Scary Movie

After "One Battle After Another's" Teyana Taylor takes on Ghostface in an alley, we suddenly learn we've been watching a franchise that's been running out of gas, "Horror Movie," but there is nothing in the tank of the one we're segued into, "Scary Movie."

Laura's Review: D-

You'd think that after fourteen years, the Wayans brothers reclaiming their series from Harvey Weinstein and the rise of a vibrant horror landscape with the rise of filmmakers like Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, Zach Cregger, Curry Barker and Kane Parsons, this self-proclaimed rebootiquel would have tons of material to mine from, but writers Craig Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Rick Alvarez are mostly content to rely on stale gay, trans, weed and racial jokes when their 'core four' aren't commenting upon the movie itself. Is it supposed to be funny that their villain is Ghostface because we've just gotten "Scream 7?"

Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and her bestie Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall) are back after skipping "Scary Movie 5," both dealing with their own new generation they're reluctant to cede their ip to while Shorty (Marlon Wayans) gets high and Ray (Shawn Wayans) wears a cowboy hat. Ghostface lands Tuesday Campbell (Savannah Lee Nassif) in the hospital and her older sister Sara (Olivia Rose Keegan) fails to see the obvious in her love interest Jack's (Cameron Scott Roberts, "Ben Is Back) connection to the killer. Sheriff Greg (Lochlyn Munro) is preoccupied trying to defend his 'baby girl' who is clearly now a boy.

Early goings feature some background gags at the Final Destination Theme Park and the audience I was in the theater with got a big chortle out of a bit inspired by "The Substance," here featuring Gail Hailstorm (Cheri Oteri) in "The Stuff," but that was the only laugh I heard. There is an extremely lame take on Damien Leone's Art the Clown from the "Terrifier" movies and "Longlegs" is parodied via the whiteness of Shorthand (Chris Elliott). Creggar's "Weapons" merits a couple of uninspired gags. "Sinners" fares a bit better, my only smile derived from the song choice of Sara, Jack and Tuesday trying to gain entrance to a black Halloween party.

As has long been said, humor is subjective, so maybe fans of this series will embrace this sixth outing, but although I'd hoped for some fresh inspiration, the "Scary Movie" series has always left me cold and this one was interminable.

Paramount Pictures releases "Scary Movie" in theaters on 6/5/26.