The Windsor College Murders, also known as College Terror (1998) is the third non-fiction book by Gale Weathers. It is mentioned in Scream 3 (2000 film) and appears in Scream 4 (2011 film) on Gale's desk and in Jill's room as Easter eggs, and in the Ghostface Shrine in Scream VI (2023 film).
The book follows the events of the Windsor College Murders in 1997, a killing spree that happened around the Windsor College campus area and nearby in Ohio, committed by copycat serial killers, Nancy Loomis (who posed under a false identity as a local telegraph reporter named "Debbie Salt") and her accomplice, a hired contract killer named Mickey Altieri.
It was adapted into a Sunrise Studios produced film, Stab 2 released in 1999 (unseen in the Scream universe). The possible original publishing name of the book is mentioned in Scream 3 (2000 film), in which reporter Nancy O'Dell remarks Gale as the author of the "The Woodsboro and Windsor College Murders".
As a Ghostface book series collective, it was possibly renamed College Terror; Gale was previously identified as the author of the Windsor College Murders by Nancy O'Dell in Scream 3. It follows the original Sidney Prescott-related book, Wrongly Accused (1996) and its best-selling successor, The Woodsboro Murders (1997), which was the basis for the eight-part slasher franchise, Stab (1997—2021; continuity error).
College Terror as a book series collective[]
Promotional material unveiled by the props department of Scream 4 (2011 film) for Scream trilogy fans included Gale's series of books based on Sidney's life. It claims that Gale apparently wrote eight Ghostface books overall, for both the events of the original trilogy and the fictional material for the four Stab sequels (including Stab 7 which is a movie-within-a-movie-within-a-movie meta commentary).
The title for the book based on the events of Scream 2 (1997 film) was College Terror. The book is an Easter egg that appears at Gale's desk, alongside The Woodsboro Murders, the College Terror successor Hollywood Horror and although mostly unclear in frame, the fictional books that the props department for the film created, Knife of the Hunter and Ghostface Returns.
In the theatrical release, Dewey mentions to Sidney that Gale is now writing fiction, as a revelation. However, if Gale were to have written fictional books that served as the basis for Stab 4 to Stab 7, Sidney would already be aware of this, especially given the dialogue by Nancy O'Dell. It is safe to assume, therefore, that the books seen in her office are based on true events.
It is likely the props manager or production team who assembled the books for fans misunderstood the dialogue/scripting for the fourth film when creating the books, or rewrites caused this potential continuity error. Nancy O'Dell mentions to Sidney for her Out of Darkness interview that the seven Stab films are based on Gale's books, but not necessarily that Gale wrote seven books that were all adapted to screen.
However, the fictional books' names are not visible on screen, and the books based on the original Scream trilogy are clearer to see (possibly by intention). But it does indicate Gale wrote at least two other Ghostface book entries in her book series (based on the Easter egg collection by her desk).
The cover mentions that the book is "now a major motion picture". The actual hardcover book under the dust jacket is actually called "The Gates of Heaven". The book is 9 1/2 by 6 1/2" and its tagline is: "The Woodsboro Horror Continues!"
Awards[]
Other books[]
The order of Gale's published books, as seen on her desk in Scream 4 or in the shrine in Scream VI. In overall chronological order:
- Wrongly Accused (Mentioned in Scream; Never seen until Scream VI in the Ghostface Shrine.
- The Woodsboro Murders (Gale's first book on Ghostface based on the 1996 Woodsboro Murders. Seen in Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4 and Scream VI.
- College Terror (Mentioned in Scream 3; Easter egg on Gale's desk and in Jill's room in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; 1998 book; adapted into Stab 2 released in 1999)
- Stabbed In The Back (Seen in Scream VI; Gale's book detailing the shady past of Sunrise Studios)
- Hollywood Horror (Easter egg on Gale's desk in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; 2000 book; adapted into Stab 3: Hollywood Horror released in 2006)
- Knife of Doom (Seen in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; adapted into Stab 4 released in 2007)
- Clock of Doom (Seen in Scream 4; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; adapted into Stab 5 released in 2008)
- Ghostface Returns (Fiction; Easter egg on Gale's desk and in Jill's room; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI; released 2000s decade; adapted into Stab 6 released in 2009)
- Knife of the Hunter (Fiction; adapted into Stab 7 released in 2010; Easter egg on Gale's desk; Seen in the shrine in Scream VI).
- Requel: Terror Returns To Woodsboro (Non-fiction; Gale's latest book based upon the 2022 Woodsboro Murders).
Non-Canon materials produced for the films[]
Scream 3 Promotional Website (Non-Canon)[]
The original description of The Windsor College Murders from the defunct Gale Weathers promotional website for Scream 3.
- The Windsor College Murders is the book title mentioned on the website, but states it is published in 1997 (inconsistent with the two-year gap noted in the actual film).
- The Scream 4 props team's decision to rename it as College Terror in Scream 4 does not contradict its original name, as book titles are known to be renamed years after their publication in real-life too (and renamed in different territories, such as Harry Potter).
- The website states the award for the book is for 1996, but Gale's original website from 2000 mentions the book by the original name The Windsor College Murders as being published in 1997.