The Return of a Legend… or a Nightmare?
When the first Scary Movie hit theaters over two decades ago, it didn’t just make us laugh; it redefined the parody genre. By blending crude humor with a sharp, tongue-in-cheek critique of iconic slasher flicks, it became a global phenomenon. Many of us remember the buzz, the strict ID checks at the cinema, and the sheer audacity of its comedic timing.
After a disastrous dip in quality during the third, fourth, and the practically unwatchable fifth installments—where corporate Hollywood interests seemed to override the creative spark—the franchise went silent in 2013. Or so we hoped. Fast forward to 2026, and we have a new entry simply titled SCARY MOVIE.
The Return of the OG Cast: Anna Faris and the Wayans
On paper, this reboot sounded like a dream. The return of the original cast, including the legendary Anna Faris, Regina Hall, and the Wayans brothers, promised a homecoming for fans of early 2000s comedy. The goal? To spoof modern horror hits like Scream VI, M3GAN, Smile, and The Substance.
However, the execution is where the movie falls apart. Despite the star power of Anna Faris and Regina Hall—both of whom have flourished in their careers since the original films—it’s hard to tell if they were enjoying the process or simply counting down the minutes until their paychecks cleared.
Where It All Went Wrong
The film suffers from a critical identity crisis. While the promos promised that “every line would be crossed,” the only thing truly crossed was the line between comedy and second-hand embarrassment. Here are the main pitfalls:
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- Dated Humor: The movie relies on outdated COVID-19 references that feel completely out of place in 2026.
- Forced Nostalgia: Throwback gags to the original films, including the infamous “wazzzup” catchphrase, feel forced and desperate rather than clever.
- Poor Characterization: Shorty (Marlon Wayans) feels like a caricature of himself, and other returning characters provide more headaches than laughs.
- The “Impersonation” Problem: Newcomer Olivia Rose Keegan seems to be doing a surface-level Anna Faris impersonation rather than creating a character of her own, which feels jarring and unnatural.
Final Verdict: Time to Let it Rest
There are a few isolated moments of genuine laughter, but as the saying goes, adding glitter to a mess doesn’t make it a masterpiece. For a franchise that once stood at the pinnacle of comedy cinema, this latest attempt is a heartbreaking decline.
While we will always love the early work of Anna Faris and the Wayans, the Scary Movie franchise has officially run out of jokes. It’s time to put this series to sleep—permanently.
Rating: -1/5
Review by Paul ‘Browny’ Brown
