Ghostface

“	Do you like scary movies?	„
—Ghostface's signature taunt

Billy Loomis, also known as Ghostface, is a Human serial killer known for his appearances in the highly acclaimed meta-slasher film franchise Scream. A horror movie fanatic turned mass murderer, he is the perpetrator and mastermind of the original Ghostface killing spree in his hometown of Woodsboro, California as the original Ghostface killer. Billy's appearance as Ghostface in the Scream franchise helped revitalize the slasher and horror genres in the late 1990s, helping the Ghostface character to become one of the most recognized characters in the horror genre.

Ghostface made his debut as a playable guest character in Mortal Kombat 1, being the first guest character available as part of the Kombat Pack 2, in addition to being as an announcer for the game's Arcade.

About Ghostface

Ghostface serves as the main antagonist of their origin franchise. The character itself is actually a persona used by various characters in the franchise to hide their identity while they stalk, taunt and gruesomely murder their victims one by one to achieve differing goals, sometimes revenge, greed, or just murdering purely from insanity. Billy Loomis serves as the main antagonist of the original film. He is referenced in later films, serving as the overarching antagonist of the series as his actions inspired others and were the catalyst for later events in the series. He makes minor appearances in the form of hallucinations in Scream (2022) and Scream VI.

Billy Loomis was the only child of Hank and Nancy Loomis and a huge fan of horror movies. As a young man he would become best friends with Stu Macher, as well as becoming the boyfriend of series protagonist Sidney Prescott. His parents would divorce and his mother would abandon Billy, causing severe problems in Billy's life as a result. Discovering his parents' divorce due to an affair Billy's father was having with Sidney's mother, Maureen, he rapes and murders Sidney's mother with the help of Stu and framed another man she was having an affair with. A year after the murder, Billy planned to kill Sidney, as well as many others, then frame her father for the killing spree. During this time, he would regularly cheat on Sidney behind her back, eventually fathering Samantha Carpenter, who becomes the protagonist of later films in the series. He reveals his motives to Sidney on the anniversary of her mother's murder, but when they begin to stage the crime and make mistakes, Sidney is able to thwart and kill them both to stop Billy's rampage.

Despite his death in the original film, Billy was influential to the remainder of the series, becoming the overarching antagonist of the series, as his actions had long lasting effects. In the second film, Scream 2, Billy's mother seeks revenge against Sidney, blaming Sidney's mother ruining her family and Sidney killing her son in the previous film, donning the Ghostface persona just like her son to kill Sidney and her friends. It is revealed in the third film, Scream 3, that Billy discovered the affair about Sidney's mother and his father from Roman Bridger, a music video director-turned movie director that was the secret son of Maureen and the half brother of Sidney. He is revealed as the overarching antagonist of the series, as Roman was the one who convinced Billy to orchestrate the murders, setting the series in motion.

Since his death in the first film, Billy inspired many people to don the Ghostface persona for their own lustful needs of revenge, greed or just pure insanity. These include Mickey Altieri, his mother's psychotic accomplice, Sidney's cousin Jill Roberts and her friend Charlie Walker in the fourth film. Samantha would lead to her being targeted by many Ghostfaces in later films by Amber Freeman, her sister's best friend, Richie Kirsch, Samantha's boyfriend, and Jason Carvey, an amateur Ghostface that wanted to continue Richie's work. He is later killed by a pair of three Ghostfaces consisting of Richie's father and his younger brother and sister, all of whom lie and brand Samantha as a psychotic murderer just like Billy before her.

Appearance

Ghostface's appearance is based off the Billy Loomis iteration of the character from the original film in the Scream franchise, featuring the persona's signature black robe, the iconic white mask from Funworld and buck knife. During Fatal Blows, Fatalities and Brutalities, Ghostface will be unmasked, revealing Billy Loomis's face, with Skeet Ulrich reprising his role as the character.

Roger L. Jackson reprises his role as the voice of the character from the films as well as third season of the television series.

Through the game's Kustomization, Ghostface can equip different masks and robes, with many of the masks being based on Mortal Kombat characters but but also common and alternate Ghostface masks used in real life, such as one with blood dripping from the top of the mask. Additionally, the mask featured in Scream VI is also available, which is the original Ghostface mask, now old and withered, worn by Billy Loomis 28 years prior.

Biography

• Mortal Kombat 1: The many killers who have worn the Ghost Face mask all share a horrifying trait: they take perverse joy in inflicting pain and taking lives. Armed with a menacing knife, an encyclopedic knowledge of horror films, and a psychopathic compulsion to torture, Ghost Face has become an infamous symbol of terror. No sooner did Ghost Face arrive in the New Era, then dead bodies began to pile up. Panic has seized the realms as its citizens fear for who might be this serial killer's next victim.

Lore in Mortal Kombat

As with all guest characters, their lore and Arcade Endings are entirely non-canon to the series, even if specific parts use canonical events.

Due to the multiversal anomalies caused by Titan Shang Tsung, Billy Loomis was transported to the Mortal Kombat universe during the climax of the original Scream when he and his accomplice Stu were about to kill Sidney Prescott. Now in an unknown environment, Billy's appetite for murder wasn't finished and he began terrorizing citizens of Earthrealm under the Ghostface persona. Realizing he didn't have Stu and he needed another accomplice to help or later frame, he managed to convince the Black Dragon clan members Kobra and Kira to help him with his murder spree, which they agreed. Now paired with individuals with enhanced abilities and fighting tactics, Billy was now ready to kill again, in even more gruesome fashion.

Combat Characteristics

Powers and Abilities

Ghostface, being a regular human being, possesses no supernatural or superhuman abilities, but is a skilled hand-to-hand kombatant with knifes and firearms. Ghostface is also known to be very elusive with inhumane levels of stealth, being able to quickly retreat or find ways to catch up to their victims and brutally murder them. Their high levels of deception allows them to trick friends, family and their supposed foes or rivals, as well as having elite levels of taunting and manipulation, allowing them to falsely negotiate with their victims to lure them into a trap to kill them.

Ghostface, when pair with their partner or accomplice, will coordinate their attacks, which helps with their deception and effectiveness in killing. This makes it even more terrifying when both Ghostfaces are present, as unknown how either will act. All Ghostfaces share similar health and any injuries during the game.

As confirmed in the character's Kombat Kast^[2], there are three Ghostfaces during kombat, two of them being Black Dragon members, though not actually identified, are referred to as Enforcer and Assassin. The main Ghostface has the option to call them in for quick assistance or have them enter the fightline entirely to use their enhanced abilities to fight for them. These accomplices are the Black Dragon clan members Kobra and Kira, respectively.

Signature Moves

Due to Ghostface consisting of three characters, Billy Loomis, Kobra, and Kira, respectively, for consistency, Billy will be referred to as Billy/Billy Loomis, while the Enforcer Ghostface/Black Dragon Enforcer and Assassin Ghostface/Black Dragon Assassin will be referred to as Kobra and Kira, respectively. When utilizing attacks shared amongst all the Ghostfaces, they will simply be referred to as Ghostface with further clarification.

Shared Special Attacks

• Backstage Pass: Ghostface retreats then appears behind the opponent, slashing them with their knife. Ghostface is given the opponent to reappear in their original position or cancel slashing the opponent, reappearing without dealing damage. This attack can miss ducking opponents. When this attack is successful, Ghostface can continue combos when timed correctly but not during the same combo. Inputting another command replaces Billy Loomis with either the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface when reappearing, allowing for their special attacks and new combos to be used at the cost of a bar of Super Meter. Should either the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface use this attack, Billy Loomis will return to the fightline. Neither the Enforcer Ghostface nor Assassin Ghostface can swap to each other when using this attack, as Billy will always return instead. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Ghostface slash their opponent first before reappearing to slash the opponent again, dealing increased damage and allowing for follow-up attacks. As with the original, inputting different commands allows Ghostface to reappear in front of the opponent, cancel the attack, or change to a different Ghostface. If the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface, Billy will always be the one to reappear for the follow-up attack opportunity. Swapping to the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface as Billy does not cost Super Meter.
• Always Outnumbered: Ghostface pulls out their phone, calling another Ghostface onto the fightline to attack the opponent from behind. If performed while the opponent is in or near the corner of the arena, the second Ghostface will not appear, leaving the first Ghostface vulnerable. Ghostface can continue combos if this attack is successful. This attack also re-stands the opponent. When used with Kameo Fighter attacks, further combo extensions can be utilized on a standing or juggled opponent. Inputting another command replaces Billy Loomis with either the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface when calling them, however they will not attack the opponent. Doing this costs and spends a bar of Super Meter. When the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface perform this attack, Billy Loomis will be the second Ghostface to attack. Additional alternate attacks can be performed based on an input; (MK1)
  • Always Outnumbered Upper: The second Ghostface uppercuts the opponent into the air for a juggle. This attack can miss ducking opponents.
  • Always Outnumbered Delay: The second Ghostface waits to attack.
  • Cancel Always Outnumbered: The second Ghostface immediately retreats, not attacking the opponent.
    • Enhancing the attack cost two bars of Super Meter and has the second Ghostface immediately grab the opponent and begin stabbing them, only for the original to join in. The second Ghostface will always be called to attack the opponent, regardless if the opponent is in or near the corner of the arena or not. This attack is a Mid Command Grab and is unblockable, although it can miss jumping opponents. This attack also deals increased damage if the opponent is Up Blocking.
• Ghost Face Killer Swap: When performing certain attacks, Billy Loomis will trade places with either the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface, with them glowing briefly then changing their knives to their own. During this time, the new Ghostfaces can perform exclusive basic attacks, combos and special attacks. Performing certain attacks that allowed the swap will result in Billy Loomis returning to the fightline. Additionally during this time, neither the Enforcer Ghostface nor Assassin Ghostface are affected by attacks or special attacks and are Immune to Fatal Blows, as they will immediately exit in a manner like Backstage Pass, returning Billy Loomis to the fightline, however they will still take damage from the resulting attack that caused them to swap back. Billy Loomis is vulnerable in some instances when returning to the fightline after either the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface sustain damage. (MK1)

Billy Loomis

• Father Death: Billy grabs the opponent and stabs them several times in the chest before tossing them away. Billy is given the option to toss the opponent in the opposite direction. This attack is a High Command Grab and is unblockable, although it can miss jumping or ducking opponents. This attack deals increased damage if the opponent is Up Blocking. The opponent is considered airborne when Billy tosses them away, however this window is very small. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Billy carve the opponent's chest with his knife after stabbing them, dealing increased damage. Like the original, Billy is given the option to toss the opponent in the opposite direction. Additionally, enhancing the attack turns it into a Mid Command Grab, allowing it to hit ducking opponents, although it can miss jumping opponents. Also when enhanced, the attack will connect on standing opponents during a combo.
• Psychotic Dive: Billy slashes the opponent's chest then drops down on the ground in a prone position. While prone, Billy can use various attacks and is immune to High Attacks. Billy is considered airborne for the brief moment when diving to the ground. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack grants Armor and deals increased damage while retaining the original effects.
    • Regain Footing: Billy simply stands up.
    • Psychotic Crawl: Billy crawls forward, advancing towards the opponent.
    • Prone Sweep: Billy slashes the opponent's shins, knocking them down and dealing damage.
    • Prone Stab: Billy stabs the opponent in the foot, gut punches them then punches them in the face, standing up. This is a Command Grab and is unblockable, however it can miss jumping opponents. This attack deals increased damage if the opponent is Up Blocking.
      • Enhancing the attack cost two bars of Super Meter and has Billy immediately stand up after stabbing the opponent's foot without retrieving the knife, pinning them to the ground and stunning them, setting them up for a free hit. The attack deals significantly less damage at the expense of the stun effect.
• Psychotic Rush: Billy rushes at the opponent, blade ready as he charges. Billy can run almost half the length of the arena. Billy can perform any version of Father Death, Backstage Pass and Psychotic Dive while rushing at the opponent. Additionally, while rushing, Billy can perform follow-up attacks; (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack causes all follow-up attacks to be enhanced, altering their attacks.
  • Rushing Stab: Billy stabs the opponent several times in the chest, causing them to fall to the ground, after which he quickly cleans his blade.
    • The enhanced version has Billy stab the opponent in the chest and back with two knives, pulling the blades up to carve and slash the opponent's chest and back before kicking them away, dealing increased damage.
  • Rushing Pounce: Billy leaps at the opponent and stabs them, knocking them straight to the ground. This attack is capable of being Up Blocked by the opponent, leaving Billy completely vulnerable after the attack is blocked by the opponent.
    • The enhanced version has Billy stab the opponent several times in the gut, dealing increased damage.
  • Halt: Billy simply stops running.

Enforcer Ghostface aka Kobra

• Horrorshow Act One: Kobra slashes the opponent with his Bowie Knife. This attack has follow-up attacks, granting new effects. Kobra can only perform the follow-up attacks in their respective sequence. (MK1)
  • The enhanced version activates significantly faster and grants Kobra Invulnerability on start-up, where he is unaffected by attacks or damage, with the exception of Fatal Blows. The damage, however, remains the same.
  • Horrorshow Act Two: Kobra performs an upward slash.
  • Horrorshow Act Three: Kobra performs a final downward stab, knocking the opponent to the ground.
    • Enhancing the final attack bounces the opponent off the ground for a juggle however the damage remains the same.
• Black Dragon Slam: Kobra shoulder charges the opponent, knocking them away. Kobra can travel full-screen distance when charging. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack deals increased damage and makes Kobra much safer when the attack is blocked by the opponent.
• Windmill Kick: Kobra performs an overhead spin kick coated in fire that explodes on contact with the opponent, knocking them to the ground. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Kobra perform a jumping flip kick coated in fire that explodes on contact, knocking the opponent into the air for airborne combo attacks. This version of the attack can miss ducking opponents and deals slightly less damage at the expense of the juggle effect.

Assassin Ghostface aka Kira

• Knife Toss: Kira throws her Butterfly Knife at the opponent, dealing damage. Kira can delay the attack as well as cancel the attack while delaying, allowing her to advance or retreat, called Advancing/Retreating Knife Toss Fakeout, respectively. Additionally, Kira can perform the attack while in the air, called (Air) Knife Toss, respectively. When canceling the attack, Kira can continue combos in some instances on a juggled opponent. (MK1)
  • The attack can only be enhanced while delayed, in which Kira will immediately throw her blade, only to throw a second one for increased damage. Kira cannot enhance the attack while in the air. Inputting the command again allows Kira to throw consecutive knifes for even more damage at the cost of a bar of Super Meter, allowing her to throw a total of four knifes. When enhanced, Kira can perform an Advancing/Retreating Knife Toss Fakeout after the first blade toss, allowing her to continue combos in some instances.
• Black Dragon Ball: Kira curls into a ball coated in a purple aura and flies at the opponent, knocking them away. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack has Kira immediately tackle the opponent after knocking them down, where she stabs them repeatedly in the stomach for increased damage.
• Nightshade: Kira throws a cloud of purple mist at the opponent, causing them to stumble. This attack re-stands the opponent and is considered a projectile. (MK1)
  • Enhancing the attack deals increased damage and stuns the opponent, setting them up for a free hit.

Fatal Blow

• Flick Of The Wrist: Ghostface taunts the opponent, with one accomplice standing behind him. The third Ghostface then appears behind the opponent, stabbing them in the back while the second accomplice charges the opponent and smacks them in the face is a frying pan. Ghostface then throws their knife at the opponent, lodging it into their chest then retracts the blade and stabs them in the top of their forearm and pulling downward, cutting their forearm and hand into two sections before stabbing them in the stomach and tossing them away. (MK1)

Other Moves

• Liver Alone!: Billy stabs the opponent in the gut tosses them in the opposite direction and retrieves his knife. (MK1)
  • Ghostface Swap Throw: During the start-up, Billy can choose to alter his Throw for a bar of Super Meter to swap to either the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface, where he stabs them in the gut, only for the respective Ghostface to appear behind the opponent and retrieve the blade, only to stab the opponent in the stomach again with the now altered blade. This Throw does not deal any additional damage. This Throw will always be performed by the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface, swapping them back to Billy Loomis.
• Weary Slice: Ghostface slashes the opponent's stomach. This attack re-stands the opponent. (MK1)
• Collarboned (Combo Attack): Ghostface slashes the opponent twice, then stabs them in the chest before picking them up in a fireman's carry and tossing them into the air in the opposite direction for a juggle. When connecting this combo attack consecutively in a combo, Ghostface will still toss the opponent into the air, but they can no longer continue combos with the exception of Ambush Kameo Attacks. This includes using the Collarboned Basic Attack. The opponent will, however, suffer massive juggle gravity if this is done, making further combo extensions extremely difficult. (MK1)
• Collarboned (Basic Attack): Ghostface stabs the opponent in the chest then picks them up in a fireman's carry and tossing them into the air in the opposite direction for a juggle. When connecting this attack consecutively in a combo, Ghostface will still toss the opponent into the air, but they can no longer continue combos with the exception of Ambush Kameo Attacks. This includes using the Collarboned Combo Attack. The opponent will, however, suffer massive juggle gravity if this is done, making further combo extensions extremely difficult. (MK1)

Fatalities

• Slashing The Fourth Wall: Ghostface approaches the opponent, slitting their throat. They begin to repeatedly stab the opponent until they fall to the ground, only for the camera to cut to a living room, revealing Johnny Cage is playing Mortal Kombat 1, playing as the character being killed by Ghostface. He complains, tossing his controller to the side, only for a second Ghostface to come from behind and stab him in the chest, murdering him off screen as the original Ghostface stands up, looking directly at the camera as blood splatters on the television screen. (MK1)
• Planning the Sequel: Ghostface approaches the opponent and eviscerates their stomach with their knife. As they hold their intestines and flee, they are intercepted by another Ghostface that stabs them in the forehead, where the first stabs them in the back from behind. As the first Ghostface retracts their blade, the second cuts the opponent's head into two sections and kicks them away. The pair then turn to the camera, wiping their blades clean as they laugh. (MK1)

Brutalities

Some attacks are restricted to specific versions of Ghostface and as such so are some Brutalities. For Brutalities exclusive to Billy Loomis, he will be named as such. For Brutalities exclusive to the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface, they will be referred to as Kobra or Kira. For Brutalities shared amongst all the Ghostfaces, they will be referred to as Ghostface.

• The Klassic: Ghostface performs their uppercut, decapitating the opponent with a rising slash of their knife. (MK1)
• Got A Surprise: Billy performs an enhanced Father Death, only this time, he stabs the opponent directly in the forehead. The opponent swings for a punch as Billy watches, only for them to collapse and die shortly after. (MK1)
• Feelin' A Little Woozy: Ghostface performs their Backwards Throw, but when an accomplice or Billy comes from behind to grab the blade, they stab the opponent in the side of the neck, causing them to bleed to death. (MK1)
• A Bit Mad: Ghostface performs their enhanced Always Outnumbered, only this time, the attack is extended, with both Ghostfaces mercilessly stabbing the opponent in the chest. When done, both Ghostfaces turn to the camera, cleaning their blades in unison. (MK1)
• Every Time!: Ghostface performs their Stab: The Trilogy combo, only this time, they keep stabbing the opponent until a large hole is left in their chest. (MK1)
• Please Don't Kill Me: Kira performs an enhanced Black Dragon Ball, but after forcing them to the ground, the opponent attempts in vain to stop Kira from stabbing them, only to fail, where Kira stabs them in the chest before stabbing them repeatedly in the stomach. After the kill, she quickly looks at the camera, accompanied by a horror movie music stinger. (MK1)
• Deputy Dead: Billy performs an enhanced Psychotic Rush then a Rushing Stab, cutting the opponent so deep with both of his knives that that it cuts the opponent vertically in half from the chest down, causing their organs to fall out. He then pulls out his voice changer and mocks the opponent. (MK1)
• Let's Face It: Kira performs a Knife Toss, with the blade piercing through the opponent's forehead. (MK1)
• Secret Always Outnumbered Brutality: Ghostface performs an Always Outnumbered Upper, with the second Ghostface decapitating the opponent with a rising slash of their knife. (MK1 - Secret)

Other Finishers

• Animality - Critically Endangered: Ghostface transforms into a condor, diving straight into the opponent's chest and begins to eviscerate their open chest cavity with their beak before pulling out their spine, along with the opponent's attached head, through the gaping hole in their chest. (MK1)

Quotes

Mortal Kombat 1 Gameplay

• "Surprise!"
• "This is my movie." (Brutality quote)
• "Guess you had a death wish." (Brutality quote)
• "Now I see something red." (Brutality quote)
• "Now I see something green." (Brutality quote against Reptile)
• "Now I see something silver." (Brutality quote against T-1000)
• "You won't get a sequel." (Brutality quote)
• "That was overdue." (Brutality quote)
• "You're going to the fucking morgue!" (After winning a round)
• “Don’t hang up on me again!” (After winning a round)
• “Not in this game!” (After winning a round)
• “Are you watching?” (After winning a round)
• ”Cut flesh, scrape bone.” (After winning a round)
• "It's a simple game." (After winning a round)
• "Now you lose." (After winning a round)
• "So much fun." (After winning a round)
• "Hey! We're not finished yet." (After winning a round)
• "You're too weak for this franchise!" (After winning a round)
• "Did you miss me?" (After winning a round)
• "Do you want to die tonight?" (After winning a round)

Ending

• Mortal Kombat 1: "One minute I'm in Woodsboro, closing in for the kill. Then the next, somehow... ...I'm here. How'd it happen? And why? Don't know and I don't care! What I do know is I'm gonna sink my teeth into this plot twist! But people here don't know me. And if I'm gonna relish making mayhem, I need 'em fucking scared. Live streaming some kills would do the trick. The shredded flesh and splattered blood will go viral. And that's when the fun really begins... I can't wait to start stacking bodies. To see the eyes go dark as they die. I do this right, someone will wanna turn it into a videogame. (chuckling) And they say *I'm* a psycho..."

Trivia

General

• Although never initially identified, Ghostface was referred to as the "original killer" and advertisements for the character referenced the killer's origins to be Woodsboro, hinting at the possibility that the killer would be Billy Loomis. This is confirmed in gameplay during Fatal Blows and Fatalities, in which Ghostface is unmasked to reveal Billy Loomis.
  • Despite this, Ghostface's gameplay features many references to their origin franchise as well as Arcade Interactions that make similar references, things that Billy would not be aware of at all.
    • This includes a mirror match interactions featuring Ghostface with one asking "What's *your* favorite scary movie?" and the other responding with "Stab! What else?". Ironically, the fictional Stab franchise is a meta-parody of the Scream franchise as well as being inspired by the murders Billy committed, a series he would know nothing about due to being dead beforehand.
• Billy Loomis is the youngest guest character in Mortal Kombat history at only 18 years old.
• As revealed in his Arcade Ending, Ghostface was transported to the Mortal Kombat universe during the climax of the original Scream.
• The Ghostface persona is typically referred to with gender neutral pronouns due to there being multiple killers under the mask, however the character and persona has been referred to with he/him pronouns due to the voice changer the character uses being a male voice.
• Stephanie Brownback had stated on X that she had seen the original Scream in theaters and had always wanted to feature Ghostface as a guest character due to being such a big fan.^[3]
  • During the Kombat Kast, which Stephanie was present, she even makes references to many of the films.
• Ghostface is the first slasher and horror character featured in a Mortal Kombat game since Mortal Kombat X, ending a 9 year drought of slasher guest characters.
  • Additionally, he is only the fourth slasher character featured as a guest in the series after Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Leatherface.
  • He is also the overall sixth horror movie guest character featured in the series.
  • He is also the second Wes Craven character featured in the series alongside Freddy Krueger.
• Ghostface is the first masked slasher villain that is actually unmasked during gameplay, unlike previous characters such as Jason Voorhees and Leatherface who can never be unmasked even during gameplay that make other characters' masks fall off.
• Ghostface is the first guest character to be considered multiple characters, as the character consists of three Ghostfaces during gameplay, similar to their origin franchise of consisting of multiple killers.
• Ghostface is the second slasher featured in the series with no supernatural or superhuman abilities after Leatherface.
  • Although Jason's machete and Leatherface's chainsaw returns to them in supernatural ways in Mortal Kombat X, this is purely a gameplay mechanic.
    • This is however contradicted for the character's accomplices, who are Black Dragon members with enhanced abilities.
      • With this, Ghostface is the second guest character in the series to use characteristics of other Mortal Kombat characters for gameplay, as the accomplices are Kobra and Kira. The first was The Xenomorph who borrows similar attacks and combos from Baraka due to having spawned from a Tarkatan host.
• Ghostface, along with his other Kombat Pack 2 kombatants, was leaked several times before his reveal through data mining.
  • One instances of a major leak, which was accidently leaked by NetherRealm Studios, was with the release of a Mileena Announcer Voice for Mortal Kombat 1. Mileena featured audio lines for announcing Ghostface, which further supported rumors the character was coming to the game.^[4]
• Ghostface is voice by Roger L. Jackson, who voiced the character in both their origin franchise and other media appearances for the character and reprises the role for Ghostface's appearance in MK1. When unmasked, they use Skeet Ulrich's facial model, with Roger L. Jackson providing the voice for gameplay as well.
  • This makes Ghostface one of the few guest characters in which their original actor reprises their role as the character in full capacity.
• The Ghostface persona has appeared in many games before their appearance in Mortal Kombat, some of these games include being a playable operator in Call of Duty as well as a playable Killer in the asymmetrical survival horror game Dead by Daylight.
  • Roger L. Jackson reprises his role as the character in Call of Duty, however Filip Ivanovic, an Art Director at Behaviour Interactive, voices the character in Dead by Daylight.
  • Interestingly enough, the idea of using many masked Ghostfaces in Mortal Kombat was previously used in Dead By Daylight.
• In Ghostface's Slashing the Fourth Wall Fatality, Johnny Cage criticizes the character as "He's a dude with a knife!". This is a joke made by NetherRealm Studios about the common criticism of Ghostface appearing in the series by the community, as the character possesses no supernatural/superhuman abilities.
• Ghostface is the only character in Mortal Kombat history to kill multiple kombatants during a Fatality, as they will always kill Johnny Cage and their respective opponent during their Slashing The Fourth Wall Fatality.
• Ghostface is a selectable announcer in the game alongside many other characters. This makes them the third guest in the series after RoboCop and Omni-Man to serve as an announcer for the game they are playable in.

Mortal Kombat 1

• Ghostface's virtue is presented as "Deranged Amusement".
• When Ghostface performs specific Brutalities, they will pull out their voice changer and say a Brutality Victory Quote. Inputting a specific command beforehand will have Ghostface say a quote their opponent would say after a Brutality instead.
• Ghostface is the only character in the game that does not pose with their respective Kameo Fighter after their Fatalities. Other characters such as Johnny Cage, Liu Kang, and fellow guests Omni-Man, Homelander, Conan and T-1000 share this trait but only with one of their Fatalities.
• When performing a Rushing Stab and at the end of their Planning the Sequel Fatality, Ghostface wipes their blade clean. This is a common gesture that everyone does who dons the Ghostface mask.
  • Interestingly if Ghostface's knife gets coated in blood from attacks during gameplay, successfully performing a Rushing Stab or an enhanced Always Outnumbered will clean the blade.
• Ghostface's move list features many references to their original franchise, as all guest characters do, and cinema, including horror movies. These include the following;
  • Their basic attack Craven Knockout is named after the late filmmaker Wes Craven, who created not only the Scream franchise, but also the Hills Have Eyes and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises among others.
    • Ghostface's Animality is a tribute Wes Craven. Craven was an avid birder or birdwatcher.
  • The combo attack Your Bloody Valentine is reference to the 1981 Canadian slasher film My Bloody Valentine and its 2009 3D remake.
  • The combo attack Surprise, Sidney is a reference to a classic Ghostface quote in which when the killer revealed themselves to series protagonist Sidney Prescott, they'd say "Surprise, Sidney".
    • Sidney's cousin Jill Roberts would use a slightly altered version when she revealed herself to Sidney, stabbing her cousin, revealing herself as the killer saying "Hello, Sidney. Surprised?".
  • The basic attack and follow-up combo attacks called Rough Cut, Director's Cut and Final Cut are known terms when describing early, the director's version and the final product of a film in cinema, as movies are a main theme of the Scream franchise.
  • The basic and combo attacks called Stab, Stab: The Sequel, Stab Trilogy and Stab: The Requel are all references to the fictional film within a film franchise Stab which is a meta-parody of the Scream franchise.
    • The term requel is used in the film industry is used in the film industry to describe a film that is both a sequel and reboot of the franchise as well as where a film franchise is revisited without being a remake or a linear continuation of the plot.
  • The basic attack Weary Slice is a reference to Cotton Weary, a minor character in the first film but major character in the second film, as Billy Loomis framed him to be the murderer of Sidney's mother but was eventually released when Billy and Stu were revealed as the true killers.
  • The name of Ghostface's basic Throw is called Liver Alone!, which is a joking phrase coined by Stu Macher when Sidney and her friends are discussing the murders and Randy Meeks starts bugging Stu's girlfriend, so Stu tells Randy to "liver alone", prompting Billy to hit him in annoyance.
  • The frying pan used by one of the Ghostfaces during their Fatal Blow is a reference to the death of Steven Stone in Scream 3, in which, after being stabbed by Ghostface, the killer uses a frying pan to incapacitate an already wounded Steven before he dies shortly after in a later scene.
    • In Scream VI, Gale uses the frying pan and manages to incapacitate Ghostface in her apartment.
  • The enhanced version of the Rushing Stab follow-up attack when using the Psychotic Rush special attack as well as the Deputy Dead Brutality is a reference to the death of series favorite Dewey Riley, would had survived every Ghostface encounter until his demise in the fifth film in the series.
  • The Psychotic Dive special attack is a reference to a scene in Scream VI in which a prone Ghostface tries to stab Gale Weathers in her apartment while she crawls away from him.
    • The basic attack called Gale Force Boot is also named after the character.
  • The Brutality Got a Surprise is a reference to the death of Officer Anthony Perkins in Scream 4 who gets stabbed directly in the forehead by the killer, exits his police car aimlessly swinging his arms at the killer who merely watches him, only to exhaust himself, quipping "Fuck Bruce Willis" before collapsing and dying.
  • The enhanced version of Always Outnumbered, the Brutality A Bit Mad, as well as the last moments of their Planning The Sequel Fatality are all references to Chad who was attacked by two Ghostfaces in Scream VI, however he survived the attack despite the horrific injuries.
    • The Fatality also features a moment in which Ghostface is seen in the opponent's eye, a reference to Arthur Himbry's death in the first film, in which Ghostface mask is seen in the reflection of his eye after being murdered.
      • If this Fatality is performed on Kenshi, the shot of the second Ghostface reflecting off of the victim's eyes is replaced by a shot of them from Kenshi's point of view, due to Kenshi lacking eyes.
    • The Fatality's name Planning The Sequel is also a reference to the climax of the first film. After Billy and Stu reveal their plans of framing the murders and pretend to be victims by stabbing each other, Stu will say "Everybody dies, but us, we get to carry on and plan the sequel!".
  • The Brutality Please Don't Kill Me is a reference to the death of Sheriff Judy Hicks in Scream (2022) who gets stabbed multiple times in the stomach before Ghostface delivers the final stab outside her home.
  • The Brutality Feelin' A Little Woozy is a quote from Stu Macher once again during the ending of the first film when he and Billy start staging the murders by stabbing each other. Billy stabs Stu one too many times, with Stu saying "I can't take anymore! I'm feelin' a little woozy here!".
    • Fittingly the Brutality is also a reference to the death of the first Ghostface victim in Scream (2022), the victim being Stu's nephew Vince Schneider.
• Many Arcade interactions with characters reference the Scream franchise, Billy's character, other works or things regarding cinema, or the Ghostface persona. These include many of the following;
  • A mirror match interaction between Ghostfaces reveals that the other is Stu Macher, Billy's accomplice from the original film. This is just an Easter Egg in the Arcade, as performing Fatal Blows, Fatalities or Brutalities on either Ghostface will still be Billy Loomis.
  • Another interaction between Ghostfaces has one of them say that Stab is their favorite scary movie. Stab is the fictional meta-parody of the Scream films within the Scream franchise, as stated above.
  • An interaction with Omni-Man has him ask if Ghostface's plan is to go trick-or-treating. Ghostface is an extremely common and popular Halloween costume.
  • An interaction with Ermac has the construct ask who is behind the mask, with Ghostface quipping "The secret's killing you, isn't it?". This is a reference to the "whodunit" nature of the Scream franchise, as audiences, as well as the characters in the film, are always left guessing who the Ghostface killer is until the film's climax.
  • In the original film, Ghostface taunts and then plays a game of murder trivia with the character Casey Becker. Quotes from this scene are referenced in interactions with many characters;
    • When Ghostface interacts with Kitana saying he wants to "see what your insides look like", this was him taunting Casey to scare her.
    • Casey threatens to get her boyfriend Steven but Ghostface has already kidnapped him. He is murdered after Casey fails a trivia question. This entire sequence is referenced with different interactions with Kung Lao, Bi-Han and Johnny Cage.
      • Ghostface asks Kung Lao to "name the killer in Friday the 13th," as he did to Casey. Kung Lao does not know the film, while Casey incorrectly answers with Jason Voorhees.
      • Bi-Han tells Ghostface he thought this "game" was done, which Ghostface says "Lucky for you, there's a bonus round". He says this exact quote to Casey after she fails the trivia question.
      • Ghostface claims to have killed Johnny's ex-wife, Cristina, saying "Poor Cristina, I'm afraid she's out". After the bonus round quote, Ghostface says this with Steven's name instead, which then cuts to a tied and gagged Steven with his intestines falling out after being gutted by the killer.
  • Another interaction with Kitana has her call Ghostface a "nightmare" which he responds by saying "No, that's the guy with the glove and fedora". This is a reference to Freddy Krueger.
  • An interaction with Homelander has Ghostface say "A super man goes fascist? Now that's a scary movie". This is a common detail about Homelander as he is often considered an "evil Superman".
    • This could also be a reference to the Injustice series, as Superman is a tyrannical ruler in that universe.
    • This could also be a reference to Homelander's cunning, sadistic nature on Prime Video's series, The Boys.
    • This could also be a reference to the superhero horror film, Brightburn, which feature Brandon Breyer using his superpowers for evil intentions.
  • An interaction with Liu Kang has the Fire God ask "Have there been others like you?" to which Ghostface responds with "At least six, by my count". This could be a reference to many things;
    • Six could mean Ghostface is talking about the six films in the Scream franchise at the time of the character's release.
    • Six could also mean the motive of other Ghostfaces, as six of the fourteen Ghostfaces in the series had a similar motive like Billy's; revenge.
      • This includes Billy himself and his mother, Roman Bridger, Sidney's half-brother, and Richie Kirsch's father, brother and sister.
  • An interaction with Tanya has Ghostface say "Pretty women make the best victims". This is a reference to movies in cinema usually having beautiful women, typically called "Eye Candy", in films to garner attention to certain audience types, with horror movies usually having them to be killed off rather quickly in the films.
  • An interaction with Sektor has her call Ghostface an amateur, which he rebuts by saying, "I'm a natural born killer!". This is a reference to the ultra-violent and highly controversial black-comedy crime film Natural Born Killers.
  • Another interaction with Sektor has him say "This story's plot isn't done twisting", which is a reference to the many plot twists within the Scream franchise.
  • An interaction with Shang Tsung has Ghostface call himself the "heavy, not a henchman", This is a reference to Billy being the primary Ghostface and using Stu as his accomplice to achieve his goals, as Stu had no actual motive besides peer pressure.
  • An interaction with General Shao has the General say he will crush Ghostface, to which he responds saying "I'll survive. I always do". This is a reference to the fact that Ghostface is just a persona and not the actual killer, which in turn is a reference to how no matter which previous killer had died in a Scream film, there is always someone to don the mask next.
    • Sidney says this line in the fifth film during the ending of the film when talking to Samantha.
  • An interaction with Sindel has Ghostface compliment her saying she has "quite a scream". This is a pun about the Scream franchise.
  • An interaction has Johnny Cage practically call Ghostface crazy, to which he replies "I prefer the term psychotic". This is a reference to the first film, in which Sidney called both Billy and Stu crazy, with Stu replying "We prefer the term psychotic",
    • Johnny will reference a common Johnny Cage joke that started in Mortal Kombat X which is also a reference to the horror film The Shining by saying "Heeere's Johnny!", which makes Ghostface happy.
  • An interaction with Rain has the mage describe the type of evil Ghostface is, which has the killer say "Why do you think I'm so popular?", a reference to the character's popularity in pop culture.
    • In a more darker, taboo manner, the character has also inspired real-life murders or people that used the Scream franchise for ideas in their murders. For a list of some of these crimes, see the Controversies section on Wikipedia.
  • An interaction with Smoke has the ninja ask how many people have Ghostface murdered, to which the killer responds with "You know what. I've lost count. Check the wiki". This is an overall reference to the Scream Wiki which does document the kills of every Ghostface. Other Wikis that do this include the Killcounts Wiki and The Dead Meat Wiki, respectively.
    • Another interaction with Smoke has the ninja tell Ghostface movies have made him a psycho. Ghostface will respond with "Movies don't make psychos. They make psychos more creative". This is an alteration of a quote from Billy when Sidney says they've seen one too many movies, with Billy saying "Now, Sid. Don't you blame the movies. Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative!"
  • An interaction with Kuai Liang is an alteration of a scene in Scream VI. Kuai will state "There's no honor in slaughter", with Ghostface saying "Honor?! Who gives a fuck about honor?". The original quote is from Jason Carvey, an amateur Ghostface wanting to finish the events of the fifth movie, only to be attacked by the real Ghostface of the film. Jason quips "But we have to finish the movie" with Ghostface saying "Who gives a fuck about movies?" before they finish killing Jason.
  • An interaction with Li Mei has Ghostface say she is "One more cop for my killography". This is a pun towards the word filmography as well as a reference to the number of cops Ghostface has killed in the franchise, which is total of six, although Dewey Riley was retired by the time of his death in Scream (2022).
    • Coincidently, Billy Loomis never killed any police officer, nor did Stu Macher, his accomplice, however they gravely wounded Dewey when one of them, presumably Stu, stabbed Dewey in the back, causing him a severe limp for the reset of his appearances in the franchise.
  • An interaction with Kenshi has the blind swordsman stating he will end Ghostface's bloodshed, to which Ghostface mockingly replies "What are you? The Tokyo gore police?". The Tokyo Gore Police is a Japanese horror film noted to be very gory, perverse, and bizarre.
    • Specifically, Ghostface could be comparing Kenshi to the movie's protagonist Ruka. Like Kenshi, Ruka's signature weapon is a katana, and at one point was permanently blinded (in her case the right eye) in a battle but was able recover and regain her sight through unconventional means.
• Ghostface's gameplay quotes are also references to the franchise as well;
  • Ghostface's quote "Now I see something red" is a reference to what the amateur Ghostface, Jason Carvey, said when he got his first kill.
    • Ghostface will have an alternate version of this quote when playing against Reptile, saying "Now I see something green".
  • Ghostface's quotes "Do you wanna die?" and "Do you want to die tonight?" are typically spoken by the killer over the phone when they end their friendly charade and move in for the kill.
    • Notably, Ghostface said these quotes when they attacked Sidney Prescott for the first time in the original film and later to Cici Cooper in the second film, respectively.
  • Ghostface's quotes "It's a simple game" and "Now you lose" are what they said to Cotton Weary just before they killed him in the opening of the third film after Cotton refused to disclose information about Sidney Prescott to the killer.
  • Ghostface's quote "I'll gut you" is what he threatened to do to Casey Becker in the first film after she tried to hang up on them for the final time. The killer would ultimately do what they said, gutting her and hanging her from a tree.
  • Ghostface's quote "You're going to the fucking morgue" is what they said to Sidney's publicist before murdering her in the fourth film.
  • Ghostface's quote "Better start running" is what they said to Jenny Randall after killing her friend Marnie and chasing her around her house in the opening of the fourth film.
• Ghostface is the only main roster character to have two entirely different basic Throw attacks.
  • Although General Shao has two separate Throws dependent on if his ax is present or not, it is a slightly modified version of his original Throw, while Ghostface performs two entirely different Throws depending on if an accomplice is summoned.
• Like fellow guest character Jason Voorhees, some of Ghostface's attacks and finishers are accompanied by horror movie music stingers.
• Ghostface's gear in the Kustomization reference many pieces of pop culture as well as the Mortal Kombat series;
  • The Aged mask is based off Billy's original mask used in Scream VI.
  • The Silver Anniversary mask is the silver version of the 25th Anniversary Ghostface mask.
  • The Scarecrow mask is inspired by the DC Comics villain, Scarecrow.
  • The Devil Face is identical to the one that appears in the asymmetrical horror game Dead by Daylight, which a version of Ghostface appears in.
  • The Bloody mask is inspired by the popular Halloween Ghostface mask, which features a heart-shaped pump that splashes theatrical blood all over the mask.
  • The Covert Slayer sports Scorpion's klassic ninja mask.
  • The Woodsboro Butcher is a version of the original mask infected with Tarkat, turning it Tarkatan.
  • The Concealed mask is heavily inspired by The Terminator.
  • The Ruthless Cuthroat palette is inspired by Shang Tsung's robe from Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. The robe could also be inspired by the robes worn by the Shadow Priests throughout the series.
• Ghostface's Advancing/Retreating Knife Toss Fakeout Special attack was removed from the game temporarily due to a programming oversight that caused infinite, unblockable combos to be possible by stunning the opponent then performing the cancel. The attack was restored and the error was corrected with release of Conan.

Errors

• When Ghostface's Planning the Sequel Fatality was revealed during the Khaos Reigns Story Mode reveal trailer, one of the Ghostfaces incorrectly cleans their knife with the blade pointing in an incorrect direction.^[5]
  • This was corrected in their official teaser trailer released on October 29th, 2024.^[6]
• Promotional material as well as the in-game name for the character lists the name spelled as Ghostface, however in the character's Bio Kard and in his moveset, the name is spelled Ghost Face. Although this is not actually a spelling error as the name can be spelt this way, this is a consistency error.
• As with many characters in the series and their weapons and/or accessories, Ghostface's knife will incorrectly swap sides when changing stances.
• When Billy Loomis swaps to the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface, one can see his original knife clipping through the new Ghostface's knife before disappearing.
• The bottom of Ghostface's mask will sometimes clip through his chest. This is more visible during a Dizzy Fatality Sequence.
• On some occasions, if the opponent uses a Combo Breaker just as Billy Loomis swaps to the Enforcer Ghostface or Assassin Ghostface, the player will remain as that respective Ghostface for the rest of the round or if they use an attack that swaps them back to Billy, bypassing the fixed time limit of how long an accomplice will stay on the fightline. They will swap back to Billy Loomis if they are successfully attacked.
• During Ghostface's Planning the Sequel Fatality, when the opponent screams "NOOO", they are called "Victim" in the subtitles; however, the "v" is erroneously lowercased.
• The name of Ghostface's Ruthless Cuthroat palette is spelt wrong, missing an extra "T" in Cutthroat.
• After Conan's release, a bug with Ghostface's "Now I see something red" Brutality quote may cause him to instead say "Now I see something green" or "Now I see something silver", which are alternate versions of the quote against Reptile and T-1000, even against opponents with regular, red blood.

References

Navigation

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Ashrah | Baraka | Bi-Han | Blaze | Bo' Rai Cho | Cassie Cage | Cetrion | Chameleon | Cyrax | D'Vorah | Daegon | Dairou | Darrius | Drahmin | Ermac | Erron Black | Ferra | Frost | Fujin | General Shao | Geras | Goro | Hanzo Hasashi | Havik | Hotaru | Hsu Hao | Jacqui Briggs | Jade | Jarek | Jax Briggs | Johnny Cage | Kabal | Kai | Kano | Kenshi | Khameleon | Kintaro | Kira | Kitana | Kobra | Kollector | Kotal Kahn | Kronika | Kuai Liang | Kung Jin | Kung Lao | Kurtis Stryker | Li Mei | Liu Kang | Mavado | Meat | Mileena | Mokap | Moloch | Motaro | Nightwolf | Nitara | Onaga | Quan Chi | Raiden | Rain | Reiko | Reptile | Sareena | Sektor | Shang Tsung | Sheeva | Shinnok | Shujinko | Sindel | Skarlet | Smoke | Sonya Blade | Takeda | Tanya | Taven | Torr | Tremor | Triborg Mortal Kombat series - Minor Characters This box: view • talk • edit Apep | Argus | Caro | Delia | Descendant of Apep | Earth God | Fire God | Floyd | Great Kung Lao | Harumi Hasashi | Hydro | Jataaka | Jerrod | Kalima | Katara Vala | Kharon | Kia | King Gorbak | Madam Bo | No Face | One Being | Orin | Overlord Zeffeero | Satoshi Hasashi | Tasia | Water God Mortal Kombat series - Guest Characters This box: view • talk • edit Conan | Freddy Krueger | Ghostface | Homelander | Jason Voorhees | The Joker | Kratos | Leatherface | Omni-Man | Peacemaker | The Predator | RoboCop | Rambo | Spawn | The Terminator | The T-1000 | The Xenomorph Mortal Kombat series - DC Characters (MKvsDCU) This box: view • talk • edit Batman | Captain Marvel | Catwoman | Dark Kahn | Darkseid | Deathstroke | The Flash | Green Lantern | The Joker | Lex Luthor | Superman | Wonder Woman