Scream 7 Needs To Drop One Aspect Of The Opening Sequence

Highlights

The opening kill scene in Scream movies traditionally involves a menacing phone call from Ghostface.
Scream 7 needs to innovate by ditching the phone call, using new stalking methods like social media or surprise attacks.
Kevin Williamson’s original idea for Scream 4’s opening sequence could be incorporated in Scream 7 for a fresh approach.

Scream 7 is gearing up to begin shooting sometime this year, with Gus Busick’s script already written, and Neve Campbell signed on to reprise her iconic role of Sidney Prescott, with the production on the lookout for newcomers to join the cast as Ghostface’s next victims. One of the key aspects of a Scream movie is the opening kill scene, which sets the precedent for the rest of the movie, and the upcoming sequel needs to do something different that doesn’t involve a phone call from Ghostface.

Kevin Williamson will direct Scream 7, with Courteney Cox and Patrick Dempsey rumored to return as Gale Weathers and Mark Kincaid respectively. Fans are eager to find out who else will join the cast, with a special interest in who will be Ghostface’s first victim(s) in the opening sequence. Drew Barrymore famously played Casey Becker in the opening scene of the original Scream, and she was brutally killed by Ghostface after being taunted by him over the phone.

A phone call from Ghostface has featured in most opening sequences

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When a phone rings in a Scream movie, it more often than not ends in a character being mercilessly killed by Ghostface. The famous voice changer that masks the identity of the killer is voiced by Roger L. Jackson, and he has provided his dulcet tones to every Scream movie thus far, and he is likely to lend his voice again for Scream 7 as Ghostface embarks on more vindictive taunting over the phone with his future victims.

The first sounds the audience hears in Scream is the landline phone ringing, before Casey Becker answers, and is tested on her horror movie knowledge, in order to save her boyfriend Steven Orth’s life. It all proves to be in vain, as he is killed, followed by Casey’s brutal death while clinging on to the phone, before Ghostface hangs up.

Only Scream 2 has ditched the opening phone call so far

Scream 2 chose to ditch the phone call altogether, as Maureen Evans (Jada Pinkett) and Phil Stevens (Omar Epps) were killed by Ghostface in a packed out movie theater on the opening night of the release of part one in the Stab franchise, (the movie based on the events in Woodsboro, California the previous year). Maureen dies as the moviegoers watch Heather Graham’s Casey Becker stalked on the phone and killed in the movie.

Each Scream sequel thereafter has returned to the phone call in the opening kill sequence, with different variations of it keeping it relatively fresh, but Scream 2‘s dropping of the phone call arguably remains the strongest opening sequence out of all the sequels. Scream set the bar high with Casey Becker’s taunting over the phone, and it’s time the franchise accepted that this phone call will never be surpassed, and it’s time to do something different in the opening sequence of Scream 7.

Opening Sequence Phone Calls in Scream movies

Scream

Casey Becker gets tested on her horror movie trivia before Ghostface stabs her to death, and she is found hanging from a tree by her parents.

Scream 3

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Cotton Weary initially thinks he’s talking with a fan of his talk show, 100% Cotton, before the voice changer kicks in, and it’s Ghostface telling him he’s about to kill Cotton’s girlfriend, Christine. He races home to save her, but he is stabbed in the chest by the killer and dies, along with Christine.

Scream 4

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Jenny Randall receives a call from Ghostface, after watching one of the Stab movies with her friend, Marnie Cooper. She is then chased by Ghostface through her house and crushed under the garage door, before being stabbed to death.

Scream (2022)

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Tara Carpenter is tested by Ghostface on her knowledge of the Stab movies, before he forces his way into her home and stabs her repeatedly. But in a twist to the normal proceedings, Tara survives the attack, and the rest of the movie, when her sister, Sam, returns to protect her.

Scream 6

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Film Studies professor, Laura Crane thinks she’s preparing for a date, but ends up receiving a phone call telling her to make her way towards an alleyway, where the voice changer is activated, and she speaks with Ghostface, before he appears out of nowhere and stabs her to death.

Scream 7 needs to come up with something different in the opening scene

Scream 7
Starring	Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox (rumored), Patrick Dempsey (rumored)
Written By	Guy Busick
Directed By	Kevin Williamson

Scream 7 will see Ghostface stalk a new set of unfortunate victims, alongside the original final girl, Sidney Prescott, but it would be a good idea if the killer found new ways to stalk his prey, rather than call them up for a creepy chat, before killing them. Of course, Ghostface needs to call Sidney and utter that famous line ‘Hello Sidney’ at some point in Scream 7, but the opening sequence should opt for a different form of stalking that doesn’t involve a phone call.

Technology has moved on significantly in the nearly thirty years since the first Scream hit theaters, but Ghostface still insists on using a phone to primarily stalk his victims. Scream 7 could see the iconic killer finally get a fake Facebook account, or maybe stalk his opening victim using their X feed or maybe even Instagram. Or he could use old school methods and attack his victim without warning, and embark on a much-needed chase scene in Scream 7.

Kevin Williamson’s scrapped plans for the opening sequence of Scream 4, was to have Sidney Prescott being stalked by the Ghostface killer, and in a plot twist, she was to survive and kill Ghostface and reveal his identity, only for the killer’s accomplice to hunt her down for the rest of the movie. A variation on this idea would work well for Scream 7, and with Williamson on board to direct, there’s a possibility Sidney’s rumored story has found its way into Guy Busick’s script. Either way, an original introduction to Scream 7‘s Ghostface that doesn’t involve him uttering threats over the phone would be welcomed.