I Decided To Rewatch Scary Movie For The First Time In Years, And I Genuinely Don’t Understand How This Film Spawned A Franchise

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Y’all, I have to be honest most of the Scary Movie films are not great… like, at all.

In the realm of parody films, it’s crucial to walk a thin but significant boundary between parody and poor movie-making. Some brilliant parodies have successfully flipped common media tropes, resulting in sidesplitting cinematic experiences. Notable examples include “Not Another Teen Movie,” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” and the “Austin Powers” series. Even “Tropic Thunder” can be seen as a parody of well-known war films, despite stirring some controversy.

However, some parody movies are poorly executed in my opinion, such as “Superhero Movie,” “Vampires Suck,” and even the entire “Scary Movie” series. While many people rave about these films as brilliant parodies of classic horror flicks, I find myself disagreeing – and I’m baffled by how the initial film managed to start a whole franchise. Let’s delve into my reasons behind this perspective.

The Movie Itself Is Fine

In simpler terms, I won’t be writing an essay criticizing the film to no end, claiming it’s the worst movie ever made. That’s not accurate. We have M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” in existence, and let’s face it, “Scary Movie” is far superior to that.

Actually, the film isn’t considered the forefather of all parody movies as many people think. In essence, it’s just an average movie with no particular standout qualities.

One positive aspect I’d like to highlight about this movie is its ability to draw inspiration from a variety of horror films, not just relying on a couple. While the main source of parody comes from the Scream franchise and I Know What You Did Last Summer, it also borrows elements from other classics like The Shining and The Sixth Sense. However, there’s not much that makes it stand out, even with this diverse influence serving as its one redeeming quality.

I Really Don’t Think It’s As Funny As People Remember

This is the biggest issue – it’s just not funny.

It’s likely that some might argue that it originated in the 2000s, and the humor back then differed significantly from today’s. I understand this perspective, but personally, I enjoy classic comedies more because I believe they had more freedom to explore various themes.

What’s interesting is that I can still crack up while watching older comedies because many of the jokes have a timeless quality to them. For instance, Robin Williams’ best films often contain jokes that are universally funny across different eras. The same goes for many Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell movies; even though some of their humor may seem outdated, it remains amusing.

Instead, it can be said that the humor in “Scary Movie” isn’t merely outdated; rather, it’s deeply rooted in the past since it heavily relies on trends that were once prevalent.

It’s often found in media that following trends instead of establishing your own identity doesn’t make for a lasting impression. This idea can also be seen in movies, as exemplified by films such as ‘Scary Movie’. Initially, these might have been entertaining, but over time, much of the humor has become outdated and not as amusing anymore.

They fail to connect with a fresh audience, and those who weren’t alive during that era might struggle to comprehend them. Frankly, I wasn’t around during that period either, but there were some instances where I managed to grasp their humor. However, it often felt incredibly dull. When you’re just delivering jokes based on trends of the past, it transforms into a generic comedy production.

The Parodies Are Okay, But Nothing Super Memorable

The main purpose behind the “Scary Movie” series is to satirize horror films. However, the spoofs from the initial movie aren’t particularly noteworthy.

Interestingly, I find myself remembering the spoofs from “Scary Movie 3” better than this one. This could be because they seemed a bit more absurd and over-the-top. However, I believe the parodies in the first film seem less memorable, and that’s also due to the jokes feeling somewhat dated.

The challenge lies in imitating the horror genre, as it underwent substantial transformations during the 2000s. Moving away from conventional slasher movies, it produced gruesome and genuinely terrifying films that gained widespread popularity, such as the Saw series and others. Parodies of less intense films may not leave a lasting impression.

The Acting Is… Pretty Bad

In simpler terms, I didn’t anticipate Oscar-worthy performances from the cast of Scary Movie because it’s a parody film. Unfortunately, I find the acting in this movie hard to appreciate. It’s not even good comedic acting; instead, the expressions are excessively dramatic, making them seem too over-the-top.

Unfortunately, it’s a pity that this movie didn’t do well, given the exceptional talent within its cast. Anna Faris, who is often underestimated, showcases her skill in both comedic and dramatic roles, like her work in Brokeback Mountain. Regina Hall has impressed audiences with her performances in films such as Girls Trip and The Hate U Give, and she’s also part of the Wayans Brothers, who have excelled not only in comedy but have created some memorable projects (although they haven’t always been successful).

It’s rather unexpected that this film catapulted several actors to stardom, given that their performances are actually more impressive in their subsequent roles.

Even So, I Think Some Other Films In The Franchise Are Better

I didn’t claim that every Scary Movie film is poor, but I recall more jokes from Scary Movie 3 compared to the others, along with some humor from Scary Movie 2. Interestingly, Craig Mazin, who also worked on HBO series like Chernobyl and The Last of Us, was a co-writer for Scary Movie 3. Given my appreciation for both his shows and the third movie, it’s not surprising that I have fond memories of it.

Regarding the fourth and fifth installments, I honestly can’t recall what they were spoofing. Returning to the original, it remains a mystery to me how it gave birth to an entire series. I’m curious about the direction they might take for Scary Movie 6. Given that horror has seen significant evolution in the past decade with many exceptional films being produced, I wonder what fresh ideas they will bring to the table for this upcoming installment.

In simpler terms, Ari Aster’s terrifying films are among the top horror productions by A24 Studios. There’s a long line of examples, but predicting how they’ll be mocked is something we’ll need to patiently observe.

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2025-07-22 21:11