You can believe I been very surprised Ghostface kept showing up in video games. Ultimately we got the late Wes Craven and Fun World to thank for that. I know some people probably wondering how I'm going to go about this right? Officially a lot of characters shared the persona of Ghostface in Scream franchise.
I figured I'll do a composite take on the Ghostface persona. Directly pointing out recurring traits of the character. If I get enough demand I would do an follow up entry. Where I personally cover every main killer to don the persona. Yeah all of them in one lengthy blog entry for fellow Scream fans to enjoy. I did try to make to be accurately recreate of all their personalities as the character together.
Ghostface
They wear an iconic costume you find at places especially at costume stores. The late Wes Craven unexpected created another iconic slasher villain following Freddy Krueger. The persona often call phones to taunt their victims. To a degree, horror movies was inspiration for the character's actions. Whoever donned the costume was always among Sidney or Sam's circles.
They already know enough to terrorize them. They don't care if the police or family gets involved. Ghostface doesn't excuse anyone from their killing strakes. As much you wanna try saving your family. A relative could be among the killers trying to kill you. Ghostface does follow majority of the rules most circles established.
It's rare when a rule gets broken. Of course that doesn't stop Ghostface. There's a lot of possible motives behind their collective actions. Either they want revenge either directly or indirectly caused by their victims. They want to survive to become the sole survivor. Which Ghostface calls the star while getting away with the murders.
Jealous also could be a notable factor. Obsession into a particular slasher horror movie franchise. Which were based on a lot of murders done by the persona. In Ghostface's mind, everything playing out just like those slasher horror movies. Obsession also could play into other questionable reasons. It's safe to say their hold on their sanity questionable or simply can't tell the difference.
Between what's real or a horror movie franchise? All of this kept coming back to the persona is rather selfish. Either they wanna become the next Sidney. Trying forcing Sam to become like her father. For those that haven't seen some of the movies. Her dad so happened to be one of the original killers to don the costume Billy.
Some of the newer killers to don the costumes were obsessed with the original killers. This is also directly playing off the famous horror movie belief. Usually the originals are the best horror movies. Which isn't quite true but for some franchises it is true. Ghostface always respected the classics mostly being the original horror movies.
In fact, you pay attention to some of the questions Ghostface asks in these movies. Majority of them goes back to the original entries. There's more aspects that plays into their twisted obsessions. The actual costume used in Scream series was a real life costume. It started with Craven getting permission from Fun World to use the costume for the original Scream movie.
Before I go further I also need to mention, some of them also were inspired by books. Based on the actual murders written by Gale Weathers. It's mind blowing, she doesn't take responsibility for their actions. Yes Stab horror movie franchise was based on the same murders. I figured to point out something I couldn't ignore much longer.
More recently make Sidney's daughter into the next final girl. Deep down the persona loves all the attention they're getting. There's seven Scream movies nothing is truly over. There's always more killers coming after the same main targets for similar reasons. The persona can be rather manipulate to a fault. There are times some of those attempts backfired.
Ghostface gets a little creative to go about killing people. Also getting around some tricky situations while escaping. Manipulation can be used to turn members of the group against each other. The big lesson I learned from this horror movie franchise is don't fully trust people. They could be the ones taking your life!!!
They always save their big target for last. By this point, the persona no longer needed with the killers revealed. Young, old, male or female it doesn't matter who wears that costume. Trouble is never far behind for anyone within those groups. The persona became a symbol to killers in newer Scream movies.
Very true in Scream VI with a location having previous costumes of the killers. Ghostface is more than a famous slasher to the survivors. Whoever dons the costume is a part of a disease slowly killing the main targets like cancer. A few states had to endure these murder strakes including New York. Ghostface was more in New York than Jason not sorry!!!
The persona is essentially the main targets worst enemies. They will never stop until either they get what they want or die trying being the more common outcome. If you wanna be technical Ghostface excluding Jason in Scream VI. The persona died Fifteen main killers donned the costume in the movies so far.
Despite this, as long more people dons the persona. This will never end like an ending cycle of good and evil. The good side trying to simply get their lifes back after tragedies. The evil side in all honestly doesn't care doing everything for their own amusement. Ghostface may appear simple on the surface. But every person to don the persona differs in a few ways adding in complexity.
Ghostface really doesn't like someone else attempted to start going after Sam. They also don't like getting taunted back especially using the costume against them. They especially don't like when things does not go according to plans. Ghostface prefers to stick to the script on things. The persona isn't afraid of anyone either.
If you composite every killer together. You actually would get a true monster that's all about themselves. Some trends like requels they take incredibly seriously. More recently, the persona wants to start things over. Ever since Scream 4 which sadly was the last Scream movie before Craven passed away. In a way, the persona knows they can't win unless they force changes.
A new beginning means a lot of possibilities previously off the table are back. Assuming they were able to pull this off. The same endless cycle is still there. They are always destinate to die in the end. Whoever their new main target could be. There's a huge possibility that person could be worst than Sidney and Sam.
Considering all the crazy stuff Sidney survived that's saying a lot!!! The persona always makes things personal with their main targets. Usually the main killers knows their main targets quite well. For every good they tried to do, the persona always does something horrible right back. It's like having a feud with your neighbor that's gets ugly.
Ghostface also doesn't like people criticizing horror movies. In fact, it's a great way to make yourself a bigger target. The persona deep down doesn't respect any form of authority. Yes they directly targeted police officers before. Assuming the killer can get in anywhere. You better get prepare to fight for your life if you wanna survive!!!
Simply because the killers usually are in those groups. They already know how to counter their victims. You know family means little to nothing you're dealing with a monster!!! Sometimes they lie about their pasts to throw people off. The persona uses a voice changer can be used to manipulate their victims. This is more of tricking someone getting into a position to be attacked.
Ghostface may not be the start of a particular slasher style. Currently the character is the most popular among that slasher style. I'm referencing to the viewers aka us have to pay attention. To try figuring out who the killers are? Scream franchise was a modern, cooler take on the concept. This also means unlike most slasher villains, Ghostface never the same people.
Personally I always thought that was a rather cool idea. It does have some risks but if done right could break new ground of the genre. Let's be honest, you already know it had since the original Scream movie. Ghostface was truly ahead of his time. Just like some of the other slashers had his own knock offs.
The persona never being the same people can heavily impact things in a Scream movie. Some variations could be more reckless, a bit eager to kill or takes their time to carefully plan out their moves? Usually one of them killers turns on the other killer. Usually to kill em then pin all of it on them while they get away.
Yes even those who don the persona aren't safe from each other. You know whoever dons the costume is too gone. The best thing to do as unpleasant the reality of the situation is put them down!!! Try to think of it like this would you let them get away knowing more people going to die or kill em to stop this? Personally I'll be happy to gun the man killer myself in the head.
Ghostface is a cold, calculate killer that's quite manipulative. There is no reasoning with anyone dons the persona. At their core, they want death with whatever sick, twisted goals they want. You just don't know if you're about to get arrested or going to school with the killer. Suddenly you realize how truly terrifying all of this is?
This killer absolutely loves all the chaos they're causing. The worst part is they already know how their actions affecting people close to them. Yet they continue to do such horrible things without a single care in the world. Although, there were some occasions they tried to fake their emotions on those situations. Ghostface is willing to do anything to get exactly what they want.
Conclusion
Ghostface is among the most popular slasher villains to date. Along with a lot of them in a few video games together. Of course, I was quite happy to see the character in Mortal Kombat 1. If this would've happened back in my childhood. I would've completely been mind blown. I also used to compared the character a lot to Halloween's Michael Myers.
Both wore dark outfit a costume in Ghostface's case. They wore a pale white mask that became iconic since the original horror movies. By default, both killers would use a knife to harm possibly kill people. Despite some similarities are quite different horror movie villains. Ghostface was a ,more revolutionary concept with Scream 8 in production.
