If you see a mysterious figure in a mask who looks like they want to kill you, don’t worry: it’s probably just a marketing stunt for “Scream 6.” The new movie hits theaters on March 10 and in the days leading up to its premiere, fans have spotted the film’s iconic villain Ghostface out and about in cities across the country. But it’s not some wave of movie-inspired copycats (which, actually, is pretty much the plot of the “Scream” franchise) – it’s a marketing campaign for the movie, Variety confirmed.
One of the first IRL Ghostface sightings occurred in California’s Bay Area, as Kron4 reported on Feb. 27. The outlet noted that the first “Scream,” released in 1996, was filmed nearby where the Ghostface figure was spotted in the town, scaring residents. The town’s community center stood in for Woodsboro’s high school. Kron4 noted that someone called the police on the Ghostface figure, who told the cops they had been hired by Paramount to promote the movie.
The official Ghostface Twitter account retweeted the news outlet’s photo and wrote, “I was just minding my business.” The account also retweeted a roundup of photos from different locations shared by Pop Crave and wrote, “I’m watching you.”
I was just minding my business https://t.co/aG8bc3J4Cc
– Ghostface (@GhostfaceTalks_) March 1, 2023
The new Ghostface marketing campaign is reminiscent of another viral campaign Paramount did to promote the horror movie “Smile” last summer, in which the studio hired actors to smile menacingly in the front row at various MLB games.
Meanwhile, the actual “Scream VI” movie will set Ghostface loose in a brand-new environment: New York City. It’s the first time the franchise’s action has been set on the east coast, with four of the five previous films taking place in California (“Scream 2” takes place in Ohio). The new movie reunites most of the surviving cast of “Scream 5,” including Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, and Mason Gooding. Courteney Cox also returns as the iconic Gale Weathers, and Hayden Panettiere reprises her role from “Scream 4” as Kirby Reed for the first time. It’s also the first film in the “Scream” franchise that won’t feature Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott.