When it comes to slasher movies, they don't really come much bigger or better than Scream or Ghostface themselves that really carry them.
They are two horror icons and that is due to how scary and entertaining they both are within their movies. Each character has a massive amount of personality and while they both are classic slasher-style villains, they do offer something very different in their delivery, and how they provide their scares. This is why they have so many different fans and why they are two of the very best within the genre.
GHOSTFACE: No One Knows What Ghostface Is Thinking
While Ghostface tends to be very talkative, Ghostface doesn't show any real emotions because of the mask. It's easy to see what Freddy is thinking and feeling at any given moment due to his facial expressions, but the same cannot be said for Ghostface.
That's what makes Ghsotface slightly scarier. At times, it's impossible to know what is running through Ghostface's mind even if a keen observer examines the killer's body language. The fear of the unknown is a big thing, and that is something Ghostface has in spades when it comes to the scare factor.
FREDDY KRUEGER: He Has More Variety
Freddy Kruger and Ghostface are classic slashers and because of that, their kills are always going to be similar. One uses a knife, the other uses a glove with razors, but they provide a similar outcome: someone get stabbed. But because Freddy can dip into slightly more unrealistic ideas, it allows him to have a little more creativity with his scares and kills.
Having the power of dreams just helps make Freddy more exciting to watch as it really allows for unpredictability. This originality and flavor is key to any horror film's success, and that's exactly what Freddy provides.
GHOSTFACE: They're More Realistic
While Freddy Krueger's world of torment and mind games does create for some fun and wacky situations especially in the later movies, Ghostface is more realistic. It is easier for viewers to relate to someone in a mask running around stabbing people compared to killer boogeyman. While it might not be as wild and adventurous, the former can be scarier.
Audiences instantly put themselves into the shoes of the victims and imagine what it would be like to be in such a life-threatening situation. While the idea of a murderous dream demon is scary on its own, running from a psycho in a deliberately generic Halloween costume is frighteningly more mundane and relatable. That simple fact is that a killer grounded in a little more reality is just scarier.
FREDDY KRUEGER: Those One-Liners
While people aren't necessarily going into a horror movie looking for laughs, throughout history the genre has tended to provide plenty of them. Freddy Krueger is a big example of that, as he often delivers some excellent one-liners throughout his movies that leave audiences in floods of laughter.
Sometimes, this works in a frightening way because his jokes can take the audience to a different mindset. Basically when the kill comes, the attack is even scarier since Freddy's obviously having a ball. Plus, it just makes Freddy that much more entertaining.
GHOSTFACE: They Have Tons Of Personality
While Ghostface might not be pulling out witty one-liners after every kill, that doesn't mean that Freddy has this horror icon beat in the comedy department. Nope; Ghostface is, in fact, one of the funniest horror characters of all time, mainly because Ghostface is always full of personality.
Before actually killing anyone, Ghostface usually taunts victims with an encyclopedic knowledge of horror movies and their tropes. Once again, it isn't the laughs that people are watching Scream for, though Ghostface's dark sense of humor does provide Scream with lighter moments and makes the viewing experience more enjoyable.
FREDDY KRUEGER: He Has A Stronger Backstory
Freddy Krueger has one of the best backstories of any major horror icon, which is what makes him such a compelling villain. His past actions (i.e. being a notorious child-killer) are despicable and they set him out as a true villain even before he becomes the burnt boogeyman that everyone thinks about.
Having that detailed backstory really does set the tone for him as a character and instantly makes him out to be someone people should hate. It adds an extra layer to him, which is what makes him a more intriguing human monster. Meanwhile, nothing is consistent about Ghostface since the person under the mask always changes, and so does Ghostfaces' motives.
GHOSTFACE: That Self-Awareness
Sometimes, it can be hard to take horror characters seriously because of the classic tropes they follow and religiously adhere to. However, that is what sets Ghostface and the Scream franchise apart from the rest. Though generally recognized as slasher movies, the Scream franchise and Ghostface are incredibly self-aware.
They openly mock plot holes that a lot of horror films fall into, and that helps set Ghostface apart from the pack. The fact that Ghostface knows how a slasher movie would play out and how their victims would react or otherwise makes them less predictable, and that makes whoever's under the mask a lot scarier.
FREDDY KRUEGER: He's An Expert At Psychological & Physical Scares
The brilliant aspect of Freddy Krueger is that it isn't just the slasher killer element that is scary about him; it's the mental torture he plays on his victims, only killing them in their nightmares when they are sleeping. It makes viewers find everything more relatable, as everyone knows the feeling of trying to desperately stay awake.
The mental burden of forcing one's self to not fall asleep is amplified to a nightmarish extreme with Freddy, making him scarier than a normal human killer. Sometimes, those moments can be more terrifying than the big kills and attacks themselves, and the psychological terror certainly makes Freddy a more developed character than most.
GHOSTFACE: Their Identity Is Always A Mystery
It doesn't matter what installment of A Nightmare On Elm Street people watch; everyone knows Freddy's behind it all. This is where Ghostface has a nice advantage over him, and is also why the Scream villain is one of the best horror characters of all time. Basically, Ghostface always has an air of mystery because no one knows who's under the mask until the very end.
This mystery is something audiences can get sucked into no matter what else is happening in a Scream movie. The idea of trying to determine who will be behind the mask requires attention to detail and closely following every possible lead, which can result in some great surprises along the way.
FREDDY KRUEGER: He's Always The Same Man
While a mystery can be fun, the beauty in Freddy Krueger always being the same man is that it actually makes him scarier. Freddy is an invincible killing machine who continues to come back and ask for more in each movie, which also allows for some continuation of the story and character development -- things Ghostface doesn't really get.
Having him be consistent only makes Freddy even scarier. The fact that audiences know who's wielding the bladed glove and still come back for more showcases how effective this creative choice is,. This actually forces the writers to create something fresh and unique for Freddy -- no matter who's playing him -- in each of his outings.
