The Evolution of Ghostface (Animated)
Ghostface re-awoke the slasher genre in the nineties, but how has his costuming and ever-altering identity changed ever since? Let's go through his evolution… animated!
In the original Scream, Ghostface wears a sparkly robe with square arm tatters and pointed frills on the bottom edges. During production, more Ghoulish masks were considered before finally settling on the peanut-eyed ghost mask. A second mask that's wider, has thinner eyes, a smaller nose and smaller mouth, along with a lighter neck piece is also worn by Ghostface, who uses a voice-changer to conceal his identity and taunt his target, Sidney. As victims gradually get picked off, Sidney ultimately faces her tormentor, who reveals himself to be both her boyfriend, Billy Loomis, and his peer-pressured friend, Stu. They explain that her philandering mother broke up Billy's parents, so they took her out and plan to finish Sidney off, too – but Stu gets a TV tossed on him and Billy is taken out by multiple shots.
In Scream 2, a copycat appears. His robe has more circular arm tatters, squared-off rips on the bottom hem, and a more pronounced neckline. His mask has a less curved right-eye, a creased mouth, and more pronounced cheeks. He also wears a secondary mask featuring squinty eyes and a larger mouth, and at one point he changes into civilian clothing and an ancient Greek-style robe. The copycat eliminates Sidney's college classmates, and reveals himself to be both her crazy acquaintance Mickey and Billy Loomis's revenge-seeking mother. While Mrs. Loomis decommissions her partner, Sidney is saved by the man once suspected to have slain her mom. Although Mickey rebounds for one last scare, he is promptly taken out for good.
Yet, Ghostface is back in Scream 3! This time, his mask lacks the former's mouth crease and has more curved eyes. Additionally, he wears a secondary mask with larger eyes, and briefly hides inside of a prop body-bag. He also now uses a magical voice-changer that can sound like anyone he wants. He proceeds to execute the cast and crew of Stab 3, and subsequently reveals himself to be the film's Director and Sidney's long-lost half brother Roman – who, apparently, also secretly planned the events of Scream 1 along with Billy and Stu. But in the end, this Ghostface is stabbed by his half-sister and finally defeated by a flurry of bullets.
In Scream 4, Ghostface appears...AGAIN! This time, his main mask's eyes are slightly spaced apart, and yet another secondary mask is used with wider cheeks, smaller eyes and a smaller nose. After slashing a new generation of victims, this Ghostface turns out to be Sydney's cousin, Jill, and her boy-toy, Charlie, both intent on becoming the famous survivors of their attacks. However, Jill betrays Charlie in order to become the sole victim, but she's later defibrillated and then shot down.
In the MTV Series, Ghostface dons a rain poncho and a mask that's more human-shaped with uneven eyes, discoloration and golden straps on the edges. He's also now referred to as the Lakewood Slasher. He terrorizes final-girl Emma and her friends, and eventually confesses to being her secret half-sister, Piper, who is shot and falls in a lake. Emma's boyfriend – and Piper's secret lover – becomes the new Lakewood Slasher in season two, but he gets caught and put in jail, before being silenced by a third Lakewood Slasher, never to be revealed...
… because in Season 3, the original Ghostface returns! This time, the robe is un-sparkled, has a floppier hood, loose sleeves and no open neckline, while his mask is shinier and features a more prevalent jawline. He harasses Football loving Deion before revealing himself to be his half-brother Jamal, who holds a grudge at Deion for stealing their departed brother's identity. But Jamal is soon betrayed by a second Ghostface – their goth friend Beth – who apparently just likes horror movies, and that makes her evil. However, in the climax she's pushed through a glass roof and miraculously survives before finally being shot down.
Outside of the original Scream series, a Ghostface parody also appears as the emotive villain in Scary Movie, causing confusion among casual movie fans who still mistake the two franchises for one another.
Another parody, Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday The 13th, features a Jason-Voorhees -like villain that accidentally melts his hockey-mask into a lumpy Ghostface appearance.
And in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, a wide-cheeked Ghostface appears, but turns out to be an orangutan on the set of the then make-believe Scream 4.
Oh and, just for fun, you can also play as Ghostface, sporting a more tactical looking coat with floating straps, in Dead by Daylight. He comes in a variety of different color variations, including a devil version... but as far as we're concerned, nothing beats a classic.
Thanks for watching, liking and commenting, and thank you to the Patrons for their amazing support. Click over their to binge watch past evolutions, including some of your favorite slashers, and don't forget to subscribe for more tell-it-animations!