Matthew Lilllard Says Scream Franchise Has Become Too Violent, Cites Gun Use

Matthew Lilllard Says Scream Franchise Has Become Too Violent, Cites Gun Use

As a lifelong connoisseur of cinema and a devoted follower of the Scream franchise since its inception, I find myself intrigued by the opinions expressed by Courtney Cox’s on-screen accomplice, Matthew Lillard, regarding the latest installment, Scream VI. While I can appreciate his concern about the franchise venturing too far into the realm of excessive violence, I must admit that I found the shotgun scene in Scream VI to be one of the most thrilling and suspenseful moments in the series thus far.


Is there a limit to how far the Scream series can push boundaries? Spanning over six films, this intellectual property offers a blend of suspense, excitement, and graphic violence, often accompanied by a touch of self-parody as it critiques the horror genre. Despite its longstanding tradition of bloodshed, actor Matthew Lillard, who played Stu Macher in the original movie, suggests that the series took things too far with Scream VI, citing one specific scene as evidence.

During an interview with GamesRadar+, Lillard expressed confidence in the future of the Scream franchise, commending creator Kevin Williamson for his involvement. He had previously praised the work of the new creative team on 2022’s Scream, stating, “I admired what [Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin] were doing before. I didn’t mean this negatively at all; in fact, I thought they were heading in an exciting direction.” However, he later expressed that he felt their next installment, Scream VI, leaned too heavily on violence.

I found the film excessively violent. To me, Ghostface didn’t need a shotgun. The sequels seem to be overly reliant on replicating the elements from the first movie, such as the climactic monologue at the end. It’s challenging to pull off effectively. I fervently hope that Kevin will lead us into uncharted, daring, and exhilarating territory, allowing us to discover new hues and experiences.

In the scene Lillard mentions, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) are pursued by Ghostface into a bodega. The bodega owner, in this instance, hands over his shotgun to Ghostface who then starts shooting at them. This situation is somewhat unexpected compared to how Ghostface has acted in previous Scream movies where he usually prefers using his signature knife for gruesome attacks. However, the scene is exceptionally thrilling and ranks among the most exciting moments in Scream VI.

The Scream Franchise Has Always Been Violent

Matthew Lilllard Says Scream Franchise Has Become Too Violent, Cites Gun UseMatthew Lilllard Says Scream Franchise Has Become Too Violent, Cites Gun UseMatthew Lilllard Says Scream Franchise Has Become Too Violent, Cites Gun UseMatthew Lilllard Says Scream Franchise Has Become Too Violent, Cites Gun Use

Lillard’s observations about the violence in the sixth Scream film are intriguing given that the movie itself is quite violent, as demonstrated by its numerous instances of extreme violence such as repeated stabbings – like when Lillard’s character and Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis stab each other multiple times to further their plot to frame Sidney’s (Neve Campbell) father for the murders. The second film, Scream 2, is no exception with Jada Pinkett Smith’s character Maureen being brutally stabbed in a crowded movie theater as spectators watch and cheer until they realize it’s an actual murder. The Scream series is known for its high level of violence, but perhaps it feels different when Ghostface is wielding knives instead of guns.

In the upcoming “Scream VII,” the franchise is once again under the direction of writer-producer Kevin Williamson, who’s also welcoming back Neve Campbell as the character Sidney. Notably, Campbell was absent from “Scream VI” due to a salary disagreement with Spyglass Media. According to Campbell herself, she joined the project because they presented an interesting concept that she found compelling. As of now, there are rumors circulating about Courteney Cox and Patrick Dempsey being part of the cast, but their involvement has not been officially confirmed yet.

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2024-11-06 00:32