Ghostface returned in 1997, merely one year after Wes Craven’s Scream became the most powerful argument for the “’90s horror doesn’t suck” conversation. There was no better moment to release it; audiences had stopped believing in horror films because of a couple of bad examples, and one after another, they were seemingly based on a formula that didn’t prove to be popular. Kevin Williamson took all of that, a collective feeling, and his love for horror tropes, and built the perfect script. It was only mandatory to follow up on that.

Thus, came Scream 2. An immediate sequel that brought back all characters that applied and proved horror franchises could be successful again. Craven and Williamson, made a continuation by following the logic of the meta-universe they had created first: A sequel based on a killer that based his spree on the rules of horror sequels. It was so well done that in a couple of scenes, Scream 2 surpasses Scream with its insight into whom the killer could be. Blasphemy? Nah.

Let’s go back to 1997 and position ourselves in front of Scream 2. Scream had used a storyline about Billy Loomis going on a personal vendetta, but the “passion for horror” aspect was kept secondary. This still wasn’t a franchise, so guessing was out of the picture. When Ghostface’s mask was off, we couldn’t believe it. Williamson had done it again, and Craven was proud of it. Somehow, Loomis’ agenda was alive and the obsession for horror was still powerful enough to make a killer.

What Happens at the End of Scream 2?
Dimension Films

Entering the third act, the body count is relatively low in Scream 2. Sidney’s trauma is visible after it’s revealed Cotton Weary, the man originally accused of murdering her mother, has made a presence in Windsor College and could be considered a suspect for the recent attacks. Gale and Dewey go full “Hardy Boys mode” and reconnect. They begin reviewing a video that could reveal the killer’s identity but unfortunately, the killer shows up as things get steamy. After both get chased, Dewey gets attacked in a very good sequence in a sound studio. Strangely, Gale traps herself and the killer goes away.

Related: Scream: Every Movie in the Horror Franchise, Ranked

Meanwhile, Sidney goes into some kind of witness protection mode, but not before saying goodbye to her boyfriend Derek. As the car drives away, Derek gets taken by a group of frat boys who put him through a fraternity ritual in which he gets falsely crucified and drenched in liquor. Seconds after, Ghostface attacks the officers transporting Sidney and her best friend Hallie, and this starts the absolute best scene in the film.

Unconscious Ghostface is in the front seat after the car crashes and Sidney and Hallie attempt to escape through the window. Sidney insists on finding out who the killer is. The opportunity is there, and she will only have to remove the unconscious guy’s mask. Sadly, he’s already gone and Hallie gets stabbed to death while Sidney flees.

Gale leaves the sound studio but finds Cotton in the hallway with his hands full of blood. She suspects he was responsible for killing Dewey and runs off. Outside she finds local journalist Debbie Salt recording something for the camera. Salt is surprised that the person she’s tried to talk to during the last few days is now asking for help. Weathers is certain Cotton’s the killer and calls the police. Sidney is still running, but she hears music coming from the theater where she practices acting and where she was sure she saw Ghostface during a rehearsal. A dramatic score blasts through the speakers and as she steps on the stage, the spotlight is turned on and props start moving. She sees a sweater hanging from a prop and she recognizes it. Surely, Derek’s the killer.

Who Is the Killer in Scream 2?
Dimension Films

Suddenly something drops from the ceiling. It’s Derek, who’s still disoriented from all the booze. Sidney starts removing the straps but then Ghostface shows up. He tells her that she shouldn’t do that. After all, history repeats itself. Sidney and Derek recognize the voice that’s now unfiltered: the student that seemed to know a lot about movies. The mask comes off, and we get a look at Mickey, the killer in Scream 2.

However, clever Mickey starts talking about how Derek abandoned him tonight. He had to do everything on his own. Sidney stares in disbelief as Mickey says the other killer is Derek. He has to have a partner, and Derek is the perfect suspect. The trauma of Sidney’s past clouds her judgment and she can’t bring herself to untie Derek, who desperately tells her Mickey’s lying. When he notices she’s not believing him, he threatens Mickey, who then takes out a gun and shoots Derek in the chest. Sidney screams as she realizes she made a mistake. This is one major rule change in Scream 2. The boyfriend’s not the killer.

Mickey (Timothy Olyphant) starts rambling about how he’ll defend himself in court. After all, Billy was a sick person who tried to get away with it, and he’s a sick person who wants to get caught. He’ll blame the movies.

Sidney manages to attack Mickey and starts running, but the sneaky assassin grabs the gun again. Suddenly, Derek’s corpse is pulled up as Mickey reveals he has a partner, and it’s time to make an appearance. A “surprise cameo” just for Sidney. Gale enters the stage behind Sidney and for a moment we get panicky. Surely, it can’t be the reporter! She shakes her head as Debbie Salt shows up with a gun. Sidney asks “Mrs. Loomis?”

Up to this point, every time Debbie Salt had shown herself, Sidney wasn’t present. She could be one of the few who could recognize from the old days. The audience becomes also uncertain because we inevitably start putting pieces together to see which of them could have been behind the mask at key points in the film. We’ll throw you a hint: we don’t know who killed who.

Related: Scream: Every Ghostface Death, Ranked

In Olyphant’s greatest moment in the film, he proudly says “Billy’s mother!” They’re actually working together after having met in a “psycho website,” in the classifieds section. Mickey keeps rambling about the trial, but then Nancy Loomis shoots him and gets rid of her partner. Gale gets shot by Mickey as he stumbles down.

The Aftermath of the Reveal
Dimension Films

Billy’s mother says her motive isn’t as ’90s as Mickey’s. Sidney killed her boy, and now she’s going to get revenge. In the most awkward conversation between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, Nancy reveals her plan to frame Mickey and Sidney for every murder, and Sidney tells her she’s just as crazy as her son was. Nancy opens herself and explains her motivations and Scream 2 becomes a nice little movie to see on Mother’s Day. Sidney tricks her and runs behind the stage, where she starts using everything to torment Mrs. Loomis. Eventually, Nancy gets trapped below (fake) rocks from a wall.

But she isn’t dead. Just as Sidney starts running away, psycho mom starts trying to stab her. Nancy is about to win when a gunshot reveals Cotton Weary has arrived at the theater. He’s confused but he’s holding a gun. Sidney tells him that’s Nancy, Billy’s mother, and also tells him the body beside him is Mickey’s, the other killer. Cotton gets more confused as Nancy tells him they can get away with themselves if he lets her kill Sidney. Cotton considers the offer out of spite and maniacally says Loomis has a good point. He only wants to be famous and this could be it for him. If only Sid could please him and concede to do a Diane Sawyer interview with him…

A clever final girl, Sidney will do everything to survive and agrees to do it. Cotton kills Nancy Loomis and saves the day. Gale is revealed to be alive and joins Cotton and Sidney on stage as they stare at Nancy Loomis’ body. Could she be alive? At that moment Mickey jumps out from behind them and Gale and Sidney empty the guns on him. Sidney decides to shoot Loomis as well and make sure she doesn’t come back.

All of them exit the building and just as Gale prepares to speak on camera, Dewey is revealed to be alive. The scar tissue from his first wounds actually saved him. Sidney is swarmed by reporters, but then she says Cotton is the real hero. His only comment about the incident is that “it’ll make a hell of a movie.”

You can stream Scream 2 on Paramount+.