‘Thanksgiving’ Just Proved Exactly Why the Horror Genre Needs Patrick Dempsey Back for ‘Scream 7’

Warning: The following article contains major spoilers for Thanks.

The moment the credits rolled after the pound-for-pound events of Eli Roth’s passion project Thanks, I knew I had just witnessed a cultural reset. Simply put, the movie is just a really fun slasher with gnarly visuals and gruesome gore. But my number one take away? The horror genre is a must Patrick Dempsey back for Scream 7.

Long before 2023’s Sexiest Man Alive portrayed the Sheriff of Plymouth in Roth’s slasher shows, Dempsey infamously portrayed Detective Mark Kindcaid in Wes Craven’s horror saga Scream 3. Far be it from me to automatically assume that the famous actor enjoys portraying law enforcement officers, but if I’m being honest here, I hope Dempsey sticks to his officer’s suit for the seventh time. Scream trip.

Much like his performance i Scream 3 as Kincaid, Dempsey brings a lot of fun to Roth’s latest outing, serving as the Sheriff of Plymouth – a Massachusetts town that is dealing with the aftermath of a massive Black Friday riot at a local supermarket. As the Sheriff, Dempsey is motivated and determined to uncover the identity of the masked assailant – which parallels his efforts to help Sidney Prescott uncover the newest Ghostface killer.

That’s right, the similarities between the long established Scream franchise and Thanks they are completely uncanny. Both are considered teenage slashers. Both are full of slasher-y fun, from inventive kills to outright killing at the hands of a crazed killer. I mean, even the official movie posters look alike.

Warning: Spoilers to follow.

The only difference in Thanks? Dempsey himself yes the killer. Motivated by the vicious murder of the woman he loves, who also happens to be married and carrying his child, Sheriff Dempsey Newlon slips off the deep end and begins targeting and killing everyone involved in Friday’s riot. Black that day. And you know what? It works.

Even as he portrays the “bad guy” who is hell-bent on unapologetic revenge, Dempsey absolutely shines in the role, emphasizing how Scream enthusiasts have known for years – it was born to be a horror film. If you look so small, this almost feels like it could be Scream another twist in another universe, only with Dempsey as the baddie instead of the love-crazed hero of the law exerting pressure on Neve Campbell Sidney.

Good man or bad man, it doesn’t matter in the end. Dempsey has enough visible acting ability that it would clearly benefit to have him back for the franchise’s seventh film. With rumors that Neve Campbell might return to life already, it makes total sense that Sidney and Mark would be back as a kickass married couple determined to put an end to Ghostface’s madness once and for all. I mean, we’ve already heard Mark mentioned in Scream (2022), so it doesn’t appear that his participation in the franchise is still canon.

And if we do get to see his long-awaited return, I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that he doesn’t get killed.