The slasher genre was forever changed with the 1996 release of Wes Craven's a fresh meta-filled take on horror films, but it also introduced one of the most memorable killers in the genre with Ghostface.
All four Scream films to date have featured the robbed, knife-wielding killer though it's always someone new hiding underneath the mask. This makes for a unique approach to the slasher killer trope and the look of Ghostface is unforgettable. Since many horror fans will likely be returning to this franchise as Halloween approaches, now seems like a good time to take a closer look at the infamous Ghostface.
White To Black
Though Ghostface had to compete with the iconic looks of movie killers like Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, the look of the character has now become iconic itself. However, there was originally one very big difference in the costume.
In order to look more like a ghost, the plan was to have the killer wear white robes. The idea was changed when the filmmakers started to worry the aesthetic might cause people to make a connection between the killer and the Ku Klux Klan.
The Voice
Though he is never actually seen on screen, actor Roger Jackson is one of the most important people responsible for bringing this killer to life. In all four films to date, Jackson has provided the voice of Ghostface as the killer taunts their victim on the phone.
Jackson does a great job of providing a normal yet mincing voice. When filming the first Scream, Jackson would actually be on the other end of the phone while Neve Campbell and Drew Barrymore were doing their scenes. However, Wes Craven insisted Jackson never meet the actors so their reaction to the voice would be genuine.
Objections To The Look
It's hard to imagine that this character who has become so popular and instantly recognizable was initially viewed as "idiotic" by some. During the early days of production, producer Bob Weinstein had seen some of the early footage of the killer and was less than impressed with the look.
Weinstein demanded that the filmmakers shoot some scenes with various other looks so he could make a decision that was best. They refused the request and told him to finish watching the opening sequence. After that, Weinstein didn't offer any more suggestions.
The Name
While the name Ghostface has become synonymous with the franchise's killer, the original script gave them no name. They were originally just referred to as a masked killer with no description of the look.
In the film, when Tatum is confronted by the killer, she is the first to call him Ghostface. But when Dewey brings the package costume from the store to the police station, the label refers to the costume of "Father Death."
Keeping The Identities Under Wraps
The whodunit aspect of the first film was so well done that it became harder to shock fans with the killer's true identity in the sequels. In Scream 2, that job became even harder when an extra leaked the script online.
While the leak made it necessary for the sequel to undergo massive rewrites, the identities of the killers were safe. The leaked script included a fake reveal while the true ending was kept a secret from even the actors until the day of filming.
Ghostface Poster
Though there were some initial disagreements about how the mask should look, there is no question it has now become the symbol of these films. It is now impossible to look at that mask and not be reminded of the Scream franchise. Oddly enough, it took the franchise a while to recognize the mask's marketing value.
It was not until the fourth film in the franchise when the mask was actually seen on the poster. The first film avoided it to keep the look secretive and the popularity of the original poster was copied in the first two sequels.
Inspirations For The Mask
Like all the other cinematic masked killers that came before, finding the right face for Ghostface was essential to the movie's success. As it turns out, there were several key inspirations that helped find the now-famous look.
Many people point to the "Scream" painting by Edvard Munch as an obvious influence. Other sources include the characters on the cover of the Pink Floyd album "The Wall" as well as ghostly characters from a Betty Boop cartoon.
Foreshadowing Mrs. Loomis
During the iconic opening sequence in the first film, Ghostface asks Casey a trivia question about horror movies. She incorrectly guesses that Jason Voorhees was the killer in Friday the 13th when in reality it was Jason's mother.
Interestingly enough, after Billy is revealed to be Ghostface in the first film, the sequel makes his mother the Ghostface, out for revenge for her son's death, much like Jason's mother. This seems to be an homage to the groundbreaking slasher film.
Scream 3's Original Plan
While Billy Loomis might have been considered the more prominent Ghostface, Matthew Lillard stole the show as Stu. Once the truth is revealed, Lillard's performance becomes gloriously unhinged and he became an audience favorite.
Given the popularity of the character, Stu was originally meant to make a return to the franchise in Scream 3. The original idea was that Stu is orchestrating a new group of high school Ghostfaces while in prison. But following the Columbine massacre, the idea of high school killers was changed, and Stu's return was axed.
On-Set Pranks
With four films to date, the Scream franchise is one of the few horror franchises to have made it this far with the same director and main cast in all the films. Part of the reason for this could be that everyone had such a good time making the movies.
On the set of Scream 4, Wes Craven started an on-set prank in which someone dressed up as Ghostface would pop out in scenes in which Ghostface was not meant to appear and give the actors a scare.
