The movie ‘Scary Movie’ starts with a comedic scene where the infamous Ghostface attempts to attack Teyana Taylor. The weapon fails against the actor’s strong physique, humorously bending upon contact. This initiates a humorous exchange where Taylor asserts her strength, and the humor continues when Ghostface mocks her for not winning an Oscar—a jab which she counters with a Golden Globe.
This opening sets the tone for the Wayans family’s signature comedy style, characterized by absurdity and topical humor. The film is another installment in the parody horror franchise, featuring a series of sketches that draw from both current and past horror films and societal events such as ICE raids and music industry rivalries.
The screenplay is a collaborative effort by Marlon, Shawn, Keenen Ivory, and Craig Wayans, along with Rick Alvarez. Directed by Michael Tiddes, it continues the legacy of the family’s involvement in the series.
With multiple writers contributing, jokes range from references to older shows like ‘The Jeffersons’ to modern-day concepts like ChatGPT. The film’s structure is loose, mainly dealing with Ghostface’s pursuit of the original Core Four: Marlon Wayans as Shorty, Shawn Wayans as Ray, Anna Faris as Cindy, and Regina Hall as Brenda. The Core Four now navigate adulthood, confronting issues such as substance use, wealth from cryptocurrencies, and parenting challenges.
There’s an array of topical humor involving pop culture and politics—references include Kanye West, DEI initiatives, and more contemporary film titles like ‘Get Out’ and ‘M3GAN’. Despite a barrage of such humor, the effectiveness varies, often relying on crass jokes and dated pop culture mentions, particularly in regard to homophobic elements.
Noteworthy is the nod to ‘Terrifier 3’ with its mall Santa scene, as well as ‘Weapons’, where characters experience bizarre effects from tainted Halloween candy. The film doesn’t shy away from using heavy-handed references to other works, often missing true parody, as exemplified when merely placing M3GAN on a subway fails to elicit humor.
One effective set-piece involves an amusement park inspired by ‘Final Destination’, suggesting a darkly comedic theme where attractions frequently malfunction. Another sketch features an animated sequence that takes aim at ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, leading to outlandish scenarios.
The return of characters like Cheri Oteri’s Gail Hailstorm, a spoof of ‘Scream’s Gale Weathers, and Chris Elliott’s creepy caretaker from earlier films, illustrates the franchise’s tendency to recycle its previous material. This repeated reliance on ‘Scream’ and certain bizarre elements points to a lack of fresh humor.
‘Scary Movie’, a production by Paramount Pictures released in theaters, holds an R rating for its explicit content. The film runs for 95 minutes, yet garners only one and a half stars out of four, reflecting its mixed impact. As Teyana Taylor quips in the film, the audience must wade through many misses to find the occasional standout comedy moment.