Influencer Marketing and the PR Identity Crisis: A Review of Scream 7

Want to talk about films? Well, this is the right place! There is some controversy around the new rollout for Scream 7, directed by Kevin Williamson, which started showing in theaters this February. Let’s review how this affects PR strategies for influencer marketing. The franchise has a strong fan base which can be seen on various platforms: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc. Partnerships such as Reese’s x Scream or teaming up with Meta AI, allowing fans to insert themselves into the movie scenes, is a great marketing strategy. Both partnerships showcase how other brands/companies can act as an influencer to promote their products and new content. This strengthens engagement on all receiving ends for Reese’s, Meta AI and Scream 7 personality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwLnW1CsWB8

Some influencer marketing risks for the horror film include the following. With mixed reviews, some say Scream 7 was disappointing. This could be tied to cast departures, lack of promotional materials or information, etc. With negative commentary from audience members and possible spread of rumors, Scream 7 identity is greatly affected due to the lack of shaping the public perception. A prime example would be when Melissa Barrera was let go, following this was Jenna Ortega’s departure, leading to fan boycotts. Other issues stem from AI usage. The best way to strategically mitigate this great fall would be to address any mistakes made. Actively engaging into this conversation and listening to your fan base is important. Moving forward, the studio (Spyglass Media group) could reshape this conversation by being more transparent and also focus on new positives that Scream 7 has to offer.