Scream 7 Created a Tatum Prescott Dilemma That the Sequel Has to Fix

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The latest installment in the Scream series, Scream 7, premiered in theaters on February 27, 2026. Although it performed well at the box office initially, the film faced significant controversy. A major issue stemmed from the removal of Melissa Barrera, who played a central character. Scream 7 was intended to continue the storyline of sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, but after Barrera was let go, many fans protested the film. With both Barrera and Jenna Ortega departing the franchise, and a complete overhaul of the script, Scream 7 faced numerous challenges.

The issues with the latest installment are noticeable in the final film. While Scream 7 isn’t a terrible slasher movie, it doesn’t quite measure up to the high standards set by the Scream franchise. The film tries to recapture the spirit of the original movies by bringing back Sidney Prescott, but it’s weighed down by a major problem: Sidney’s teenage daughter, Tatum. For Scream 8 to be successful, the filmmakers will need to significantly develop Tatum’s character.

Scream 7’s Tatum is a Slasher ClichĂ© in the Worst Way

Following the success of the Scream franchise, writer and director Kevin Williamson—known for his work on Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4—wanted to center the story again on Sidney Prescott. It had been a long time since Sidney was the primary target of a Ghostface attack. While she appeared in the 2022 Scream film, the last time she was directly targeted was in Scream 4, when her cousin Jill Roberts attempted to kill her and become the final girl.

So, by the time a potential Scream 7 happens, I’m hearing Sidney Prescott will have a few kids, and her oldest, a 17-year-old, will be named Tatum. It’s a really sweet nod to her late best friend, Tatum Riley, who, as a fan, I always felt was so important to Sidney. Apparently, Sidney still carries a lot of love and trust for her original Tatum, and wanted to honor her memory with her daughter’s name. It’s a touching detail that really connects back to the original film.

It’s obvious Scream 7 is trying to make Tatum the new central heroine, someone who can carry on her mother’s legacy. However, she lacks the charm and captivating presence needed to pull it off. Sadly, the script portrays her as a fairly typical horror character we’ve encountered many times before.

Tatum and her mother, Sidney, have a difficult relationship. Sidney is fiercely protective of Tatum because of her own past experiences. Tatum wishes Sidney would open up about what she’s been through and share more details, and she gets annoyed by Sidney’s tendency to always assume the worst.

What’s most frustrating about Tatum is that despite understanding everything her mother has gone through, she doesn’t seem to feel much sympathy for her. She misinterprets her mother’s quietness and protectiveness as being cold and controlling, without ever trying to understand the reasons behind her behavior. It often feels like Tatum is only concerned with how her mother’s experiences impact her own life.

This storyline feels overused in slasher films. We’ve seen similar strained mother-daughter relationships before, like in the 2018 Halloween movie with Laurie Strode and her family. Given how public Sidney Prescott’s life is – with the ‘Stab’ films and Gale Weathers’ books – it would have been compelling to see a warmer, closer bond between Sidney and her daughter.

Tatum Falls Flat as a Main Character in Scream 7

The potential storyline for Scream 7 – exploring Sidney Prescott’s history and how it impacts her children – isn’t a weak concept. Simply being Sidney’s daughter seems to automatically put her child, Tatum, in danger. However, Tatum begins the film as a fairly predictable horror character and doesn’t manage to evolve beyond that. While the movie attempts to show her growing stronger with Sidney’s guidance, this character development doesn’t feel convincing.

Despite the potential to become a strong, leading character – even the face of future films – Tatum ultimately feels underdeveloped. She comes across as supportive of Sidney rather than a fully realized character in her own right. Throughout the movie, she rarely acts independently, and even when she adapts to survive, it’s always with Sidney’s help. The film never shows her breaking away from her mother’s influence and learning to fend for herself.

Tatum doesn’t undergo a significant transformation throughout the movie, making her feel underdeveloped as a character. Unlike Sidney in the original Scream, who evolved from a shy person into a confident survivor, Tatum remains largely unchanged. She relies heavily on Sidney’s support, preventing her from truly growing on her own. Therefore, when she declares herself “Sidney Prescott’s daughter” at the end, it doesn’t feel genuinely earned.

Tatum goes through a tragedy mirroring her mother’s, but unlike Sidney, her character isn’t fully developed. This leaves her feeling incomplete – a significant character who unfortunately doesn’t make a strong impact. As she is now, Tatum simply wouldn’t resonate with audiences the way Sidney Prescott does, lacking the personality, growth, and compelling screen presence that fans expect.

The script for the next Scream movie needs to significantly improve Tatum’s character, making her more interesting and likeable. Either the film should fully develop her as a lead, continuing the legacy of her mother, or it should remove her from a central role. Whatever happens, the filmmakers can’t repeat the mistakes made with Tatum’s character in Scream 7.

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2026-03-02 07:07