Scream owes much of its lasting appeal to the original movie’s memorable third-act twist regarding Ghostface’s identity reveal, although one throwaway line almost gave it away in the very first scene. The 1996 film follows Sidney Prescott, a teen who finds herself and a group of her friends pursued by a knife-wielding killer in a Ghostface mask. While the heroes attempt to parse out who the killer is, the original Scream’s ending reveals that there isn’t just one killer, but two: Sidney’s boyfriend, Billy Loomis, and his friend Stu Macher.
Every Scream movie after the first installment lives in its shadow, striving to match the effectiveness of its scares, the sharpness of its meta-commentary, and the payoff of its Ghostface reveals. Each film puts its own twist on the multiple-killers convention, mixing up motivations, connections, and even the number. However, no Scream movie has yet succeeded in matching the satisfaction of the first outing’s Ghostface reveal. A rewatch of the 1996 Scream reveals a brilliant treasure trove of hints and teases indicating the truth, with screenwriter Kevin Williamson even hiding a bold clue in the movie’s opening scene.
One Ghostface Moment Only Works If There Are Two Killers
The “multiple killers” concept is now a familiar Scream trope, one that recurs in nearly every installment. However, it was a brilliant and unexpected twist to the first Scream. The film’s whodunnit mystery repeatedly points to Billy Loomis, only for him to be alibied out by appearances from the killer. The movie withholds the reveal that there are two killers until the film’s final moments. However, there are many clues pointing to that concept, including a major hint in the original Scream’s iconic opening scene.
As the killer speaks with Casey Becker on the phone, he tells her to guess whether he is behind her front door or her patio door, claiming that if she guesses correctly, she’ll live. Of course, the killer has no intention of letting Casey live; it’s simply another way of taunting her. The only way the killer would pose the question is if there is no right answer. In other words, there must be two killers, one covering each door. Once the viewer has the knowledge that there are two killers, it quickly becomes clear that Billy Loomis and Stu Macher must be behind the Ghostface mask.
The Original Scream’s Mystery Plays Fair With Its Audience
The whodunnit element of the Scream franchise has always been one of its greatest charms. However, it’s only the first Scream film that plays entirely fair with its murder mystery. Kevin Williamson’s sharp script lays out all the clues the viewer needs to deduce the identity of the killer(s), leading to the best and most satisfying Ghostface reveal in the Scream franchise. Later films often fall flat in this department, concealing facts in order to ensure a surprising ending. Yet the murder mystery is a vital component of the original Scream’s success, one which still yields rewarding details nearly three decades later.
