Scary Movie is a parody movie from 2000 that was written by Shawn and Marlon Wayans and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. It starred Anna Farris, John Abrahams, Marlon Wayans, Regina Hall, Shawn Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, Dave Sheridan, Cheri Oteri, and Carmen Electra. The movie spoofed the horror franchise movies of the late 1990s, specifically Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and late 90s and early 2000s pop culture in general. In a twist of irony, it would itself become a franchise after the Wayans were no longer involved with it, and would eventually become watered down and repetitive. The original movie however was very fresh and innovative. It spoofed more than just the horror movies of the time, it injected pop culture references of the era and made fun of movies like The Sixth Sense, The Matrix, The Blair Witch Project, and even The Usual Suspects. It was mainly making fun of the silliness of the horror franchise movies and would start as almost shot-for-shot takes of Scream, and I Know What You Did last summer and then add a ton of absurdity to them.
Anna Farris was the main character, Cindy Campbell, basically the character Sidney Prescott played by Neve Campbell in Scream. Shannon Elizabeth played Buffy, who was basically the character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar in I Know What You Did Last Summer. The other roles were filled mainly with character actors, and Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Kurt Smith, as the town sheriff, stole pretty much every scene he was in, and Cheri Oteri, as Gail Hailstorm, was hilarious as well. It was definitely a low-brow comedy with crude humor, but it worked because it did not take itself, or the genre it was spoofing too seriously. And because it was really the original spoof (at least of the 1990s/2000s) film that was copied over, and over again with not only multiple sequels under the same name but a ton of other movies spoofing some genre or another.
The DVD extras include a handful of deleted scenes and a short behind-the-scenes feature. Realistically the movie has been out long enough now that anyone reading this will know whether they like it or not. They basically combine the horror/slasher genre with the raunchy comedy genre. It is cleverly written and well-acted. It does not take anything too seriously, and no subject is off-limits to make fun of. It is not a movie that will appeal to everyone, but if you like horror movies and don't mind raunchy comedy, it is worth the time to watch.
Anna Farris was the main character, Cindy Campbell, basically the character Sidney Prescott played by Neve Campbell in Scream. Shannon Elizabeth played Buffy, who was basically the character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar in I Know What You Did Last Summer. The other roles were filled mainly with character actors, and Shawn and Marlon Wayans. Kurt Smith, as the town sheriff, stole pretty much every scene he was in, and Cheri Oteri, as Gail Hailstorm, was hilarious as well. It was definitely a low-brow comedy with crude humor, but it worked because it did not take itself, or the genre it was spoofing too seriously. And because it was really the original spoof (at least of the 1990s/2000s) film that was copied over, and over again with not only multiple sequels under the same name but a ton of other movies spoofing some genre or another.
The DVD extras include a handful of deleted scenes and a short behind-the-scenes feature. Realistically the movie has been out long enough now that anyone reading this will know whether they like it or not. They basically combine the horror/slasher genre with the raunchy comedy genre. It is cleverly written and well-acted. It does not take anything too seriously, and no subject is off-limits to make fun of. It is not a movie that will appeal to everyone, but if you like horror movies and don't mind raunchy comedy, it is worth the time to watch.
