Stu Macher is the secondary antagonist in Scream (1996).
Biography[]
In addition to being Billy Loomis' collaborator, he is also an oddball best buddy. He participated in Billy's late-September 1996 Woodsboro Murders murder spree, which was reminiscent of a slasher movie. He had no idea what Billy's real motivation was in killing Maureen Prescott, other than the fact that he was having fun. When Sidney Prescott questioned him afterwards about his motivation, he replied simply, "Peer pressure. I'm far too sensitive." Later, after Stu was already bleeding to death as a result of Sidney's assault and Billy's stabbing, she shocked him to death. Stu was also Tatum Riley's boyfriend and Casey Becker's ex-boyfriend.
Indulging in sadistic behavior, the caller threatens Casey's life and won't let her be alone. In order to keep her boyfriend Steve alive, he confesses that he is restrained and gagging outside on her patio and makes her provide answers to questions concerning horror movies. Steve is killed in front of Casey when she gives a wrong response to a Friday the 13th question. Casey tries to run away after refusing to answer any more questions, but she is stopped by a person dressed as "Ghostface," who kills her before her parents get home and discover her dismembered body hanging from a tree.
Following the murders, news organizations swarm the town, and the police launch an inquiry. Sidney Prescott, a teenager, battles with the first anniversary of her mother Maureen's rape and murder while Gale Weathers, a news reporter Sidney despises, enters the media. Gale was in charge of disseminating tales and conspiracies about Maureen's passing, implying that the jailed Cotton Weary, who was tried and found guilty of raping and killing Maureen, was not the one who committed the crime. That evening, Sidney receives a mocking phone call and is attacked by Ghostface while she waits at home for her closest friend Tatum Riley to come. Billy Loomis, Sidney's boyfriend, shows up right after. When he loses his phone, Sidney assumes he made the call and runs away. Billy is detained and interrogated, but after that, Sidney gets another unsettling call from Tatum's home.
The following day, Billy is freed, and because the ominous phone calls had been linked to Neil Prescott, Sidney's father, suspicion now falls on him. After the killings cause the suspension of classes, Ghostface ambushes and stabs Principal Arthur Himbry to death. Billy's best friend and Tatum's boyfriend, Stu Macher, organizes a party to mark the end of the school. Gale shows up uninvited because she believes the murderer will attack again. Dewey Riley, a deputy sheriff who is Tatum's older brother, keeps an eye out for the murderer at the gathering. Ghostface corners Tatum as she enters the garage and smashes her neck with the garage door when she tries to flee via the pet door. After learning of Himbry's passing, many partygoers leave, leaving only Sidney, Billy, their buddy Randy Meeks, Stu, and cameraman Kenny for Gale.
After engaging in sexual activity, Ghostface confronts Sidney and Billy, who he then stabs. After escaping the house, Sidney asks Kenny for assistance, but Kenny is killed by Ghostface. Dewey gets stabbed in the back while doing an investigation in the house, and Gale smashes her van while trying to flee. Sidney takes his revolver for protection. When Randy and Stu arrive, they each accuse the other of being the murderer, but Sidney runs back inside the home and discovers Billy wounded. Sidney hands Billy the revolver after they let Randy inside, and Billy shoots Randy, exposing himself as the murderer. By speaking into a voice changer, Stu is exposed to be the killer's accomplice.
Sidney is cornered in the kitchen as Billy and Stu intend to murder her and then blame her father, who they have kidnapped, for the murderous rampage. They also admit that Cotton was set up for the murder of Cotton's mother because she had an affair with Billy's father and drove Billy's mother away.
Death[]
Stu's death
As a result of Gale's intervention, Sidney is able to flee and turn the tables on the murderers. She calls them out and dons the Ghostface mask before knocking Billy out and killing Stu by dropping a television on his head.
Victims[]
- Maureen Prescott - Stabbed to death before the events of the film (with Billy)
- Steve Orth - Lasagna-noised to death (Disemboweled in lawn chair)
- Kenny Brown - Live feed cut (Throat slashed)
Trivia[]
- Stu is played by Matthew Lillard, most well known as the voice actor for Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo! franchise.
- Matthew Lillard would go on to play William Afton/Steve Raglan in 2023's Five Nights at Freddy's where he's also a serial killer. And there is a reference to Stu that William makes when he whips a knife like Stu does.
- James stated in his Scream ranking that he ships Stu with Billy Loomis.