Really? That's your beef? I know the killers are suppose to be crazy, but that logic don't logic.
The killer says they were inspired by Sidney's book to murder their abusive husband. Were obsessed with Sidney facing her demons. And hurt that she rightfully decided to stay the fuck away from another attack. And after that they just happen to find a house next door to Sidney?? It's a stretch, the only plausible possibility is that the previous neighbors found out who Sidney was and knowing the history of anyone close to her, got the hell out of dodge before something bad happened. Though, this as a theme could be a thread through the movie. Sidney could express the feelings about people simply being close to her puts them in danger. That both she and people she meets have these worries. "Even the neighbors moved away".
I think it would have played better if the husband, a fan of the Stab movies, had read Sidney's book and was inspired to get out of his abusive controlling relationship with the wife. But she couldn't handle the idea of him "abandoning" her...so she killed him.
At this point the son would make a comment that reveals he didn't know his mom killed his Dad " You killed Dad? .
"Hush now, Baby. Mommy's talking"
She continues of how his death broke her baby boy. He became seriously depressed after his Dad died. Spent time in the hospital. Have to medicate him with the special candy.*she goes to touch his cheek, he withdraws* He hasn't been the same since. You destroyed my family Sidney. Took everything away from me that I loved. And you ...you just get to have everything?!?....the handsome strong husband....success....fame....happy children...survive?!!?!
She could be the mother who took her child's love of horror movies too far. Using his knowledge of the Stab history and movies. Movies that the boy would watch with his Dad repeatedly. Bond over. she needed to learn how best to unsettle Sidney.
At some point, the son would have a stress induced episode, get angry,threatening to leave Mom.
She has no choice, Says" You were always too much like your father" and stabs him to death.
3) The panic room wall attack: This was a great set piece....that I wish had been filmed a little different. I think it was the wrong choice to show us where Ghostface was on the other side of the wall. We know the killer is there. Put us in Sidney's and Tatum's shoes. Literally. POV shots back and forth. We don't know where the blade is coming. And emphasize the tightness of the escape route. Make us feel their bodies pressed up against the wall. With little wiggle room. Use uncomfortable extreme closeups of their faces and stomachs brushing next to the wall as they try to move, so that when a knife plunges through it's but a hair away from flesh.
4) HOW IN THE HELL WOULD THEY LET TATUM BE LEFT OUT OF SIGHT OF A POLICE OFFICER AFTER THE ATTACK AND THREAT ON HER LIFE ??!?!? Considering the history with this family. After the first brutal murder of two of her friends while she was just downstairs and then the attack INSIDE HER VERY OWN HOME !!! How in the hell was she allowed to be out of sight of a officer? Even if it's a small town, she should have been given some kind of protection. Yes, her Dad is a cop, but he had been injured by Ghostface just the night prior. Add to that the fire and murder at the Macher house and the threat from someone who is pretending to be Stu. This is serious. Not some online jerk " having fun". This ain't over by a long shot just because one killer was taken down. I'm surprised Sidney didn't keep Tatum by her side at all times. Though it could tie into a thread if Sidney made a comment to Gale about having to live with the fear that anyone close to her is a potential target even when there is not a ongoing attack. Maybe subtly relate to a comment the daughter could make earlier about how every time she wants to get to know all about her Mom (especially the Woodsboro incident) Sidney metaphorically and emotionally pushes her away.
5) What the fuck was the boyfriend thinking about even trying to see if you could fake AI an older Stu? I know the reason killers in horror movies are successful is because their targets do dumb things, but really? Even if it was an innocent attempt to see how it could be faked. Even if they had created an image where the AI Stu told a Dad joke, dirty Scooby-Doo joke, or even sang Baby Shark. Some humorous bit that the actor Matthew Lillard could have done spectacularly. If that were to be found by the cops and the character lived, that would be it for them. No matter what they say ,they would be held accountable as a partner in the crime. they should have had him create himself looking like one of his friends, not raging murder at the camera about his girlfriend's mother. Absolute empathy free thoughtlessness. Stab that dude, already.
6) Tatum's friends were rather bland and forgetful.I honestly don't even recall some of their names. You could probably interchange each of their lines and it wouldn't matter who said it.At least one of them should have been a quotable movie buff ,so they and Mindy could could go toe to toe on killer theories. I Would have liked more of a connection between them all.What if all the friends when at the bar came up with a plan to protect each other? Something that puts an emotional weight to their deaths.Two of their friends just died and no one is talking about them? We don't even learn something second hand about the characters who died that might make us reflect upon their loss. Like someone in the group mentioning something sweet one of the departed would do that they always liked. Hinting that there might have been romantic feelings for the lost soul. And there are multiple Stab movies in this 'verse. Many of them based of of real events. Two of the most recent attacks involved two of the characters sitting in the same room with the rest of them. And no one thinks to turn to them and ask questions? Tatum wants to know about her Mom's experiences. Wouldn't it have been interesting to have her question Mindy & Chad as a vicarious way to understand her Mom's experiences. "What did it feel like?" " It hurt" "No.After it was all over? And you survived but your friends didn't?"
7) When Sidney was helping Tatum with Ghostface's position inside the coffee house, I kind of wish we saw Sidney going back and forth between facetime and the security cams. So the two are looking at each other in the eyes.But with the occasional moment where Ghostface can't be seen. The Ghostface after Tatum goes quiet after getting shot and falls out of camera range. Then we have a moment where Sidney starts teaching her daughter how to survive. " you can do this...breathe....when you enter a room...look.....check your surroundings...for a possible exit....for anything that can be used as a weapon...." We see Tatum do just that..looking around...grabbing something for later off screen. When Ghostface disappears we stay on Sidney.Seeing her from Tatum's point of view. Over Sidney's shoulder we see a Ghostface start to approach...Tatum cries out " MOM ! BEHIND YOU !! " Tatum. thinking she can get away,leaves Sidney's office and tries to escape...only to be grabbed by a Ghostface hiding in the shadows. Revealing that there are in fact two killers.
8) With so many faces from the past showing up in the movie, I think it was a serious misstep to not include one important face,Rose McGowan as Tatum Riley. What if someone pretended to be an online friend with Sidney's daughter.And in pictures she appeared as Tatum Riley.In messages she told Sidney's Tatum secrets about Sidney's Stab past.Things Sidney wouldn't talk to her about. It would have connected emotionally to Sidney and her Daughter.Sidney couldn't save her best friend. And now her daughter of the same name is in danger. She could have been the last one seen on the screen after Dewey."You weren't there for me .Busy banging that bubble butt bastard who murdered me......Everyone who loves Sidney dies."
9) The opening kill. Thanks to the trailer, it was spoiled completely. Now we know from tradition that there is a opening dramatic kill. But having it all revealed in the trailer was not a wise choice. Plus, we have two people who are actively choosing to stay at a notorious murder site that's been turned into a grotesque murder BnB. Shouldn't that have tied into the theme or motive? People glamorizing all this real death ? Nope, like communism, it's just a red herring. It's not even a message that the writers and director are planning to burn down and erase the past with this movies motive.
Considering where they are , the writers should have taken more opportunities to poke fun at the Stu's alive fan theories. Have one of them list off multiple online theories as they walk the house. Each one more ridiculous than the next. "Abducted by Aliens!" "Great, that means we get a Stab in space" One of them responds :"In Space, No One Can Hear you Scream!" But then the last theory presented has a serious plausible nature. They speak of this as they find themselves standing before the tableau of where Stu "died" under the TV. Look at each other "Naaahh"
Here's what I would have liked to have seen happen. What we see in the trailer is a bit of a mislead. Playing into that idea of not trusting your eyes. Our two visitors, Scott & Madison, arrive. Since it's set up as a museum, have the dioramas lead them on a tour from room to room as they revisit iconic moments from previous movies. Maybe even slip in a piece of information that wasn't known at the time. Or theory. Perhaps using museum placards that say "Stu Macher was in the costume during this time of the night. While Billy Loomis was outside.." The placards are numbered, so it's leading them through the night. Recapping. At appropriate moments There are mannequins of Ghostface everywhere, at least one in each room, and on the floor, figures representing bodies of victims. The corpse mannequins are rather poorly executed. Causing our guests to make comments, some about the cheapness of it, others about the grimness of this all. "Real people died for those movies you love" "...Fetishizing real death because it was a favorite movie"
The boyfriend grabs a mask off a dummy, puts it up to his face and asks the girl, "Do you think you could survive Ghostface?" She laughs, rolls her eyes, and says a determined yes...turns to him dramatically with wicked smile"...and here's how I would do it"...we cut to her being chased by Ghostface through the Macher house...she's good, gets some kicks in, knocks Ghostface over...we see the images in the trailer ,her swinging to safety from the chandelier...boyfriend interrupts ...nah , you couldn't hold on that long...you'd slip with those skinny arms...and the killer would be waiting down below"...we see that clip....she reminds him of her extensive background in juvie gymnastics..."oh and these ...strong enough to pin your ass to the bed before if you remember" *flexes muscle*
At one point the tour should have directed them to the garage. They turn on a light where one of the animatronic Ghostface's starts shaking it's head no. Startling them. Where we expect to see a figure in the garage pet door, There's nothing.Garage Doors closed. the boyfriend tries to convince the girl to go crawl through the hole so he can take a picture of her. She refuses. Boyfriend presses the button ,the garage door doesn't even open. all through their walkthrough, The boyfriend keeps creepily asking the girl to pose as or with one of the bodies. She refuses. Mean glares when he is not looking. Clearly annoyed by and disgusted by it all. She says she is going to get her phone and bag from the car "I'll be right back" They share a glance and a little laugh. She exits. The boyfriend continues to follow the cards into another room when his phone rings. Its The VOICE. "What's your favorite scary movie?" "Cats: The Musical" he responds "Wanna Play a Game?" The Voice asks three questions, he gets the first two correct....but then misses the third one about when did Jason drown....the Voice tells him..." oh no...that's wrong.....you know what means....I'm afraid it's your time to die"....and then the voice changes....it's the runner of the Stab BnB " No, no..just kidding...everything alright Mr Mercer? Enjoying our special...Stab... at a Bnb." "Yes" "good good..be sure to leave us a good word online, we sure could use them to counteract all those trolls who left fake comments. We did manage to find a copy of the Stab porn parody you requested "Cream 3: Stabbed in the Butt" along with the other special items you requested. You'll find them in the bedroom upstairs. Enjoy your night"
The boyfriend enters the bedroom. Starts looking at the room, the things he requested. Puts in the VHS of the adult movie. Presses play.On the TV, a cheesy,shiny 80's style movie studio logo comes on for "Sunset Studios". He goes to read the placard by the bed. Expecting it to say something about this is where Sidney lost her virginity to Billy and broke the rules of a horror movie...but finds the message " This is where Scott was found stabbed repeatedly by Ghostface. He cried like a little bitch"
" What? *shouts out to her *HA HA Madison...very funny ...come her and I'll give you a stabbing you will never forget" Just then a Ghostface appears behind him...Scott turns to the sound of the floor creaking and replies " aww you read my Christmas list....does it vibrate? *indicates the knife"
The Ghostface stabs him...repeatedly....it's not a fake knife...and yes, as he falls back onto the bed and struggles to get away, the Ghostface does indeed stab him in the butt. Scott rolls over in pain, coughing blood and looks up at the mask...Ghostface, now straddling him. takes it off ... it's Madison..."You always were a dead fuck" they lock eyes ..Scott's suddenly go wide.....from behind Madison there appears another Ghostface...Madison hears the floors creak and turns just in time to see the figure slash out at her."What the fuc..." She manages to roll off the bed just out of the way, Getting a cut to her forehead which begins bleeding into her eyes. She gets up quickly and grabs a something to throw at the new Ghostface. Knocking the attacker onto the bed. She runs, The Ghostface in fast pursuit, cutting her off from the stairs. She tries to get by him by jumping over the railing and grabbing onto the chandelier to swing past him to the stairs...but as she does, Ghostface's reach is enough to slash her and make her react by turning her body, sending the chandelier spinning. as it turns, Ghostface continues to slash..her back,,,her side,,,her front. It rains blood down below. The blood trails down her face almost duplicate the design of the Ghostface mask with her mouth agape...and then her fingers slip and she falls to the floor.
We then see the Ghostface set fire to Macher house.
Walk out the front door and into the camera
Cut to black:
A scream!
Title Card !
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