The horror genre is filled with iconic and unforgettable killers from a few different franchises that welcomed a new masked slasher in 1996 when Ghostface made his debut in Scream. While Ghostface only wore a simple Halloween mask and costume, they quickly became a favorite in a movie series that celebrated horror movie fans.
However, the Scream movies also contain an element of mystery regarding who is wearing the mask of Ghostface, which has resulted in quite a few different killers who have used the identity over the years. Today we'll explore everyone who has used the identity of Ghostface to determine which version of the masked killer was the most effective or had the biggest impact on the role.
8 Beth and Jay Elliot Revived The Role Of Ghostface For TV's Scream: Resurrection
The third season of the TV adaptation was titled Scream: Resurrection because it featured the debut of Ghostface on the series, which had focused on a different masked killer in the first two seasons. Scream: Resurrection saw a group of students in Atlanta who called themselves the Deadfast Club targeted by Ghostface, who also took on another killer known as the Hook Man.
This version of Ghostface was revealed to be Jay Elliot and Deadfast Club member Beth, who had teamed up as the killer for different reasons. Jay wanted to get revenge on his younger brother for taking on the identity of his murdered twin. Beth hoped to highlight the group's hypocrisy while also receiving the fame that came with Ghostface, which ultimately caused her to turn on Jay.
7 Sidney Prescott's Half-Brother Roman Bridger Had A Murderous Family Grudge
2000's Scream 3 was the only movie to feature a solo masked killer when it was revealed that the director of the fictional Stab 3, Roman Bridger, was also the one who had been killing off his cast while he targeted Sidney and her friends. Over the course of the movie, Bridger also revealed that he was the illegitimate son of Sidney's mother Maureen and film producer John Milton.
Milton's assault on Maureen that led to his birth caused Roman to grow up resenting his mother, and he was responsible for turning the original Ghostface killer Billy Loomis onto his murderous path. However, Bridger's plans were just a bit too convoluted and his kills were over-the-top action movie-inspired spectacles instead of Ghostface's usual MO.
6 Debbie Salt/Mrs. Loomis Only Used The Ghostface Identity To Get Revenge For Her Son
The character of amateur news reporter Debbie Salt was introduced in 1997's Scream 2 as a fan of Gale Weathers who kept inserting herself in the story hoping to learn more from her idol. However, it was soon revealed that Salt was actually Mrs. Loomis, the mother of the original Ghostface who was driven to follow in her son's footsteps to get revenge for his death.
She contacted her partner and planned out the deaths at Windsor College to somewhat mirror the original murders from Woodsboro, all in an attempt to get back at Sidney for killing her son Billy. While a lot of the Ghostface killers were fueled by revenge, it was also clear that Mrs. Loomis was as unhinged as her son.
5 Charlie Walker Was Inspired To Become Ghostface So He Could Film The Murders
2011's Scream 4 introduced young Charlie Walker as the president of the Cinema Club with a love of horror movies, especially the Stab franchise of films that were based on the events that occurred within the Scream movies. Walker was manipulated by the main Ghostface through a romantic relationship and the chance to film his own Stab movie by documenting their kills.
Walker's character was basically Scream 4's Randy Meeks turned bad who, using his knowledge of the original Woodsboro murders to help set up the new round of killings as an homage. However, his misguided motivation and ultimate fate when he was betrayed by his partner lower his overall standing among the other Ghostface killers.
4 Mickey Altieri Was Attracted To The Fame Of Being A Serial Killer Like Ghostface
Mrs. Loomis' partner in Scream 2 as Ghostface was film student Mickey Altieri, who was close friends with Sidney's boyfriend. he had allied with Mrs. Loomis and agreed to help her bring back Ghostface in exchange for college tuition and the credit for the Windsor College massacre. Mickey was attracted to the fame of being a serial killer, especially when it came to the trial.
Mickey's passion for his role and his unique motivations for a high-profile trial after the killings made him stand out among the other Ghostface killers, though he fared as well as most of the accomplices when he was betrayed by Mrs. Loomis and ultimately killed.
3 Stu Macher Was A Horror Fanatic Who Followed His Best Friend's Murderous Plans
The original Scream introduced the reveal that the Ghostface killer was actually two people working together, with teens Billy Loomis and Stu Macher conspiring to kill Maureen Prescott before beginning their murder spree in Woodsboro.
Stu Macher was a horror movie fanatic who enjoyed playing the role of Ghostface, which he was able to take revenge of his own on his ex Casey and her new boyfriend Steve. Stu was a follower through and through, though he did have a unique passion for the role that has made him one of the most memorable Ghostface killers.
2 Jill Roberts Wanted To Get Out From Her Cousin's Shadow With 15 Minutes Of Fame
Scream 4 took place on the 15th anniversary of the original Woodsboro massacre, which inspired Jill Roberts and her accomplice Charlie Walker to celebrate by creating their own place in Ghostface's legacy. Roberts was the young cousin of Sidney Prescott who had lived in the shadow of her more famous family member for years.
She instigated a secret relationship with Charlie Walker and made plans to resume the Ghostface killings when her cousin Sidney returned to town. Jill came very close to succeeding in her plans and tricking everyone into thinking she was the heroic sole survivor of the killings, temporarily earning the fame she craved before she was stopped by her cousin.
1 Billy Loomis Wanted To Take Revenge Against The Prescotts For His Broken Family
The best Ghostface in the Scream franchise is still the original, as Billy Loomis and his best friend Stu developed the tactics and style of the masked killer that would be emulated by every other killer. However, while Stu was motivated by his own loyalty to his friend and his love for slasher movies, Billy was driven by a desire to get back at the Prescotts for ruining his family.
Maureen's affair with Billy's father caused the family to break apart and gave Roman Bridger the leverage he needed to incite Billy into action as Ghostface. The fact that Loomis seemed to suffer from an inability to separate real life from the horror movies he loved only made him a more effective and creative killer which earned him the title of the best Ghostface.