Summary
Somehorrormovie side characters don’t hold a candle to the main ones, but I thinkmurder suspect Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) is one of the most unforgettable in theScreamfranchise. Since Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) believes that he killed her mother Maureen, he’s an unlikable villain from the start. Then, as time goes on, the cracks in the story start to show, and audiences learn more about Cotton’s innocence. I liked watching Cotton as he’s a complicated character. I also liked seeing Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Sidney butt heads over the question of Cotton’s guilt.
As I and other horror fans wait forScream 7, I’m having fun reading various fan theories, especially aboutwhether Sidney’s husband Mark Evans (Joel McHale) could be Ghostface. That’s definitely a possibility. But what abouta Ghostface killer who has ties to Cotton? That’s one thrilling fan theory, and I’m interested in exploring it.
I Love The Idea That Scream 7’s Ghostface Is Tied To Cotton Weary
In aReddit thread, one Redditor shared their idea for the killers inScream 7. There have beenseveral fan theories regarding Ghostfaceand this one suggests thatthere could be a few Ghostfaces. The fan wrote:
“Sidney’s best friend/neighbor, and her son will be relatives of Cotton Weary. Potentially his daughter and grandson, or sister and nephew. I think Kevin Williamson being in the chair for the movie makes this much more likely; Cotton is his creation, and the character has not yet been explored really in a way that the original antagonists of Scream have.”
Redditor @ThePicturesGirl replied, “Cotton having a kid would not be unrealistic.” Redditor @neonblakk agreed with the fan theory:
“That’s a great motive. Someone who blames Sidney for Cotton and his girlfriend’s (their mother’s) death.”
I like this idea because it’s hard to knowwhy the new Ghostface is targeting Sidney Prescott. If they want revenge, what bone could they have to pick with her? It’s been several years since the story started, after all. Ghostface needs a good and logical reason to be angry with Sidney, and this one makes sense. Otherwise, it might seem odd and random that Sidney is back dealing with the danger she once thought was over for good.
I also think this fan theory works well becauseit wouldhelpScream 7find its identity and voice. If Ghostface was a family member of Cotton’s, thenScream 7would go back to the beginning. If reboots and sequels are exercises in nostalgia and fans want to see Sidney in all her final girl glory, why not refer back to an original character? Maybe thenScream 7could include severaljokes about original horror movies and how the first entry in a franchise is always the best.
While Cotton’s name was cleared, Sidney still understandably has a complex relationship with him since she has dealt with so much tragedy and trauma over the years.Sidney is also raiisng her family nowand even more terrified. Sidney would no doubt be horrified by the thought that his family was going after her, and this wouldmake for a thrilling Ghostface reveal.
What Happened To Cotton Weary In The Scream Franchise?
Cotton Weary has asurprising character arc in theScreamfranchise. After being introduced in the original 1996 movie, audiences quickly learn that Sidney Prescott believes Cotton is guilty and doesn’t want to hear from anyone who thinks otherwise. Then, inScream 2, Cotton wants to do a joint Diane Sawyer interview with Sidney.Cotton’s arc changes from a convicted criminal to a character chasing fame and fortuneand it’s fascinating to watch.
Although I lovethe meta horror movie commentary of theScreamfranchise, I also appreciate that the first three movies offer a commentary on the true crime genre as well. As Gale Weathers becomes famous as a result of her reporting on Cotton, the franchise asks big and important questions about the temptation that some have to sensationalize a crime.
After living a famous life in Los Angeles,Ghostface murders Cotton at the beginning ofScream 3. The killer tells him:
“It was a simple game, Cotton. You should’ve told me where Sidney was. Now, you lose.”
I thinkScream 3has the worst openingScreamsequence, but at least Cotton got a logical end to his character arc. As it turns out,Schreiber wanted Cotton to be killed. The actor toldShort Listin 2014, “I wanted out by that point – not because I was tired of the series, I just thought it would be fun to get covered in the blood and all that stuff.”
