Apparently, the eerie Ghostface sightings spreading fear across the United States are a result of “Scream 6” marketing.

According to insiders close to the film, don’t be alarmed if you come across a masked murderer brandishing a knife in your town. It’s all part of the marketing campaign for the upcoming movie “Scream VI,” as confirmed by sources to Variety.

In the weeks leading up to its release on March 10th, the infamous slasher Ghostface has been making appearances in several American cities, including Sonoma (standing in for the fictional town of Woodsboro), New Orleans, and St. Louis. With the current state of the world and past incidents like the demonic clown sightings of 2016, it’s no surprise that the unexpected appearance of a killer in costume has caused concern among some bystanders, leading to reports of 911 calls.

Ghostface’s Twitter account has jumped on the bandwagon of creepy webcam photos capturing his journey across the country, responding with eerie messages such as “I was just minding my business” and “I’m watching you”. This playful engagement with fans is reminiscent of Paramount’s viral marketing campaign for the psychological horror movie “Smile”. In a similar move, the studio hired actors to sit behind home plate with unsettling grins during televised MLB games prior to the movie’s release. This tactic proved successful, as “Smile” ended up being a box office hit, grossing over $200 million worldwide.

The latest installment in the long-running slasher series, “Scream VI,” was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, with a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. Notably, it is the first film in the franchise to exclude protagonist Sidney Prescott due to a pay dispute that led actor Neve Campbell to depart the project.

Starring Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, and Courteney Cox, “Scream VI” follows the residents of Woodsboro as they relocate to New York City, where they become the targets of a new Ghostface killer.

The “Scream” franchise, which blends elements of horror and comedy, was created nearly three decades ago by Wes Craven, who directed the first four films in the series. Paramount and Spyglass rebooted the property in 2022 with “Scream,” which curiously omitted the roman numeral. The R-rated thriller was a box office success, earning nearly $140 million worldwide.

Recommended Further Readings