History Headscratchers / Scream

* Why did Sidney lock Randy outside?

Sidney watches the killer behind Randy while she is in the news van. Not five minutes later, Sidney escapes a chase from Ghostface and while going back into the house, she encounters both Stu and Randy and tells them to basically go fuck themselves and locks them out.

Nobody suspects two killers at this point so why lock Randy outside?

*** WordofGod states that its supposedly to be Stu's house and also it could have taken Sidney some time there because she hadn't returned to her hometown in some time.

** The only kill you could possibly be referring to is Mrs. Loomis. Billy, Roman and Jill were all shot in the head when they were attacking Sidney, Dewey and Gail. Sidney was confident that Mrs. Loomis would return for a "final scare", just as Billy and Mickey did. Yes, the right thing to do would be to wait for the police to get there and deal with it. But the woman was a psychotic murderer who'd killed Sidney's closest friend, but she was also responsible for planning the deaths of her boyfriend, roommate and several others and had planned to kill her and frame her for the murders. The bitch may have been defenceless, but getting shot in the head when she was probably dead anyway does not put her in the category of "sympathetic mass-murderer".

** Remember also that these are GenreSavvy horror movie characters, so they know that if they ''don't'' finish off the killers, it will almost certainly lead to dozens more deaths. In horror films, after all, PoliceAreUseless, every prison is made of [[CardboardPrison cardboard]], and every injury that isn't explicitly a killing blow is OnlyAFleshWound. How many people died because Dr. Loomis didn't headshot Michael Myers the first chance he got? If Charles Lee Ray had his brains blown out before performing his voodoo curse, he could never have become the killer doll Chucky. If Tommy Jarvis had severed Jason Voorhees' head rather than just hacking his face a bit, that killer may never have come back to slaughter hundreds more people. Since the ''Scream'' characters are aware of the horror movie conventions in effect in their daily lives, I would argue finishing off a 'defenceless' killer ''is'' technically self defence in this case.

** Yes it is likely Gale's (unintentional) fault. She surely wrote about the voice changer in her book about the murders, which was adapted to the screen as ''Stab'' and thus giving inspiration to subsequent killers. Either the novel's description of the voice, or a television showcase of the actual voice changer setting led to them being able to duplicate it.

** The only kill you could possibly be referring to is Mrs. Loomis. Billy, Roman and Jill were all shot in the head when they were attacking Sidney, Dewey and Gail. Sidney was confident that Mrs. Loomis would return for a "final scare", just as Billy and Mickey did. Yes, the right thing to do would be to wait for the police to get there and deal with it. But the woman a psychotic murderer who'd killed Sidney's closest friend, but was also responsible for planning the deaths of her boyfriend, roommate and several others and had planned to kill her and frame her for the murders. The bitch may have been defenseless, but getting shot in the head when she was probably dead anyway does not put her in the category of "sympathetic mass-murderer".

** Remember also that these are GenreSavvy horror movie characters, so they know that if they ''don't'' finish off the killers, it will almost certainly lead to dozens more deaths. In horror films, after all, PoliceAreUseless, every prison is made of [[CardboardPrison cardboard]], and every injury that isn't explicity a killing blow is OnlyAFleshWound. How many people died because Dr. Loomis didn't headshot Michael Myers the first chance he got? If Charles Lee Ray had his brains blown out before performing his voodoo curse, he could never have become the killer doll Chucky. If Tommy Jarvis had severed Jason Voorhees' head rather than just hacking his face a bit, that killer may never have come back to slaughter hundreds more people. Since the ''Scream'' characters are aware of the horror movie conventions in effect in their daily lives, I would argue finishing off a 'defenseless' killer ''is'' technically self defense in this case.

** Look what happened in Scream 5, after Dewey hesitated to shoot the killer in the hood, when he thought they were unconscious. Giving a serial killer the thought they would never give you will be your downfall in a horror movie.

** I’m not sure what reaction you wanted Sidney to have. She was clearly horrified when she saw Tatum’s body. She spent the next movies recovering from what had happened, but she lost more than her best friend.
As for Dewey, he kept her ashes with him, as we saw in Scream 5.

** And??? You’re talking about morals and judgment while referring to the victims of serial killers? Are you serious? You have no clue how you would react after being chased down and repeatedly attacked by a crazy killer. Morally speaking, Sidney had every right to make sure Mrs Loomis was not going to get back up and attack again. Legally speaking, I’m pretty sure Sidney wouldn’t go to jail for shooting her. Could you imagine the police trying to arrest the victim of her another serial killer, for shooting her almost murderer? It wouldn’t happen.

** and??? You’re talking about morals and judgment when referring to victims of serial killers. Are you serious? You have no clue how you would react after being chased down and repeatedly attacked by a crazy killer. Morally speaking, Sidney had every right to make sure Mrs Loomis was not going to her back up and attack again. Legally speaking, I’m pretty sure Sidney wouldn’t go to jail for shooting her.

----

*** In fact, one could argue that due to Tatum dying when he was suppose to be keeping an eye on the party, [[ItsAllMyFault Dewey may have blamed himself for her death]], and felt guilt that [[SurvivorGuilt he survived when she didn't]], leading him to focus on not only fighting the in other films killers, but [[BigBrotherInstinct protecting Sidney]] and their friends [[HiddenDepths as a means of atoning for his inability to protect Tatum]] without ever having to mention why or mention her to explain his actions. In fact, this is even justified in one of the promotional materials for the upcoming film, with Arquette saying that Dewey gets involved in the events in the new film because he has a big heart (and [[TearJerker those with big hearts can suffer the hardest emotional hits]]).
[[/folder]]

*** In fact, one could argue that due to Tatum dying when he was suppose to be keeping an eye on the party, [[ItsAllMyFault Dewey may have blamed himself for her death]], and felt guilt that [[SurvivorGuilt he survived when she didn't]], leading him to focus on not only fighting the in other films killers, but [[BigBrotherInstinct protecting Sidney]] and their friends [[HiddenDepths as a means of atoning for his inability to protect Tatum]] without ever having to mention why or mention her to explain his actions.

** Since Casey's boyfriend whom she apparently dumped Steve for is involved as well, this supports that theory.

*** In fact, one could argue that due to Tatum dying when he was suppose to be keeping an eye on the party, [[ItsAllMyFault Dewey may have blamed himself for her death]], and felt guilt that [[SurvivorGuilt he survived when she didn't]], leading him to focus on not only fighting the in other filmskillers, but [[BigBrotherInstinct protecting Sidney]] and their friends [[HiddenDepths as a means of atoning for his inability to protect Tatum]] without ever having to mention why or mention her to explain his actions.

** For Sidney? Probably because, harsh as it is, learning your boyfriend killed your mother and having to kill him is probably the tantamount trauma of the event, no matter how much she may have liked Tatum. As for Dewey... yeah, the writers most likely forgot about their relation in the second film; he rather casually brings up Tatum's death alongside the other Woodsboro victims in the sequel. The closest we get to acknowledgement is in the 3rd film, when a character mock Dewey (or rather, the killer pretending to be Dewey) over it. If I had to guess, I'd say losing his sister was a catalyst for Dewey feeling more free to leave Woodsboro in the sequels, and for [[TookALevelInBadass becoming a little more active in fighting the killers.]] In fact, one could argue that due to Tatum dying when he was suppose to be keeping an eye on the party, [[ItsAllMyFault Dewey may have blamed himself for her death]] and focused on not only fighting the killers, but [[BigBrotherInstinct protecting Sidney]] and their friends [[HiddenDepths as a means of atoning for his inability to protect Tatum]] without ever having to mention why or her to explain his actions.

** For Sidney? Probably because, harsh as it is, learning your boyfriend killed your mother and having to kill him is probably the tantamount trauma of the event, no matter how much she may have liked Tatum. As for Dewey... yeah, the writers most likely forgot about their relation in the second film; he rather casually brings up Tatum's death alongside the other Woodsboro victims in the sequel. The closest we get to acknowledgement is in the 3rd film, when a character mock Dewey (or rather, the killer pretending to be Dewey) over it. If I had to guess, I'd say losing his sister was a catalyst for Dewey feeling more free to leave Woodsboro in the sequels, and for [[TookALevelInBadass becoming a little more active in fighting the killers.]]

** They could know about it becauseBilly and Stu told Sidney about the trivia part

* The day after the first murders, Tatum claims that Stu was with her that night. [[spoiler:But considering that he really is one of the killers, how is that possible? Is she lying to cover for him, did he wait until she was asleep or gone before going with Billy, or, while unlikely, did Billy somehow do all of that himself?]]

** I think they meant the killer from the first movie not the entire series. The killer from that movie was [[spoiler:Jason's mom.]]
** It was a trick question. Ghostface never specified which Friday the 13th, which was the whole point. In the 1st one [[spoiler:Jason's mom's the killer, but Alice also kills her, thus she's a "killer" too. Then there's the copycat in Part 5,]] then there's Jason.
** Yeah, it was definitely a trick question. [[HeadsIWinTailsYouLose Casey was screwed no matter what she said.]] I'm paraphrasing here, but at the end [[spoiler: Stu and Billy say something like "Oh, this is the fun part. We ask you the questions, you get it wrong, BOOKAW! You die!" "You get it right...and you die."]]

** [[spoiler:Yes, in the fourth one.]] Also, logically speaking, none of the other killers could actually know about the trivia. [[spoiler:All 4 people involved are dead.]]
** They could know about it because[[spoiler:Billy and Stu]] told Sidney about the trivia part

** [[spoiler: Stu and Casey dated at one point. It probably ended badly and he wanted revenge.]]
** Since Casey's boyfriend [[spoiler: whom she apparently dumped Steve for]] is involved as well, this supports that theory.

** Stu wasn't in jail,[[spoiler:Billy was]]. It's assumed that Stu made the call to Sidney to throw her/the audience off about [[spoiler:Billy.]]
* At the end, why didn't [[spoiler:Stu and Billy give each other those stab wounds]] ''after'' polishing off Sidney and her father? It would have been a lot easier and less risky.
** They wanted Sidney to watch? [[spoiler:Billy was angry at her because her mother broke up his parents' marriage]], maybe he wanted to make her suffer by drawing out the process and show her exactly ''how'' he was going to get away with it before he killed her.

*** [[spoiler: Billy]] had basically fallen to the point of AxCrazy at this point and [[spoiler: Stu]] was never the sharpest tool in the shed to begin with. It probably wasn't a well thought out plan.

* What's the point of Ghostface asking Casey horror-related questions? We find out later that Casey [[spoiler: dumped Stu]] for Steven. Even if she guessed all of the questions right, she and Steven still would have been screwed.

* What the hell was with [[spoiler: Roman]] being the killer? Gale finds him in the basement, and after checking his body pretty thoroughly she declares him dead, and they never explain how he was able to STOP HIS FREAKING PULSE.
** Considering [[spoiler: Roman was a director]], he could have access to various [[spoiler: special effects, including stuff that mask his pulse]]. Or Gale could have been too frantic and just didn't notice correctly...

** WordOfGod is that there are [[RealityIsUnrealistic techniques to stop one's blood pulse in real life]], and [[spoiler:Roman]] used one of said techniques.
* So... how did [[spoiler:Roman]] get Sidney's phone number anyway? The only ones who used Dewey's phone were [[spoiler:Jennifer]] and [[spoiler:Kincaid]].
** I think they decided that [[spoiler:Roman]] got it off Dewey's phone memory/contacts.

** [[spoiler:Jennifer]] mentions that she slept with [[spoiler:Roman]] before, so it's possible Roman would have access to Dewey's phone through her, especially since Dewey lends his phone to her at one point.

* Ghostface [[spoiler:being revealed to be Charlie and Jill.]] During the murders that take place at Jill's house one of the killers is seen at the Stab movie marathon and the other killer is said to be with someone else. After the murders, Sidney immediately leaves for Kirby's house where both killers already are. There's a significant amount of time before Sidney shows up, even though the killer would conceivably left around the same time, so how did the killer get to Kirby's house so fast? And who killed [[spoiler: the cops and Kate]]?
** While there's been a theory of a ''third'' killer, [[spoiler:Jill does states she was the one that killed her mother]]. [[spoiler:And considering that the Kirby IM could have been a decoy, Jill had enough time to kill the cops, as well as her mother with or without Charlie's help]].

*** [[spoiler:WordofGod states that its supposedly to be Stu's house and also it could have taken Sidney some time there because she hadn't returned to her hometown in some time]].
*** [[spoiler:Jill actually says "My own mother had to die", not quite the same thing as "I killed my own mother."]] I definitely buy the 3rd killer idea though. I mean, to kill [[spoiler:Kate and the cops, Jill or Charlie would have to be in 2 places at once and their bodies are notably smaller than that of the actors in the ghostface costume when Jill wasn't wearing it.]] Besides, I just don't buy that [[spoiler:Charlie could kick down that door.]]
*** I agree, but maybe [[spoiler:this Ghostface was running on virginal power... and the juice]].
*** Even if so, it stil doesn't explain [[spoiler:Olivia's death. Hoss and Perkins were in the car when Olivia]] got home and went up stairs. [[spoiler:This means Charlie was already in her closet when she goes upstairs.]] Then, just before [[spoiler:Olivia]] gets butchered, [[spoiler:Hoss and Perkins are chasing after Ghostface running around outside, with Jill and Charlie's locations being known, (Jill in her room and Charlie killing poor Olivia) who were they chasing?]] I'd buy a prankster except they say something like "He's like a ghost," which implies it's actually Ghostface.
*** [[spoiler:Hoss and Perkins little chase]] could've just been [[spoiler:Trevor after his talk with Jill. He is wearing dark clothing and makes note of calling himself a ninja, so it's possible he was noticed on his way out, evaded the police, only to come back after the killer struck.]] "He's like a ghost" was just to throw you off. [[spoiler:Ghost, ninja, same difference]]
*** It's not known how long Jill was gone for. She could have only just left by the time Sidney discovered her room was empty. She's just killed [[spoiler: the cops]] so she panics when she sees her mother's car pull up and [[spoiler: kills her]] to give Sidney a reason to go to Kirby's alone. So then she just hurries over to Kirby's. She's best friends with her so perhaps she knows the shortest way to the house? Remember she can cut through other people's gardens and go anywhere while Sidney has to take the road. To a house she hasn't been to before. At night.

* In ''Scream 4'', it is shown that the fictional movie-within-a-movie ''Stab 3'' ended up being completed. How did the studio manage to finish the movie when most of the cast, [[spoiler:including the director, are dead]]?

* How on earth could [[spoiler: Jill not even take five seconds to make sure whether Sidney was dead or not?]] For someone trying to be the MagnificentBastard, they sure clutched the IdiotBall harder than any of the previous killers.

** The only kill you could possibly be referring to is [[spoiler: Mrs. Loomis]]. [[spoiler: Billy, Roman and Jill]] were all shot in the head when they were attacking Sidney, Dewey and Gail. Sidney was confident that [[spoiler: Mrs. Loomis]] would return for a "final scare", just as Billy and Mickey did. Yes, the right thing to do would be to wait for the police to get there and deal with it. But the woman a psychotic murderer who'd killed [[spoiler: Sidney's closest friend]], but was also responsible for planning the deaths of [[spoiler: her boyfriend, roommate and several others]] and had planned to kill her and frame her for the murders. The bitch may have been defenseless, but getting shot in the head when she was probably dead anyway does not put her in the category of "sympathetic mass-murderer".
** And as for "Sidney's a murderer" thing, that's the point.
** Remember also that these are GenreSavvy horror movie characters, so they know that if they ''don't'' finish off the killers, it will almost certainly lead to dozens more deaths. In horror films, after all, PoliceAreUseless, every prison is made of [[CardboardPrison cardboard]], and every injury that isn't explicity a killing blow is OnlyAFleshWound. How many people died because Dr. Loomis didn't headshot Michael Myers the first chance he got? If Charles Lee Ray had his brains blown out before performing his voodoo curse, he could never have become the killer doll Chucky. If Tommy Jarvis had severed Jason Voorhees' head rather than just hacking his face a bit, that killer may never have come back to slaughter hundreds more people. Since the ''Scream'' characters are aware of the horror movie conventions in effect in their daily lives, I would argue finishing off a 'defenseless' killer ''is'' technically self defense in this case.
->"You're forgetting one thing about [[spoiler:Billy Loomis]]... I fucking killed him."

* Tatum. Why is she [[ForgottenFallenFriend barely mentioned after the first film]]? For being Sidney’s best friend and Dewey’s sister, neither Sidney nor Dewey show much sadness after her death after Sidney’s shock over seeing her dead in the cat flap. There’s a reason why that AngstWhatAngst is on the YMMV page.

* Sidney automatically recognises Mrs Loomis, despite the makeover. Gail, who is a reporter, which presumably means she's supposed to have an eye for details, doesn't. Is that realistic?

** Sidney was Billy's girlfriend and likely knew her for several years before she left. Gail likely didn't know the woman and says she'd only seen pictures. Up until the reveal she thought "Debbie Salt" was a student from one of her lectures. If Gail thought she looked familiar, that's where she'd associate her with. She's not expecting Billy's long lost mother to be waltzing around the campus is she?
** Gail actually does say "I thought you looked familiar" when she first meets 'Debbie'. So she did recognise her from her pictures, but just assumed it was a student from her class. And Sidney would recognise Mrs Loomis from her voice, behaviour and body language.