The upcoming release of Scream 6 has been garnering both excitement and controversy, with fans taking issue with the decision to give Ghostface a shotgun instead of his classic Buck 120 knife. However, co-director Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin recently defended the creative choice in an interview with SFX, explaining that the aim was to make the character more realistic and intimidating.
Directors Defend Their Decision to Give Ghostface a Shotgun in Scream 6
In the interview with SFX Magazine via Digital Spy, Bettinelli-Olpin explained that Scream 6 is meant to be a scary and tense movie, rather than a boring one.
“We don’t want it to be safe. We don’t want it to be boring. We want it to be fun and to raise eyebrows. When we heard ‘Ghostface in New York, and he has a shotgun’ it was like: ‘What?!’ The two feelings of ‘What are we doing?’ and ‘We have to do it!’ are often intrinsically tied and that was a perfect example of that.”
While the Buck 120 knife has become an iconic symbol of the franchise, it may not be as effective in a real-life scenario. In order to make Ghostface more threatening, the decision was made to give him a weapon that would really be able to break down doors and take out his victims. Tyler Gillett would add,
“There are a ton of fun, wonderful, classic Ghostface moments, but it’s not the pratfalling Ghostface. We love that, but for this to be scary and to achieve a level of visceral tension, we wanted to put the character more in the real world. If Ghostface is trying to get through a door, it’s going to happen! There’s no giving up. When he’s in pursuit, the pursuit doesn’t end until he’s achieved his goal.”
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Gillett’s comments suggest that the Scream 6 team is aiming for a different kind of horror movie than the previous installments. They want to create a sense of realism and intensity that wasn’t present in earlier films, and that means making some changes to the franchise’s formula. While this approach might not be to everyone’s taste, it’s clear that the directors are committed to making a movie that stands out from the pack.
Shotgun Surprise: Ghostface Takes Aim in Scream 6, But is It Really a Departure from the Norm?
While some fans have expressed disappointment at the idea of a gun-wielding Ghostface, it’s worth noting that the use of firearms in the Scream franchise is not entirely unprecedented. In fact, almost every killer in the series, including Billy Loomis, Stu Macher, Jill Roberts, and Richie Kirsch, has either used or pointed a gun at someone in their respective films.
Even in Scream (2022), Amber’s shocking murder of Liv involved her shooting her in the head. So, while Ghostface’s shotgun may be a departure from the character’s signature weapon, it’s not entirely out of the field.
While the iconic killer has been seen using guns in previous films, it was usually without the costume, as the audience has come to associate Ghostface with his signature knife. Thus, the decision to have Ghostface use a shotgun while wearing his costume is a significant shift in the character’s modus operandi and marks a new chapter in the Scream franchise.
In addition to defending Ghostface’s new weapon, Gillett and co-director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin have been discussing the production process for Scream 6. The movie was made in just 14 months, at a rapid pace that reflects the filmmakers’ desire to keep the momentum going. Gillett has described the process as “accelerated,” but also notes that this is not uncommon in the film industry.
Scream 6‘s decision to give Ghostface a shotgun instead of his classic Buck 120 knife has generated controversy, but co-director Tyler Gillett is standing by the choice. The filmmakers want to create a more intense and realistic horror movie, and that means taking some risks and making changes to the franchise’s formula. With a rapid production process and a fresh take on the series, Scream 6 promises to be a movie that’s both exciting and divisive.
Scream 6 arrives in theaters on March 10, 2023
Source: Collider
