Scary Movie’ review: Wayans return with horror spoof that hardly kills
The Wayans family has reunited for the latest installment of the “Scary Movie” horror parody franchise. This new chapter, released by Paramount Pictures, serves as a pastiche of loosely connected skits that target both contemporary and classic horror films alongside current topical events.
The Return of the Original Cast
The film brings back the “Core Four” original characters: Marlon Wayans as Shorty, Shawn Wayans as Ray, Anna Faris as Cindy, and Regina Hall as Brenda. Now portrayed as adults, the characters are depicted as being in various states of disarray.
Cindy is shown struggling with alcohol, while Shorty remains a stoner and video game enthusiast who has become wealthy through cryptocurrency. The plot follows these characters as they attempt to “save the franchise” while being hunted by Ghostface from the “Scream” series.
A Wide Net of Parody
The movie targets a vast array of cultural touchstones, ranging from the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef and ICE raids to ChatGPT and the “sex-positive” movement. Other topical jokes include references to COVID-19, Kanye West, Candace Owens, DEI hires, and OnlyFans.
In terms of cinema, the film skewers “Terrifier 3” with a gross-out mall Santa scene and mocks “Final Destination” via an amusement park where the rides constantly crash. It also references “The Substance,” “M3GAN,” “Get Out,” “Candyman,” “Silence of the Lambs,” and “Saltburn.”
One standout sequence features actor Teyana Taylor, whose abdominal muscles are so strong that Ghostface’s dagger bends upon impact. Taylor eventually assaults the killer with a Golden Globe after being taunted for losing a Best Supporting Oscar.
Production and Critical Reception
The film was directed by Michael Tiddes and written by a team including Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez. The production also features product placement for Angry Orchard hard cider.
Critics have described the film as a “dizzying, breathless chapter” that occasionally hits its mark but often relies on “gross-out misfires.” The movie has received a rating of one and a half stars out of four.
Rated R by the Motion Picture Association, the film is cited for strong violence, drug content, language, graphic nudity, and crude sexual content. The total running time is 95 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are the main writers of the film? The script was written by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez.
- Which horror movies are parodied in the film? The film parodies “Scream,” “Terrifier 3,” “Final Destination,” “M3GAN,” “Get Out,” “Candyman,” “The Substance,” and “Silence of the Lambs.”
- What is the film’s MPA rating? The movie is rated R for crude sexual content, graphic nudity, strong violence, drug content, and language throughout.
Do you believe the “spoof” genre can still be effective when it parodies its own previous entries?