Original ‘Scream 7’ Director Reveals Why He Quit the Film

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Christopher Landon exited Scream 7 because he was receiving death threats.

Initially slated to lead the forthcoming horror movie, the 50-year-old director stepped away from the project in December 2023 following a series of intimidating communications he received, after actress Melissa Barrera, aged 34, posted content on social media about the Israel-Palestine conflict that were perceived as antisemitic.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, he shared: “I received numerous death threats against me and my family, some even reaching the point that the FBI became involved. I received messages stating, ‘I will track down your children and kill them because you support child murder.’ … Due to the severity and fear-inducing nature of these threats, security personnel at various studios and the FBI needed to assess them.

In a challenging setting, Landon chose not to dismiss Barrera. It was actually Spyglass Media who let Barrera go from the film back in November 2023. The director emphasized that he had no influence over the circumstances at all.

He stated: “I didn’t dismiss her. Many believe I might have played a role, but it was not my action. I had no power over the situation whatsoever. I think in an environment where people may not fully grasp how Hollywood operates and its structure, the public seemed to point fingers at me, as if I were the one pulling the strings. And so, they attacked, ready with their ‘knives out’.

The director of “Happy Death Day” found it difficult to continue working on the project after experiencing excessive harassment due to the Barrera controversy, despite Spyglass Media wanting him to stay involved.

He clarified: “They encouraged me to carry on. Essentially, they told me I could start again and find a solution. However, the level of mistreatment I experienced made me decide that I wasn’t willing to invest any piece of myself into that situation.

To be frank, I found it unfulfilling. Instead, I prefer to channel my energy towards a place that values and respects me. The hostility and disrespect were a major turn-off, and it dampened my enthusiasm for pursuing it any further.

Following his departure, Kevin Williamson – the screenwriter of the initial “Scream” film – was subsequently hired to direct the production. However, it’s important to note that Landon underscored that there was no ill-feeling or resentment towards the director.

He expressed: “There’s absolutely no bitterness. What other choice is there but to move on? If you dwell, they have the victory… I hope ‘Scream’ thrives. Kevin likely created a fantastic film, given his expertise. It’s bound to be amazing.

The 10 Worst Horror Movies of the Past 10 Years (2015-2024)

The Bye Bye Man (2017)

In a nutshell, “The Bye Bye Man” is a horror film that can’t be escaped whether it’s mentioned in conversation or found in any container. Jennifer Kent’s chilling horror movie “The Babadook” inspired numerous imitators, with “The Bye Bye Man” being one of the most memorable recent examples. This movie, however, falls short due to its unscary nature, silly title, and implausible plot. Piggybacking on the popularity of “tulpa” stories — horror tales about malevolent figures that become more powerful when you think about them — “The Bye Bye Man” presents a villain whose very name drives people to commit murder. While it had potential with this premise, the movie ultimately feels like skimming through mediocre horror stories found on Reddit.

Death Note (2017)

Translating the given text into a more natural and easy-to-read manner:

Live-action versions of anime series are much like live-action adaptations of popular video games – when they’re done well, they’re fantastic, but often they fall short. A prime example of this trend is Netflix’s “Death Note,” which attempted to compress 12 volumes of a dark murder mystery manga into less than two hours while simultaneously transforming all the principal characters into Americans in an overused instance of whitewashing. The character Light Yagami was renamed “Light Turner,” played by Nat Wolff, who portrayed a Seattle high school student discovering the Death Note, a notebook controlled by a demon that kills anyone whose name is written within it, placing him squarely under the watchful eye of the world’s most peculiar detective L (LaKeith Stanfield). Willem Dafoe lent his voice to Ryuk, the shinigami death god, so at least there was some improvement in that department.

Slender Man (2018)

The rise of online creepypastas was largely fueled by the character known as Slenderman – a tall, faceless entity donning a dark suit, exerting power over young people and causing them to lose their sanity, leading to violent acts. This figure inspired numerous media creations, such as the webseries “Marble Hornets,” the video game “Slender,” and the documentary “Beware the Slenderman” about a near-fatal stabbing of a young girl. In 2018, an unimpressive adaptation of this meme was released, with “Slender Man” filling the void left by other projects.

The film follows a group of girls who encounter the creature after an ill-fated effort to communicate with it, resulting in a series of expected scares and a rather humorous conclusion. By the time the movie hit theaters, the meme was already outdated, making “Slender Man” the final blow to Slenderman’s legacy.

The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019)

In an audacious move, the film “The Haunting of Sharon Tate” daringly fictionalizes one of history’s most infamous murders in a manner that is exploitative and tedious. The movie centers around Hilary Duff as Sharon Tate, who, just days before her tragic demise, feels she is experiencing premonitions of her own murder and becomes convinced that the Manson family is after her. This leads to an unsettling reimagining of Sharon Tate’s final days, which is as puzzling as it is offensive, culminating in a particularly sour twist at the end. Fortunately, Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” from the same year provides a more pleasant resolution for Sharon Tate and her companions.

In this version, I aimed to maintain the original structure while using simpler, more conversational language that is easy to understand.

Antebellum (2020)

Discussing questionable choices in filmmaking, let’s address the horror movie “Antebellum,” starring Janelle Monáe as a character who is abducted and forced to work as a slave on a plantation during the American Civil War. Released amidst a year of a global pandemic and shortly following the Black Lives Matter protests, this film faced significant challenges in public perception. Its shocking twist left many viewers feeling uncomfortable, which was further exacerbated by its plot twists that might require reading the Wikipedia synopsis for full understanding.

The Turning (2020)

Henry James’ chilling gothic horror novel, titled “The Turn of the Screw“, which revolves around a governess who believes that spirits are tormenting a pair of children, has been reimagined numerous times. The most successful adaptations include the 1961 film “The Innocents” and Mike Flanagan’s miniseries “The Haunting of Bly Manor“. Unfortunately, the movie “The Turning“, initially intended as Steven Spielberg’s comeback to horror, ended up being more style over substance. It fell short in capturing the haunting ambiance of the novel or the atmospheric tone suggested by its indie rock/dream pop soundtrack. This left both fans of Henry James and Mitski disappointed.

Halloween Ends (2022)

In a surprising turn of events, the modern Halloween trilogy, which began strongly with 2018’s Halloween, seemed to lose its momentum in the subsequent films. Both Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends fell short of expectations, with the former delivering the questionable slogan “Evil dies tonight.” Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out to be the case!

The final installment, Halloween Ends, unfortunately veers away from the main focus on Michael Myers. Instead, it delves into Laurie Strode’s troubled memoir deal and a new antagonist, a local boy who has been tainted by Michael Myers’ evil influence. This boy embarks on his own killing spree. The Halloween series is known for its complexity and occasional bizarre entries that attempt to rework the original material. However, Halloween Ends barely seems connected to this legendary horror franchise at all.

They/Them (2022)

The film “They/Them” – often pronounced as “they slash them” – is a comedic yet chilling slasher set at an LGBT conversion camp. The movie becomes particularly memorable due to an ongoing scene where all the attendees gather for a heartfelt rendition of Pink’s dance ballad “Perfect.” Although it aims to be a darkly humorous slasher about a camp where the counselors are brutally killed by an unknown assailant, it maintains a careful balance and doesn’t fully commit to either serious or absurd elements. Consequently, the tone fluctuates significantly, combining seriousness with silliness, ultimately leading to a rather disappointing ending.

Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)

It’s disappointing when a cherished children’s property is twisted for shock value, as Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey does not convince me otherwise about public domain horror films of its kind. When Christopher Robin left the Hundred Acre Wood to attend college, his toy companions became savage and began cannibalism, turning Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet into bloodthirsty serial killers who seek to murder anyone venturing into their woods. The concept is somewhat humorous, but the film doesn’t capitalize on it effectively, with excessive gore feeling more exhausting than enjoyable.

The Crow (2024)

Few people were eager for a reboot of “The Crow,” especially its devoted followers, but the 2024 adaptation surpassed everyone’s expectations in terms of disappointing the audience. The filmmakers aimed to flesh out Eric Draven’s tragic lover Shelly beyond the dead girlfriend stereotype; however, they fell short on almost every count. This dark superhero reboot is a dull and overly dramatic retelling of a familiar tale, filled with convoluted plot twists and an oppressive atmosphere. Given the poor quality of this rendition, it’s astonishing that the original movie, burdened by tragedy as it was, turned out to be as good as it was.

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2025-04-10 16:24