If you need the Scream 7 ending explained, buckle up, because the finale is basically a pressure cooker that never lets the tension drop. Instead of relying on one last jump scare, the movie turns the final stretch into a full-on psychological trap, using the franchise’s history like ammunition. Familiar faces, familiar places, and familiar fears get repackaged into something meaner, with Sidney forced to relive the kind of nightmare she’s spent years trying to outgrow.

Spoiler warning: This breaks down the ending, the Ghostface reveals, and the motive.

Who is Ghostface in Scream 7?

There are three Ghostfaces connected to the spree:

• Jessica Bowden (Anna Camp), Sidney’s neighbor and the mastermind.
• Marco Davis (Ethan Embry), a staffer tied to the nearby psychiatric hospital.
• Karl Gibbs (Kraig Dane or Kraig Drake in some coverage), the first Ghostface unmasked earlier in the film.

Karl is revealed mid-movie, which is the trick that keeps you guessing until the real endgame pair steps out of the shadows.

What is Ghostface’s Motive?

Jessica’s motive is twisted “self-help” taken to a violent extreme. She’s been trapped in an abusive marriage, then reads Sidney’s autobiography and decides Sidney’s survival story is basically a blueprint: kill the monster and you get your life back. She murders her husband, gets away with it, and the obsession grows from there.

When Sidney goes into hiding during the events of Scream VI, Jessica interprets it as Sidney abandoning her “purpose.” That betrayal is what flips Jessica from fan to punisher.

Her end goal is not just to hurt Sidney. It’s to remake Sidney’s teenage daughter, Tatum, into a new final girl by recreating trauma and forcing a “Sidney 2.0” origin story.

Are the Cameos Real?

No. The returning legacy faces are part of the movie’s AI mind game. Marco is the tech brain behind the deepfakes, using video and voice manipulation to convince Sidney that Stu Macher is back.

The film also uses deepfake recreations of past characters to rattle Sidney, including Nancy Loomis, Roman Bridger, and Dewey.

How Does the Final Fight End?

The last stretch becomes a hostage showdown. Tatum is grabbed, Sidney is lured into the trap, and Mark Evans, Sidney’s husband, is attacked and stabbed but survives long enough to help in the final moments.

When it’s time to swing back, Tatum does not just hide behind Sidney. She fights. Sidney takes out Marco, and Jessica’s plan collapses as mother and daughter turn the tables and finish the job together.

Ready for Scream 8?

That’s the Scream 7 ending explained: three Ghostfaces, a deep fake campaign designed to warp what Sidney trusts, and a final act that turns into a straight-up survival test for her family. By the time the movie hits its last stretch, it’s clear the plan isn’t just to kill Sidney, it’s to break her credibility and sanity first. It’s a coordinated takedown of Sidney’s reality, followed by a payoff where mother and daughter survive as a unit, not as a lone final girl forced to crawl out of the wreckage by herself.

Want more Scream 7 coverage and spoilers, like Who are the Killers in Scream 7? Head over to our Scream 7 hub for more.