With over a decade since the last instalment, the Scary Movie franchise is back. While some things have changed, such as a new generation of cast members and a fresh batch of references, the core formula is still firmly intact: wild innuendos, toilet humour, slapstick gags, and a dedication to mocking the horror genre. For the first time in 20 years, Anna Faris and Regina Hall return as Cindy and Brenda, which I was super excited about since their notable absence from the previous instalment (we don’t talk about Scary Movie 5).
The first rule of watching any Scary Movie film, do not go in expecting a deep, thought-provoking Oscar-bait-esque film. These films have always been deeply stupid, borderline offensive, and just straight up outrageous. Scary Movie 6 continues that tradition, taking aim at films such as Sinners, The Substance, Longlegs, and Weapons, all new films that are very fresh in my memory, which definitely helped guarantee some laughs. The film also pokes fun at newer horror films trying to be “meta”, calling itself a “rebooquel” and including a whole bunch of self-aware digs. A lot of the humour is crass and juvenile, but this is to be expected with Marlon and Shawn Wayans returning as writers (although I must say I certainly wasn’t expecting the intentional 67 joke).
There’s been a lot of iconic horror releases between 2013-2026, and this film did come across as trying to desperately play catch up with all of them, which resulted in the film feeling more like a 95-minute sketch show rather than a cohesive movie. I know the bar is pretty low for this franchise, and it’s not like I’ve ever turned to the franchise for storytelling, but even the previous instalments managed to string together some sort of plot rather than just constant rapid fire gags where only about half of them landed. On top of that, for a film where the majority of the marketing leaned into being super offensive and ending “cancel culture”, the jokes were pretty tame. I wish they went all in as promised, then maybe more of the jokes actually would have landed.
If you enjoyed the first three Scary Movie instalments, this one will feel like hanging out with old friends. It delivers the mindless humour, horror parodies, and pop culture references we expect, and there are enough laughs to make it an entertaining watch. However, it comes to a point where some of the gags feel a little recycled, and the film starts to feel a bit like cash-grabbing nostalgia-bait. I mean, how many times do we need to reference Scream, there have been other horror movies in the past 13 years! It may not be the comeback the franchise deserved, but it serves as a reminder of why audiences fell for these films in the first place. If you enjoyed A Haunted House (2013), Vampires Suck (2010), or of course the earlier Scary Movie films, this one’s for you.
This movie is showing at Showcase Cinema de Lux Southampton, the ultimate student spot. Experience luxury with recliner seats and enjoy unbeatable value with their “Saver Mondays,” making blockbusters super affordable for your student budget. Catch your next film here: Showcase Southampton