Wes Craven’s 1996 slasher “Scream” initially functioned as a satire in addition to a horror film. By 1996, the vastly fashionable wave of Eighties slashers was over, and Craven put the nail within the coffin, making a slasher film about children who have been followers of slasher films. It was revolutionary on the time and proved to be terrifically fashionable. Certainly, it spawned a sequel that, within the spirit of the unique, mocked the notion of drained slasher film sequels.
After all, in 2026, “Scream” will likely be 30 years outdated, and audiences will see the discharge of Kevin Williamson’s “Scream 7.” The “Scream” movie series is now so long in the tooth that it outlasted the unique slasher development that it satirized. What is going to the self-aware commentary be in 2026? It is onerous to say. From the likes of 2022’s legacy sequel “Scream” and 2023’s “Scream VI,” the franchise had settled comfortably into the hammock of legacy. Certainly, these movies are all about older “Scream” characters persevering with to outlive assaults from random slashers in a Ghostface masks. “Scream VI” actually incorporates a scene the place artifacts from the primary “Scream” are stored beneath glass.
“Scream 7,” as seen in its trailer, will prolong that legacy preservation with a scene the place folks hire the unique “Scream” home from Airbnb. Sure, it seems that within the “Scream” universe, this home — the setting of the third act of the unique “Scream” — has been changed into a celebration rental. And, in true “Scream” style, this all comes with a enjoyable meta-narrative wrinkle. Evidently Airbnb, as described on its website, really rented the “Scream” home in 2021. Sure, the real-life home in Tomales, California, the place Craven shot the film, was obtainable for one in every of three nights to any curious takers.
Airbnb really rented out the Scream home, one thing that occurs in Scream 7
Followers of “Scream” (1996) will know that the movie’s climax takes place throughout a horror film occasion, attended by all of the native youngsters. Stu (Matthew Lillard) is the host and he is … properly, to keep away from spoilers, I will say that Stu is instrumental within the motion of the movie. His notoriety, it appears, unfold all through the city of Woodsboro, California (the fictional metropolis the place “Scream” takes place), within the years that adopted, and by the occasions of “Scream 7,” his dwelling has been transformed into an Airbnb. That is becoming for the legacy-bent of the latter-day “Scream” sequels.
In actual life, Stu’s home is a real-life dwelling situated at 3871 Tomales Petaluma Street within the city of Tomales, California. Tomales is in Marin County (the seat of Skywalker Ranch) about half-hour west of Santa Rosa and about an hour-and-a-half north of San Francisco. The home was rented out for under one in every of three nights as a part of a twenty fifth anniversary “Scream” celebration. The nights in query have been October 27, 29, and 31, 2021. And what fan would not need to have a celebration within the very home the place so many fictional murders passed off? So as to add to the expertise, actor David Arquette was employed to reprise his function as Dewey Riley, the put-upon deputy/sheriff in a number of “Scream” movies. Dewey would stroll renters by means of the home and declare that he was dedicated to defending them from any Ghostface killers. In line with the Airbnb website, the home additionally sported the stab-holes within the partitions the place the “Scream” assaults device place. I respect that focus to element.
The home even had a brand new stained-glass window of Ghostface, and there was ample alternative to purchase “Scream” merch.
The actual-life Scream home grew to become the fictional Stab home
The night would climax with a four-film “Scream” marathon, as 2022’s “Scream” hadn’t but been launched when this publicity stunt was conceived. The flicks have been even proven on VHS to copy the genuine 1996 home-viewing expertise. In the meantime, the home itself was solely stocked with snacks that have been obtainable in 1996, together with some Jiffy-Pop, a confection that is seen within the opening scene of the unique “Scream.” Maybe most amusingly of all, friends got entry to a personal cellphone line that allowed them to name Ghostface (who would additionally name friends and make playful threats).
There was no contest or sweepstakes concerned. It was only a enjoyable little bit of promotion.
Out right here in the actual world, this appears like a blast, and little doubt the Airbnb booked up in seconds. On this planet of “Scream,” nonetheless, this could be imminently insensitive. The characters in “Scream 7” are basically staying at a crass true-crime Airbnb. The tape outlines of the place the characters have been murdered stay on the ground, and the renters are inspired to put down within them and take photos. It is also value remembering that, by the point “Scream 7” picks up within the “Scream” universe, the Woodsboro murders have been tailored right into a collection of crass slasher films often known as the “Stab” franchise. As such, there could be curious cinephiles, even within the “Scream” films, who would need to go to this home as a vacationer vacation spot. You may even see “Stab” film posters on the partitions of the home.
“Scream 7” is due in theaters on February 27, 2026.
