Scary Movie
The Wayanses return to mock a bunch of recent horror films in an odious, shrill and chaotic affront to comedy.
Life’s a scream: Marlon Wayans
Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
by JAMES CAMERON-WILSON
Time heals all wounds, even memories of the last Scary Movie, which insulted viewers back in 2013. Since then the horror genre has entered a whole new golden age, providing fresh pickings for the extended Wayans family to poke fun at, mocking the likes of Scream, Longlegs, Weapons, Sinners and Terrifier 3. The English language has also changed, as have the boundaries of bad taste, and we’ve since had the #MeToo movement, the woke revolution and the Epstein files, all game for a satirical kicking. Of course, the Scream films themselves have become so ridiculous that they are virtually immune to parody, so that it really doesn’t matter how loud the Wayans brothers scream at the camera, the joke is pointless.
There’s a scene in the new Scary Movie in which four serial killers, dressed in their Ghostface attire, discuss the shifting sands of the franchise, before continuing the slaughter of their victims. How awful that the last words that those poor souls hear are about the relevance of the brand in which they have found themselves…
Much of the humour of Scary Movie (not to be confused with the 2000 horror spoof of the same name) is derived from the meta nature of the Scream films. Thus, only the most dedicated followers of the franchise are likely to glean much pleasure from the allusions (what, you mean that Neve Campbell wasn’t in Scream VI?!!). It might also help if one had a PhD in extreme pornography as much of the action takes place beneath the waist because, as we know, all American teenagers are experimenting with the less conventional areas of their sexuality. Nothing is off limits here (the poster strapline boasts “every line will be crossed”), and as this is satire, the ‘n’ word and all sorts of sexist insults seem de rigueur as if the dark of the multiplex is a safe place where we can all laugh together. So, yep, Scary Movie – or Scary Movie 6 to its fans – is knowingly racist, sexist, ageist, homophobic, body shaming and transphobic, while mocking the mentally challenged for good measure. There’s something here to offend everyone, all dialled up to eleven and surprisingly topical (Teyana Taylor is ridiculed for having failed to win an Oscar in March). It’s not only just not funny, it’s dehumanising.
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Kenan Thompson, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Carmen Electra, Kim Wayans, Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, Damon Wayans Jr, Heidi Gardner, Olivia Rose Keegan, Cameron Scott Roberts, Savannah Lee Nassif, Sydney Park, Gregg Wayans, Benny Zielke, Ruby Snowber, Jon Abrahams, Anthony Anderson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kai Cenat, Hattie M Baker, Ilia Wayans, Mar Wayans, Shawn Howell Wayans, JJ Fields, Craig Wayans, Axl July Ivory Wayans, Keeanu Wayans.
Dir Michael Tiddes, Pro Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans and Rick Alvarez, Screenplay Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans and Rick Alvarez, Ph Terry Stacey, Pro Des Nicole Elespuru, Ed Jonathan Schwartz, Music Haim Mazar, Costumes Ariyela Wald-Cohain.
Wayans Bros. Entertainment-Paramount Pictures.
95 mins. USA. 2026. UK and US Rel: 5 June 2026. Cert. 15.
