Who Was The Killer In Scream 1

Alright, grab your latte and put down the butter knife. We need to talk about the ultimate 90s whodunnit. Forget who shot J.R.—the real question that had us all clutching our popcorn was: who actually killed Casey Becker?

Spoiler alert (for the three people who haven’t seen it): it was two people. Yes, two killers, like a murderous buddy cop movie, but with more self-aware film references and less Denzel Washington.

Let’s start with the obvious weirdo. Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich, channeling a greasy, angsty teen who probably owns a Nine Inch Nails poster). He’s the boyfriend with the dead eyes and the habit of popping up in your bedroom window like a creepy human moon. But here’s the twist: Billy wasn’t working alone.

The Surprise Partner in Crime

His partner was his best friend, Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard, acting like a golden retriever on a sugar high). Yes, Stu—the guy who throws parties and watches Wes Craven’s New Nightmare while munching on cheese pizza. He’s the one who technically “stabs” more people, but he’s also the one who gets a TV dropped on his head.

The motive? It’s as dumb as it is hilarious. Billy’s mom slept with Sidney’s dad, which drove Billy’s mom to run off. So Billy’s revenge plot was: kill Sidney and her friends, frame her dad, and blame the movies. Seriously, that’s it. No grand conspiracy, just a very dramatic teenager with a knife and a grudge.

Why Two Killers Worked

Director Wes Craven was a genius for making the killers a duo. It explains how Ghostface could be in two places at once. Like when Stu is at the party while Billy is in jail—turns out, Stu was wearing the robe and slashing people in a cheap Halloween costume. He even faked his own stabbing to throw off suspicion, because apparently, getting gutted builds character.

Here’s a surprising fact: the movie almost had three killers. The original script had a third accomplice: Sidney’s dad. But Craven cut him because, and I quote, “Even for a horror movie, that’s too much family drama.” Imagine if Dad had joined the team. “Honey, I’m home! Also, I brought a hunting knife and a voice changer.”

The Real Clues You Missed

Watch the famous “party scene” again. When everyone is listing suspects, Stu says: “My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at me.” That’s a joke, but it’s also a confession. He’s worried about grounding, not prison. Meanwhile, Billy’s claim that “movies don’t create psychos” is the ultimate gaslight—he’s literally a movie-obsessed psycho.

And let’s talk about the “rules” speech. Randy (Jamie Kennedy) says you never survive if you say “I’ll be right back.” Guess who says it? Stu. Brilliant misdirection—until you realize Stu is pretending to be a victim. He’s breaking the rules on purpose, like a troll playing a horror video game.

The Most Trustworthy Characters Were the Killers

Billy and Stu spend the entire movie acting like terrified victims. Billy cries on Sidney’s shoulder. Stu screams like a baby after being “stabbed.” They’re basically Method actors working on a slasher film degree. And the audience trusted them because they were friends with the hero. Oops.

Fun fact: Matthew Lillard improvised the line “It’s a Scream, baby!” while covered in fake blood. The crew laughed so hard they kept it in. That’s right—the villain’s most iconic line was a improv. Meanwhile, Skeet Ulrich apparently based Billy’s creepy laugh on a sound his own dog made. Historical.

Why We Still Love These Idiots

Billy and Stu are not masterminds. They’re two bored suburban kids who watched Halloween too many times. Their plan included leaving a costume at a crime scene and admitting everything to a tied-up victim. They’re the Dumb and Dumber of horror villains.

And yet, they work. Why? Because they’re having fun. Stu’s manic energy and Billy’s cold rage create this weird, twisted chemistry. When Billy says, “Peer pressure, it’s a bitch,” he’s not wrong. Stu was peer-pressured into murder by a guy who had mommy issues. Peak 90s parenting.

So next time you watch Scream, remember: the killers are two buddies who thought killing a town full of people was a great way to get back at a girl who said “no.” It’s Mean Girls with a Ghostface mask. And honestly? That’s way scarier than any monster.

Now go rewatch the finale. Trust me, you’ll never look at a TV the same way again.