Ice Nine Kills and Mckenna Grace’s ‘Twisting The Knife’ Slashes Onto the Scream 7 Soundtrack

Ice Nine Kills has teamed up with Scream 7 cast member Mckenna Grace for a modern single, “Twisting The Knife,” featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming horror film. The collaboration marks a significant moment for the metalcore band, officially entering the canon of the iconic Scream franchise.

A Collaboration Born From Mutual Admiration

Grace, known for her roles in The Handmaid’s Tale and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, will star in Scream 7, set to release on February 27th. The track came about after Ice Nine Kills learned of Grace’s appreciation for their music. She recorded her vocals in Spencer Charnas’s home studio, which notably houses a screen-used knife prop from the original Scream film.

Paying Homage to a Horror Legacy

Spencer Charnas, frontman of Ice Nine Kills, described “Twisting The Knife” as a tribute to Wes Craven and the Scream franchise, stating, “’Scream’ is baked into the DNA of who I am and of Ice Nine Kills—my love of horror, comedy, and the collision between the two.” He recalled being captivated by the meta-commentary on horror films within the Scream series when he first saw it in theaters. Charnas as well highlighted the band’s previous collaborations with other actors from the franchise, including Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, and Jamie Kennedy.

Grace on the Collaboration

Mckenna Grace expressed her enthusiasm for the project, saying, “Making this song was such a special experience for me. I am such a big INK fan and it was such an amazing opportunity to be able to play with a different style of music.” She also noted her inspiration from Amy Lee’s vocals and the desire to capture the essence of Scream and Sidney Prescott’s story, expressing gratitude to Kevin Williamson.

Scream 7 Amidst Controversy

The production of Scream 7 has faced challenges, including the departure of Melissa Barrera following social media posts supporting Palestine and Jenna Ortega citing scheduling conflicts. Neve Campbell, who sat out the previous installment due to pay disputes, has returned to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott after being offered the lead role following Barrera’s exit.

A Legacy of Meta-Horror

The Scream franchise is known for its self-aware approach to the horror genre. A review of 2023’s Scream VI by NME acknowledged the film’s meta-references, while noting that they had become somewhat tiresome in the latest installment. Despite this, the review praised the film’s overall enjoyment and bloody thrills.

Ice Nine Kills will also be appearing at Download Festival 2026 this summer.