We see two connected sequences from “Stab 7” in “Scream 4,” and together they create one of the franchise’s most ridiculous and memorable movie-within-a-movie fake-outs.

Released in 2010, “Stab 7” continued the franchise’s increasingly self-aware original-story era. According to StabMovies.com, the film was directed by Max Feinberg, written by Will Kennison, scored by Marco Beltrami, and produced by Don Crosby, Bill Birch, Floyd Malone, and Fred Rifkin. The listed cast includes Elizabeth Banks as Gale Weathers, David Schwimmer as Dewey Riley, Lucy Hale as Sherrie, Shenae Grimes as Trudie, Kristen Bell as Chloe, Anna Paquin as Rachel, Sarah Michelle Gellar in an unknown role, and Roger Jackson as Ghost Face.

“Stab 7” is based on Gale Weathers’ book “Knife of the Hunter,” although the subtitle was never shown on screen in the “Scream” films, on posters, or on official in-universe DVD cases. It was added on fan-created DVD covers, so it may not actually be part of the film’s official title. The original title of both the book and movie was reportedly “Under the Mask” before being changed to “Knife of the Hunter.”

The first “Stab 7” sequence features Sherrie and Trudie, played by Lucy Hale and Shenae Grimes. The two friends are about to watch “Saw IV” when they receive simultaneous phone calls and Facebook messages from Ghostface. Ghostface then appears and murders them, immediately revealing that there are two killers.

The second “Stab 7” sequence features Chloe and Rachel, played by Kristen Bell and Anna Paquin. Chloe and Rachel are watching the Sherrie and Trudie scene and offering snarky commentary about the predictability of horror films when Chloe suddenly stabs Rachel in the gut with a knife. Which, honestly, makes her point pretty efficiently. Rachel definitely did not see that coming.

There has been some debate over whether the Sherrie and Trudie scene is the actual opening of “Stab 6” or the version of “Stab 6” being shown inside “Stab 7.” Confusing, I know. But why would audiences sit through a six-minute opening scene they had already watched in the previous movie unless this was a remade version, with different actresses playing the characters from the “real events” of “Stab 6”?

That is why I think the Sherrie and Trudie sequence is actually the in-universe version of “Stab 6” as presented inside “Stab 7.” In other words, we are not necessarily watching the real “Stab 6.” We may be watching “Stab 7” showing us its own movie-within-a-movie version of “Stab 6.” Then, when Chloe kills Rachel, we are pulled into the next layer of “Stab 7” itself. Yes, the mirror maze has mirrors now.

“Stab 7” was the last film in the main “Stab” franchise before the long gap leading into the 2021 reboot, and it was also the final entry to remain true to the original film’s murder-mystery whodunnit format.

No actual storyline has ever been revealed in the “Scream” films for “Stab 7,” but here is the StabMovies.com version of the story:

“Stab 7” picks up right where “Stab 6” left off. When 18-year-old Chloe, played by Kristen Bell, murders her best friend, the town puts her on trial for the previous Ghost Face killings. Chloe admits to the murders, but also reveals that she had a mysterious partner.

As Chloe sits awaiting trial, her partner begins targeting the entire town of Woodsboro. With no clear pattern and no obvious suspects, Gale, played by Elizabeth Banks, and Dewey, played by David Schwimmer, must solve the case the old-fashioned way.

All bets are off in the final showdown.