Summary
Thehorrorgenre has had countless iconic villains, from the brutally violent Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) in theSawfranchise to the completely evilLeatherface inThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I appreciate the legacy of the unnerving Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) inPsycho, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in the twisty thrillerThe Silence of the Lambs, and the silent killer Michael Myers inHalloween. But in my mind,no one compares to Ghostface inScream.
Whether motivated bygetting even with final girl Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell)for perceived slightsor looking for celebrity, Ghostface is always a highlight of everyScreammovie. Now thatScream 7will be in theaters in less than one year, I would be happy ifthe movie did something completely different with Ghostface.
What If Scream 7 Revealed Ghostface In The Opening Scene?
I think it would be coolifScream 7showed audiences Ghostface’s identity in the opening sequence. At first, it seemed like this is whatScream 6did. However, the upcoming sequelneeds an even more exciting opening scene thanScream 6, which features a Ghostface fake-out. Audiences think Jason Carvey (Tony Revolori) is the killer since he murders Laura (Samara Weaving) when they go on a date. When Ghostface murders Jason, audiences realize the truth:there is another Ghostface out there, or possibly a few Ghostfaces.
I would love to see Sidney Prescott remove Ghostface’s mask and gasp in shock at who it is. Then,the rest ofScream 7could be about the events leading up to that big moment. After being hunted by killers for so many years, it’s time for Sidney to fully step into her power. I look forward to seeingScream 7’s new settingof Pine Grove, Indiana and I also can’t wait to be reunited with past characters like Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown). However, I don’t want to see anotherScreammovie where Sidney is in the dark about Ghostface’s identity. I think by now, she has enough experience and knowledge to be able to crack this case.
On the one hand, I know that the Ghostface reveal is a significant part of eachScreammovie and that the films follow a certain pattern. This is whyso many modern slasher moviesare entertaining. Audiences like knowing what’s coming next since it feels familiar. But on the other hand, I think most fans would be happy to see something unique this time. One of the biggest criticisms is thatseveral Ghostface reveals feel like the same thing over and over again. After all, how many times can a killer say they want to go viral or get revenge? If Ghostface were revealed right away, I would think that was a new, creative idea, and I wouldn’t be upset if their motive wasn’t particularly unique.
Although fans areconcerned aboutScream 7’s huge cast, I think it’s exciting that it’s not clear who the new Ghostface is. I’m not sure if Ghostface is part of Sidney’s life or if she has never seen them before. But either way, I think this twist could work well andsurprise audiences, especially eagle-eyed slasher fans who have seen it all.
What Have The Scream Filmmakers Said About Ghostface?
TheScreamfilmmakers have shared their thoughts on the iconic horror villain over the years, and it’s particularly interesting to hear Kevin Williamson’s take since he wrote the firstScreammovie. In 2022, Williamson gave an interview toDread Centralandtalked aboutthe motives of the first two Ghostfaces, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher’s (Matthew Lillard). He said:
“It’s the motive, the ‘why’ of it all, which is what is so terrifying about this stuff. The original motive behindScreamwas that it was fun. And then the studio felt like they really needed a motive. So we went back and added the motive.”
Horror fans were interested to seethe direction Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett would takeScream (2022)andScream 6. The directors gave an interview toVarietyin 2023 and Gillett talked about the plan for Ghostface inScream 6. He said:
“The reveal was always three. Then the debate is always, what is the criteria for being a Ghostface? You have to wear the mask, make a phone call, kill somebody in the costume. But then does that make Sidney a Ghostface in the first movie? It’s a fun debate to have.”
