Scream boasts one of the very best killer reveals of the slasher genre, but there’s a specific reason why Billy Loomis and Stu Macher are never shown alone together until the climax. Released in 1996 and directed by horror icon Wes Craven, the movie’s self-aware tone revolutionized the genre. Drew Barrymore’s terrifying phone call with Ghostface remains one of the greatest opening sequences in all of horror.
The haunting white mask - inspired by Edvard Munch’s expressionist painting “The Scream” - is synonymous with the slasher series. However, the teenagers behind the costume are just as creepy. Billy (Skeet Ulrich), the menacing boyfriend of franchise hero Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), is unspeakably evil for how he manipulates his girlfriend throughout Scream. Meanwhile, Matthew Lillard brings his wonderfully infectious energy to the role of Stu, Billy’s friend and accomplice.
The pair make for a sinister duo, but it’s curious the close friends never actually share any time alone together before the third act reveal, after Stu’s house party. Part of what makes the Scream movies so much fun is guessing the identity of the killer, with Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson continually subverting expectations. It turns out Billy and Stu originally had one scene together away from the central group, but it was cut to preserve the surprise revelation, which is one problem the sequels never encountered.
For most of the film, Billy and Stu are only together within a group setting, including Sidney, movie fanatic Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) and Stu’s girlfriend, Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan). This wasn’t always the case. Speaking to Scream Thrillogy, editor Patrick Lussier reveals one of the very few scenes cut involved the duo and it “was the most damning for the reveal… And just the second you saw them together, they have one moment together. You’re like, oh f***”. The scene in question took place shortly after Stu encourages Sidney to come to his house party. He subsequently confirms this plan with Billy, who belittles him for being dim-witted and lacking “self-esteem,” foreshadowing Stu’s supposed motive of succumbing to peer pressure. Lussier is probably correct in asserting the scene would have given away the reveal, as it's easy to see how the interaction could appear ominous.
Scream deliberately alludes to Billy being the Ghostface killer, but Stu's involvement is meant as a genuine surprise. Combining Lillard’s manic performance with the quietly sinister Ulrich as the characters plan Sidney’s whereabouts would likely have alerted viewers to their intentions. Also, the scene was meant to be followed by their confrontation with a wary Randy in the video store. Including the scenes back-to-back would have underscored the notion they were working together, with Stu backing up Billy, who indirectly threatens Randy for predicting he is the killer. In 1996, it's doubtful anyone expected a second killer. In contrast, Lussier confirms this aspect was emphasized in the sequels, which purposely included more suspects to allow for audience speculation. The original was about innocence, but in the sequels, Sidney was more distrustful of everyone, not knowing how many killers posed as Ghostface.
Billy was always the most likely culprit, but any private discussion with Stu might have given them both away. It's unknown how the scene was actually portrayed, but Lussier is confident its removal was necessary. Billy and Stu are great characters, and the reveal provided Scream with a shocking ending, but remove them from the other characters, and their personalities would clearly seem disturbed.
