Summary
While Christopher Landon was attached toScream 7as director in 2023, he left several months ago and Kevin Williamson took his place. Although it was exciting to learn thatKevin Williamson would directScream 7given how many of the franchise’s movies he has been involved in, it would have been cool to see what Landon would have done with the project. While fans can expect similar things from eachScreammovie, from Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) getting into everyone’s business and Ghostface killing people because of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell),
After writing several movies in theParanormal Activityfranchise,Christopher Landon wrote and directedHappy Death Day,Happy Death Day 2U, andFreaky. When Kevin Williamson directsScream 7, there are some ways that he can make the highly anticipated sequel in the popular horror franchise like Christopher Landon’s popular horror movies.
What Inspiration Should Scream 7 Director Kevin Williamson Take From Christopher Landon?
Kevin Williamson can be inspired byChristopher Landon’s light-hearted and fun approach to the horror genre. WhileFreakyis gorier thanHappy Death Dayand its sequel, Landon made sure that these three movies had a combination of character development and bloody moments. When directingScream 7, Kevin Williamson can take inspiration from Christopher Landon andmake sureScream 7is funny, creepy, and smart.
The strong characters in theScreamfranchise has always set it apart from other horror movies. Like themost memorable modern slasher movies,Screamalways has intelligent and unique characters. Sidney Prescott’s family background makes it a different kind of final girl since she has more emotional depth to her, and even the Ghostface killers are well developed since they are always hiding in plain sight. If Kevin Williamson’s direction ofScream 7takes inspiration from Christopher Landon’sHappy Death Dayfranchise andFreaky, then there will be a great combination of humor and smart characters.
Best of all, Landon’s movies have unique premises.Freakyis one of thebest horror movies of the 2020sbecause the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn) and teenager Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton) swap bodies, which is equally hilarious and terrifying.Happy Death DayandHappy Death Day 2Uare about Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) being terrorized by the Babyface killer and experiencing the day of her murder over and over again, likeGroundhog Day.Kevin Williamson can be inspired by Christopher Landon and makeScream 7surprisingby including some uniquecommentary on horror moviesand a Ghostface with a motive that hasn’t been seen before.
Christopher Landon and Kevin Williamson have similar writing styles, which is why either filmmaker would have been a great fit to directScream 7. As Landon toldThe AU Reviewabout makingFreaky:
“It was important that the characters were relatable and funny, I think it’s very disarming. I think people are drawn to that…if you’re able to make the audience laugh, it’s that much easier to set them up for a scare. I’ve always come from a place of character, I think that’s how you pull off the horror and the comedy.”
Landon continued:
“If you present your audience with a likeable lead character that they feel comfortable spending an hour-and-a-half, 2 hours with, you may kinda throw anything at them.”
What Was Kevin Williamson’s Directing Style In Teaching Mrs. Tingle?
Kevin Williamson directedTeaching Mrs. Tingle, the 1999 thrillerstarring Katie Holmes, Marissa Couglin, and Barry Watson as teenagers who kidnap their cruel history teacher (Helen Mirren). The movie is like theScreamfranchise and Williamson’s best-known TV seriesDawson’s Creekcombined. The script is clever and full of satire, and the tense moments between the main characters and Mrs. Tingle are genuinely unnerving.
From this movie, it’s possible to say that Williamson’s directing style is similar to Christopher Landon’s. Both filmmakers focus on character while ensuring there are some scary moments and some hilarious scenes, and their horror movies have some fun and light elements. Characters are always just as key as the scary situations they are in.
Teaching Mrs. Tinglehas some sentimental moments between the main characters, as Luke Churner and Leigh Ann Watson bond and develop feelings for each other.Christopher Landon’s horror movies also have some emotional moments.The best example of this is in his2023 Netflix movieWe Have A Ghostwhich is about the Presley family moving into a new house and discovering a friendly spirit (played by David Harbour). TheScreamfranchise does have some scenes when the characters connect with each other, like when Sidney and Gale finally became friends instead of enemies. Williamson can take inspiration from this part of Landon’s filmmaking style as well.
Scream
The Scream movie and TV franchise began with the release of the first film in 1996. Directed by horror master Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the deconstruction of slasher movies was an instant cultural, critical, and financial hit. Neve Campbell, who plays ongoing final girl Sidney Prescott, has become a horror icon in her own right, along with Ghostface, the only horror villain whose identity is always changing. Nearly three decades later, the Scream franchise shows no signs of slowing down.
