Why the Obsession with STU MACHER from SCREAM?

Ever since the original Scream ended, there’s been this debate about whether Stu Macher is truly dead or not. It’s been a constant, familiar, and very played-out conversation over the last 30 years. Literally thirty years.  

His return to the franchise is so legendary in its hope among Scream fanatics that, in my opinion, it overwhelmed the franchise, even topping the last 2 Scream’s, which were meant to reboot the franchise away from Sidney and her story. 

Scream 1996

But fans just cannot let it go. 

They can’t accept the fact that Stu is dead. If the television dropped on his head didn’t kill him, then he certainly bled out from Billy’s stab wounds. 

I think, partly anyway, that Stu’s return is hopeful because he didn’t die by a gunshot, specifically to the head, like Billy. 

Getting your brains blown out at close range is always a good indicator of death. 

And Stu’s death scene was more artistic, more of a metaphor than the direct death of Billy. The TV playing Halloween, specifically as Laurie stabs Michael Myers, is a great parallel to Stu’s death.  

But then there’s the infamous Scream 3 rumor that writer Kevin Williamson supposedly conjured up. He never wrote an official draft, nor did he write an outline, nor a quick treatment of this mythical Scream 3 script that was to, again supposedly, bring Stu back as the now-jailed mastermind behind the new attacks on Sidney.  

It’s too far-fetched. It never would have worked. I’m glad it got scrapped. Although I’m not really impressed with the Roman angle they went with either, it is still a more believable, and I use that word very lightly, angle than Stu’s return.  

Besides, if you think about it, doesn’t it seem like they just shoehorned Stu’s Ghostface involvement? The original Scream would have worked just as fine if Billy were the lone killer. Sure, some scenes would have had to have been rewritten, but it was possible, if not easy, especially for a talented writer like Williamson.  

And I primarily say this because of Stu’s lame ass motive.  

Billy’s motive was great. Revenge. But Stu’s peer pressure motive is, at first, comical because of how he says it. His tone and his reputation for being a goofball throughout the film are even seen as he’s bleeding to death on the phone with Sidney. But I think his peer pressure motive does make sense.  

During the whole story, Stu’s jester-like attitude is secondary to Billy’s seriousness. Billy is constantly reprimanding Stu. He doesn’t have the patience for Stu and is probably worried that Stu will slip up and let it be known of their involvement in the Woodsboro murders. So, there’s certainly a superior-inferior dynamic going on between Billy and Stu. 

Scream 1996

The peer pressure angle isn’t so far-fetched anymore, except when you apply it to actual murder. You’re telling me Stu was peer-pressured by Billy to kill their friend’s mother? 

That takes a certain amount of the story’s suspension of disbelief that I ignore when watching Scream. But it’s the only angle we have, so I guess we’re stuck with it.  

Stu’s motive is important because the rumor was that he was to return in Scream 3. 

But be honest, would you really believe, even for a second, that Stu’s peer pressure was that strong to keep it going? Was his peer pressure extreme enough to enact revenge on Sidney in another sequel? 

No.

Scream 3 was always intended to be in Hollywood, folks. Part 2 was away at college, and part 3 was to include the Stab movies for its meta value. 

And now, Stu is set to return to Scream 7. Whether that is in a flashback or A.I. or as an actual revived character that’s been somehow alive is up for debate. But I have to ask the question: do you really want Stu to return, and are you really going to buy it when it happens? Other than shock value, what does Stu’s return bring? Just bad storytelling, really, and a level of disrespect for the Scream fans. 

Don’t you think it would be an insult to the audience if Stu returns? I do. He was blatantly killed 30 years ago, and now he’s back. I hope not. I really hope not. I know it’ll be a surprise to see Stu appear on screen as a revived character. It will work for the moment, but in the long run, I think, you’ll likely see it as lazy storytelling for an easy cash grab.