In an interview with io9’s Germain Lussier, the filmmakers acknowledged their flouting of slasher flick tradition. According to Gillett:
“We definitely knew it was going to be controversial. We had that reaction, right? Our reaction was, ‘Whoa, can we do that?’ And then we did, in large part because we thought it felt kind of unsafe and it wasn’t something that we were sure could, you know, quote-unquote, could exist, which made us go like, ‘Well, then let’s make it, and then we’ll see how that plays out.'”
It is a jarring choice, one that the franchise might’ve needed as it reaches the “Jason Lives” threshold of its existence. Per Bettinelli-Olpin, they’re “testing the audience,” trying to knock them off balance and place everything in play.
I like this, but I also think if the series wanted to stick to the meta roots of Kevin Williamson’s original film, they’d make a joke of Ghostface eschewing the use of a shotgun. It’s too easy. The macabre joy of being Ghostface is honoring the slasher film tradition. Why use a shotgun when you can bludgeon someone with a cash register?
Alas, if you’re hoping this is just a one-time blip, Villella has some very bad news. As he told Lussier, “We didn’t go full ‘Stab 8’ with it where it’s a sleeveless Ghostface with a flamethrower. We’ll save that one for whatever they do next.” I say screw it and give Ghostface the nuclear launch codes. Go apocalyptic or go home.
