After a 13-year hiatus, the 'Scary Movie' franchise returns with its sixth installment, reuniting a dozen Wayans family members for a chaotic blend of horror parody and topical humor. The film opens with Ghostface attempting to stab Teyana Taylor, only for his dagger to bend against her chiseled abs. 'I'm Teyana Taylor,' she declares. 'My abs have abs.' This sets the tone for the Wayans' signature style: cartoonish, profane, and often hilarious.
A Collaborative Effort
The script is co-written by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez, with Michael Tiddes directing. The humor jumps from 'The Jeffersons' references to ChatGPT jokes, showcasing the writers' generational range. The plot loosely follows Ghostface from the 'Scream' franchise as he hunts the original 'Scary Movie' 'Core Four': Shorty (Marlon Wayans), Ray (Shawn Wayans), Cindy (Anna Faris), and Brenda (Regina Hall). Now adults, the characters are a mess—Cindy struggles with alcohol, while Shorty, a crypto-rich stoner, plays video games.
Wide-Ranging Parody
The film targets Kanye West, 'sex-positive' culture, COVID-19, Ted Bundy, 'Saltburn,' Candace Owens, DEI hires, 'Silence of the Lambs,' and OnlyFans. Scatological and homophobic jokes abound, alongside parodies of 'Terrifier 3,' 'Sinners,' and 'Weapons.' However, the film falters when merely referencing movies like 'M3GAN,' 'Get Out,' 'Candyman,' and 'The Substance' without skewering them. A shot of M3GAN in the subway lacks comedic punch, while an amusement park themed on 'Final Destination' is more effective, featuring constantly crashing rides and the slogan 'Where everybody dies.'
Self-Parody and Returns
The franchise indulges in self-parody, with Cheri Oteri returning as Gail Hailstorm (a spoof of Courteney Cox's Gale Weathers) and Chris Elliott reprising his creepy caretaker role from the second film. The film raises questions about its heavy reliance on 'Scream' in 2026 and the prevalence of sex toys, but as Teyana Taylor wisely states before assaulting Ghostface, 'I know who goes to a Wayans brother movie.' It's an audience willing to endure gross-out misfires for a few killer bits.
'Scary Movie,' a Paramount Pictures release, hits theaters Friday. It is rated R for 'crude sexual content, graphic nudity, strong violence and drug content and language throughout.' The film runs 95 minutes and earns one and a half stars out of four.
