After five movies and more than two decades, the Wayans have reclaimed the franchise and brought back several of the characters that made the original so popular. Just don't expect every joke to be a killer.
“Twenty-six years after the original massacre, Cindy, Brenda, Shorty and Ray get dragged back into the chaos by a brand-new masked killer who clearly never learned when to quit. Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Regina Hall return, alongside returning favorites, for the wildly unhinged return to the franchise’s original roots – where every target is fair game and every line gets crossed.”
It’s hard to believe that it has been 26 years since the original Scary Movie hit theaters. What started as a parody of Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and other popular horror movies quickly became a franchise of its own. The first two films were directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and featured Marlon and Shawn Wayans heavily involved both in front of and behind the camera. While the first two movies were far from sophisticated comedy, they had a style and energy that made them extremely popular.
After Scary Movie 2, the Wayans were out of the franchise. The studio continued with three more films, with each movie moving further away from the original Wayans formula. Some of those movies had their moments, but the franchise never quite felt the same.
The new Scary Movie picks up 26 years after the original and brings Cindy, Brenda, Shorty, and Ray back together when a new masked killer begins targeting them. Of course, the actual story is really just an excuse to parody as many recent horror movies and trends as possible. The film takes aim at everything from Scream and modern horror to M3GAN, Smile, Sinners, Get Out, and the endless stream of reboots, remakes, sequels, and “final chapters”, and honestly, that is both the strength and weakness of the movie.
There is no question that this is a Wayans Scary Movie. If you are familiar with the Wayans’ style of humor, you pretty much know what you are getting. Some of the jokes absolutely land. Marlon Wayans in particular seems to slip right back into the kind of character that made the original movies work. Seeing these actors back together also gives the movie a nostalgic quality that is difficult to completely dismiss.
The problem is that there are a lot of jokes thrown at the screen simply because the movie can make the reference. There are so many parody references packed into the movie that some feel like they are there for a few seconds and then disappear without really going anywhere. The movie can sometimes feel like it is trying to make sure it doesn’t miss a single movie or pop-culture reference rather than actually building a joke around it (i.e. the KPop Demon Hunters parody that was just abysmal).
Still, it’s hard to completely fault the movie for being exactly what it wants to be. This isn’t trying to reinvent comedy, and it certainly isn’t trying to be clever in the traditional sense. The Wayans have always had their own brand of comedy, and if you don’t like that style, there probably isn’t much here that will change your mind.
For fans of the original two movies, and their other classics like Don’t Be a Menace to South Central White Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, there is something fun about seeing the franchise back in the hands of the people who started it. After so many years, it feels like the Wayans are finally getting another chance to finish what they started. Whether you think that was a good idea will probably depend on how much you enjoyed their particular brand of humor in the first place.
Video
The film is presented in 2160p with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio and Dolby Vision, giving the image plenty of detail and a nice HDR presentation. Brilliant brights and deep darks offer a solid viewing experience for this comedy.
Audio
The English Dolby Atmos soundtrack gives the movie a nice amount of energy. The surround channels are used effectively during the horror sequences, while the music and effects give the track some extra punch. Dialogue remains clear throughout.
Special Features
This release comes with a slip cover and a digital code. Extras include are short but informative and include:
- Scream Together
- Fresh Meat
- Wayans World
- Scene Dissection
Honestly, I was hoping for more for Scary Movie. Although I did find quite a few scenes funny, it didn’t quite meet the expectations of the trailer and the memories I had of the first two in the series. This was never a franchise built around sophisticated comedy, and this new film certainly doesn’t change that. What is refreshing about the film is the fact that the Wayans were able to reclaim their franchise, and although this wasn’t the strongest re-introduction, hopefully with some tweaking we can see something more solid in the future.
If you go into Scary Movie with low expectations, understand the kind of humor the Wayans are known for, and don’t expect every joke to land, you will probably find a few laughs along the way.