Scary Movie 6 Review: A Nostalgic Return To The Franchise’s Roots
Introduction
Scary Movie 6 is the long-awaited comeback of one of the most recognizable franchises of comedic movies after more than a decade of absence from theaters. This movie sees the reunion of actors who made the original movies a hit. Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, and Dave Sheridan all make their welcome returns.
The appearance of the Wayans brothers in the movie is another highlight. The brothers contributed to creating the first two movies and their specific style of humor. The participation of the Wayans shows an intention to revive the franchise by returning to its origins. The fact is that many fans think that subsequent sequels did not possess the originality and vigor that the first movies had.
The plot revolves around Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and friends who find themselves facing the resurrected masked killer of the first movie. Though this may seem like a simplistic plot point, it offers a solid base on which the numerous jokes and parodies in the movie can be built upon. Perhaps more importantly, it brings back characters that viewers have missed seeing for years.
Directorial Style and Modernisation
Michael Tiddes, the director of Scary Movie 6, is faced with a challenging task of pleasing old fans while attracting new viewers. He manages to achieve this objective quite well.
The movie continues with the humor, speed, and absurdity associated with the original movies. There is plenty of physical humor in this movie. The characters end up in ridiculous circumstances that defy normalcy.
On the other hand, the movie introduces new victims of its ridicule. The movie doesn’t only target older horror movies; it mocks the new tendencies in horror films. Sequels that are made to cash in on their legacies, rebooting movies for the sake of nostalgia, horror movies in streaming media, and internet fame are also being mocked.
It also takes a step further to make itself more relatable by introducing humor about its own existence. The long period of time between sequels is a perfect opportunity for making jokes.
Story and Themes
Certainly, one could argue that the story is one of the weakest aspects of the movie. Often, the story feels like merely a tool for stringing the individual parodies together. The mystery surrounding the identity of the masked killer does not generate much suspense and surprise.
Of course, story-telling was never really the goal of the Scary Movie series. Instead, the story serves the purpose of generating an opportunity for humorous situations. From this perspective, the story succeeds.
A very interesting theme explored in the movie is that of the development of comedy. There are various instances in the movie which suggest that humor has been changing in nature over time. The film seems to have been produced for people who regret the free nature of comedy that was prevalent during the early 2000s.
It appears as if the movie wants to answer certain controversies that arise regarding modern-day comedy. According to the film, comedy nowadays has been becoming more and more careful. Whether or not people find it true would be a matter of perspective. Nonetheless, the film acquires an additional layer of theme through this.
Another theme which the film explores is that of nostalgia. Scenes which allude to events that happened in the movies have been included to help audiences remember what they loved about the franchise.
Performances
The cast is one of the film’s greatest strengths. The returning actors immediately recapture the chemistry that made the original films successful.
One of the best performances in the film comes from Marlon Wayans. He always stays energized and his physical comedy is top-notch. Most of the hilarious scenes in the movie have to do with his character, Shorty, who is ready for anything.
The presence of Shawn Wayans makes an interesting contrast to the crazy energy brought by Marlon. He is less energetic than Marlon, yet his acting is equally important and his scenes with his brother are always entertaining. This makes audiences feel that they go back to the times when the franchise was at its best.
Once again, Anna Faris impresses viewers with her performance. She still looks great as a comedic protagonist. She knows how to perform her straight role despite all the insanity around her. Her reactions often serve as jokes. Cindy is always the heart of the franchise.
Regina Hall is yet another great addition to the show’s roster of actors. Brenda Meeks is still the most entertaining character on the show. The confidence and comic timing of Regina Hall add to the entertainment of almost every scene that she participates in. Even her simplest of lines cause the audience to burst into laughter.
The arrival of Dave Sheridan back on the show as Doofy Gilmore once again takes the viewers down memory lane. His portrayal of the eccentric character manages to avoid any sense of repetition that would otherwise be expected from a long-serving actor.
The actors who have recently joined the cast also manage to entertain us despite not getting as much screen time. Olivia Rose Keegan brings a lot of charisma and personality into her role of Sara Campbell and succeeds in making the character come off as more than just Cindy’s daughter.
Cameron Scott Roberts comes across as an appealing choice for Jack Kirsch. He plays his part well enough to bring out the relevance of the young cast members in modern times. Savannah Lee Nassif brings out an energetic element as Tuesday Campbell.
Cinematography and Visual Style
The camera work by Terry Stacey is responsible for much of the film’s modern feel. It is visually more refined than many of the earlier films in the series.
The film often copies the style of modern horror films. The use of lighting, close-ups, and composition creates real suspense. But that suspense is only built up so that a joke can be made.
Stacey realizes that parody is more effective if the base material is presented with seriousness. A majority of scenes seem like authentic horror movie scenes at first. The quick transition to comedy becomes all the more effective owing to this.
Cinematography stays dynamic throughout the movie. Effective camera movements and shots create visual appeal. Cinematography is seldom spoken about in a parody movie. However, Stacey’s work deserves a mention here.
Visual and Practical Effects
The visual effects serve to achieve the aim of the film to mock modern horror movies. Digital effects are employed more often than in previous installments. Thus, the director can recreate modern horror motifs in an authentic manner.
It should be noted that the visual effects are not very realistic; however, this is not the aim. In most cases, effects are created in order to provide additional comic elements.
Practical effects are essential for the movie. They help create humor through the use of makeup effects, costume design, props, and physical performance tricks. Practical effects turn out to be more efficient compared to digital ones, since they make use of the physical humor.
In this respect, it can be said that the effects, both practical and digital, serve effectively to achieve the aim of the film. They contribute to updating the franchise, and at the same time retain its charm. Moreover, the effects contribute to achieving the comic effect.
Does the Comedy Still Work?
The visual effects serve to achieve the aim of the film to mock modern horror movies. Digital effects are employed more often than in previous installments. Thus, the director can recreate modern horror motifs in an authentic manner.
It should be noted that the visual effects are not very realistic; however, this is not the aim. In most cases, effects are created in order to provide additional comic elements.
Practical effects are essential for the movie. They help create humor through the use of makeup effects, costume design, props, and physical performance tricks. Practical effects turn out to be more efficient compared to digital ones, since they make use of the physical humor.
In this respect, it can be said that the effects, both practical and digital, serve effectively to achieve the aim of the film. They contribute to updating the franchise, and at the same time retain its charm. Moreover, the effects contribute to achieving the comic effect.
What Worked and What Did Not
One of the strong points in this movie is the cast, which immediately gives the movie a familiar and energetic edge thanks to the Wayans brothers, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, and Dave Sheridan. It still has that chemistry that makes it possible for such a movie to work, even when the content is not always of high quality. Another strong point is the way in which the movie succeeds in capturing the atmosphere from the original Scary Movie movies. There are several funny scenes through the use of physical and visual jokes as well as horror parodies.
One more feature of the movie that works successfully is its nostalgic value. Instead of not paying attention to its heritage, Scary Movie 6 makes use of its characters and humor loved the most by the audience. Callbacks are not too obvious and usually help in developing the comic plotline. One should note that an attempt at modernizing the genre is also worth praising.
Yet there are some weaknesses to this movie as well. First of all, the plot itself is not very strong and is primarily used as a means to tie together all parody sequences. Although this was quite typical for such movies, modern-day viewers would probably like to see something better in terms of storytelling. Secondly, some of the humor is rather uneven. On the one hand, some jokes are repeated too many times, whereas others are based on either shock effect or things that will soon become outdated.
Although the new characters do an admirable job, they are not developed enough to make them as iconic as the recurring cast. Hence, the success of the film relies greatly on its nostalgia factor. Although the die-hard fans will surely appreciate this technique, it might be hard for others to relate to the plot and characters.
Final Verdict
Scary Movie 6 is a movie that knows precisely what its viewers are seeking. It might not necessarily revolutionize the parody film, but it certainly does succeed at getting back into the spirit that initially made all the movies fun to watch. The comeback of the Wayans brothers adds an extra layer of credibility to the movie, which was certainly lacking in some of the recent installments, and the gathering of the original stars produces the funniest scenes in the movie.
Unfortunately, the flaws of the movie are too hard to overlook. There is a lack of storyline, uneven humor, and several jokes that completely fall flat. Nevertheless, when the humor clicks, it definitely pays off. There are even a few moments that will make you laugh out loud.
All in all, Scary Movie 6 is amusing, problematic, and retro. Though not the best movie of the franchise, it certainly marks a positive comeback and does not fail to stay true to itself despite trying to change for current viewers. Existing followers of the movie will definitely like the references, and newcomers will love the self-deprecating humor.
