This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the Scream franchiseTheScreamfranchise is celebrated for several reasons. During a time in which the horror genre seemed to be headed in a downward decline, Wes Craven presented a franchise that’s self-aware, never taking itself too seriously, yet manages to deliver important social commentaries through every installment. Audiences are always presented with a fresh take on Ghostface, with some unassuming characters revealing themselves as the newest incarnation of the iconic killer.
Ghostface killers are relentless in their kills, enacting gruesome deaths for their victims that are often difficult to sit through. Nevertheless, Ghostface killers also tend to meet rather gory demises themselves by aScreaminstallment’s final act, getting a taste of their own medicine. Here is every Ghostface death, ranked.
13Charlie Walke - Scream 4 (2011)
Charlie Walker defines a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Holding a grudge against classmateKirby Reed fornot taking an interest in him when they first met, Charlie is motivated by a thirst for revenge and fame. Charlie pairs up with Jill Roberts and in the style of original Ghostface killers, Billy Loomis and Stu Macher, allows himself to be stabbed by Jill to pass himself off as a Ghostface survivor.
Unfortunately for Charlie, Jill is a one-woman show that proceeds to kill him instead, intending to pin the murders on him and her ex-boyfriend, Trevor. While seeing Charlie die at the hands of his accomplice is fitting, this death isn’t original for theScreamfranchise.
12Mickey Altieri - Scream 2 (1997)
The reason why Mickey Altieri’s death ranks lowly is because he is arguably one of the best Ghostface killers ever; he toys with Sidney in ways that not even Billy Loomis himself imagined possible and rejoices in seeing Sidney relive her trauma as he shoots Derek dead.
Simply put, Mickey deserved a more iconic death than being shot in the chest by Mrs. Loomis. Granted, in the style of every Ghostface, Mickey makes a last minute revival and is gunned down a second time by Sidney and Gale. If only Mickey could have gotten a death, equating his own sadistic nature towards his victims.
11Mrs. Loomis/Debbie Salt - Scream 2 (1997)
Mrs. Loomis is themodern-day versionof Pamela Voorhees, driven by a burning desire to avenge her fallen son, the original Ghostface killer, Billy Loomis, by killing Sidney Prescott and anyone else involved in Billy’s death. Mrs. Loomis gives Sidney the fight of a lifetime, undeterred in her goal to kill Sidney despite every blow Sidney retaliates with.
Unexpectedly, it’s fame-seekingCotton Weary that killsMrs. Loomis by shooting her in the neck. For such a relentless Ghostface, it feels anticlimactic to see Mrs. Loomis go down by a single gunshot to the neck.
10Jill Roberts - Scream 4 (2011)
Just like her partner, Charlie Walker,Scream 4’sJill Roberts is unassuming among the Ghostface suspects list, primarily because Jill is a criminal mastermind that seems to be one step ahead of everyone else, even Sidney. From planning her own attack, brutally injuring herself to assume the role of sole survivor, to murdering her own mother, Kate; Jill is easily the most heartless Ghostface ever.
While Jill has one of the more creative death scenes among Ghostface killers, first being electrocuted by a defibrillator and lastly, shot in the chest, it bordered on absurdity when compared to more simplistic and realistic Ghostface deaths. Nevertheless, it’s rather entertaining to see Emma Roberts give the performance of a lifetime as Jill.
9Amber Freeman - Scream (2022)
Amber Freeman’s death isn’t original by any means; it’s basically a reiteration of Sadie’s character inOnce Upon A Time… in Hollywood(a character coincidentally portrayed by Mikey Madison as well). Nevertheless, Amber remains one of the most hated Ghostface incarnations due to having killed fan-favorite character, Dewey Riley. Seeing Amber go up in flames after being shot down by Gale Weathers, and then be fatally shot in the head by Tara Carpenter, feels satisfying.
8Quinn Bailey - Scream VI (2023)
Scream VI’sQuinn Bailey pulls off a great ruse as the friendly, comforting New York City roommate Sam and Tara move in with shortly after the events ofScream 5. When Quinn is suddenly killed halfway throughScream 6during the apartment attack, audiences were sure they’d seen the last of her, until it’s revealed that Quinn is actually one of the three Ghostface killers, and the younger sister of preceding Ghostface killer, Richie Kirsch.
What makes Quinn’s death so satisfying is that she isn’t just a Ghostface killer, she single-handedly perpetuates the online rumors that destroy Sam’s character. Seeing Quinn gunned down by her greatest victim is perfection.
7Ethan Landry - Scream VI (2023)
The most unassuming Ghostface to date, Ethan Landry pulled off his innocent facade excellently, leading even Mindy to question her deductive reasoning skills. From befriending Chad and feeding into his comradely personality, having a solid alibi every time Ghostface attacked the Core Four, to simply not looking the part of a sadistic serial killer; Ethan had everyone fooled.
When Ethan finally reveals himself as one of three Ghostface killers, he wastes no time showing his true colors, savagely stabbing Kirby. It’s only fitting that Kirby herself kills Ethan in a very Stu Macher fashion, crashing the same TV that killed Macher on Ethan’s head. Additionally, it’s satisfying to see Tara deliver him a brutal blow to the mouth considering Ethan’s nonstop taunting duringScream VI’sfinal act.
6Jason Carvey - Scream VI (2023)
Jason Carvey redefined the Ghostface reveal trend by revealing his identity shortly after killing his film studies professor, Laura, less than 10 minutes into the film. A deranged horror buff looking to fulfill Richie’s legacy, Jason and his roommate, Greg, plot to murder the Carpenter sisters to finish Richie’sStabrequel.
Unbeknownst to them, someone else has their sights set on the sisters, and decides to kill off Jason and Greg to prevent outsider intervention. In a scene that pays homage toFriday the 13th: Part 2, Jason is stabbed to death by Ghostface after finding Greg’s mutilated body in the fridge. Jason’s death is one of the most graphic in the entire franchise, perhaps only rivaled by Olivia’s death inScream 4.
Related:Scream: The Most Underrated Characters in the Horror Franchise
5Roman Bridger - Scream 3 (2000)
The only Ghostface killer that acted alone,Scream 3’sRoman Bridger plotted his revenge against Maureen and Sidney Prescott slowly but effectively, waiting for his chance to strike. In the most controversial plot twist inScreamhistory, Roman reveals himself to be the mastermind that manipulated Billy Loomis into killing Maureen and awakened his thirst for murder, perpetuating all the events inScream.
Though Roman’s death isn’t particularly brutal; it is a solidifying moment for Dewey Riley as the character who guns down this Ghostface incarnation, transitioning from a helpless victim to a competent survivor.
4Billy Loomis - Scream (1996)
For numerousScreamfans, Billy Loomis is a top-tier Ghostface that cannot be matched. What makes Billy so memorable is his conniving tactics; he plots secretly and kills mercilessly. Even though he fails to actually kill her, Sidney remains Billy’s prime victim. Billy doesn’t just kill Sidney’s mother; he manipulates Sidney for months and ultimately decides to kill her, framing her father for his string of murders.
While Billy’s death isn’t the bloodiest, it’s definitely one of the most satisfying Ghostface demises as Sidney finally strikes down her biggest enemy.
