The latest “Scary Movie” installment kicks off with a signature blend of absurdity and violence as the iconic Ghostface unwisely attempts to stab Teyana Taylor, only for his dagger to horribly bend against her famously chiseled abs.
“I’m Teyana Taylor,” she declares. “My abs have abs.” This opening exchange, where Ghostface is then taunted for losing an Oscar but swiftly dispatched with a Golden Globe, perfectly encapsulates the Wayans family’s unique comedic style: cartoonish, topical, gross, profane, and often, hysterically funny.
After a decade-long hiatus since its last outing in 2013, what appears to be a dozen members of the Wayans family have reunited for this new chapter in the parody horror franchise. The film is a dizzying, breathless pastiche of loosely tied skits, riffing on both current and past horror movies, alongside topical events such as ICE raids and the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef.
open image in galleryThe script is a collaborative effort by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez, with Michael Tiddes directing.
The sheer number of writers, spanning different generations, is evident in the humor, which can jump from a “The Jeffersons” reference to a ChatGPT joke, or even a quarter-century-old “Wazzup!” callback.
Plot, as expected, takes a backseat. The narrative loosely follows Ghostface from the “Scream” franchise as he hunts the original “Scary Movie” “Core Four”: Marlon Wayans’ Shorty, Shawn Wayans’ Ray, Anna Faris’ Cindy, and Regina Hall’s Brenda.
Now adults, the characters are a mess – Cindy struggles with alcohol, while Shorty, a crypto-rich stoner, still plays video games. The film features a plethora of uncredited guest stars and returning faces, some inexplicably resurrected.
The humor casts a wide net, targeting Kanye West, “sex-positive” culture, COVID-19, Ted Bundy, “Saltburn,” Candace Owens, DEI hires, “Silence of the Lambs,” and OnlyFans. Scatological jokes are abundant, alongside a deep vein of homophobic humor. The film also parodies “Terrifier 3,” “Sinners,” and “Weapons,” with varying degrees of success.
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However, the film occasionally falters, particularly towards the end, by merely referencing films like “M3GAN,” “Get Out,” “Candyman,” and “The Substance” without truly skewering them.
A simple shot of M3GAN in the subway, for instance, lacks comedic punch. More effective is an amusement park themed on “Final Destination,” featuring constantly crashing rides and the slogan “Where everybody dies.”
The franchise also 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 numerous gross-out misfires for those few, truly killer bits.
“Scary Movie,” a Paramount Pictures release, hits theaters Friday. It is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “crude sexual content, graphic nudity, strong violence and drug content and language throughout.”
The film runs for 95 minutes and earns one and a half stars out of four.