Can a movie parody too many things at once?
That is the question hanging over ‘Scary Movie 6’, the long-awaited return of the comedy-horror franchise that reunites Cindy, Brenda, Ray and Shorty more than two decades after their last run-in with a masked killer.
The film wastes no time announcing its intentions. The opening scene features singer and actress Teyana Taylor appearing as herself. When Ghostface attempts to terrorise her over the phone, and luring her to a lonely place, she responds by calling in friends to help beat him up.
The sequence includes jokes about awards shows, celebrity culture and race. This sets the tone for a movie that rarely goes more than a few seconds without trying to land a punchline.
That approach continues throughout the film. Nothing is off limits. ‘Scary Movie 6’ takes aim at modern horror movies, Gen Z culture, social media personalities, cancel culture, celebrity scandals and just about every trend that has dominated the internet in recent years.
Celebrity appearances, including basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal and streamer Kai Cenat, add to the chaos.
Some jokes work. The audience at the premiere screening laughed loudly at several moments and there are scenes that genuinely earn a smile. Even viewers who do not connect with the overall film will likely find themselves smiling from time to time. The cast throws itself into the absurdity and there is no shortage of energy.
The problem is that the movie often feels like it is trying to parody everything at once.
Many jokes feel stretched out or miss the mark entirely. The humour often relies on shock value and random references rather than clever parody.
Instead of building momentum, the story jumps from one joke and reference to the next. As the film progresses, the plot becomes chaotic and difficult to follow.
There is a plot involving a new group of Ghostface-inspired killers targeting characters connected to the original survivors, but the story often takes a back seat to the jokes. By the final act, the movie feels more interested in throwing as many jokes as possible at the screen than telling a coherent story.
As the film reaches its final act, the madness only escalates. Revelations pile up, characters make ridiculous decisions and the movie embraces complete absurdity.
Whether viewers find that hilarious or exhausting will depend on their tolerance for the franchise’s style of humour.
Parents should also be aware that this is not a film for younger viewers. The movie contains strong language, sexual references, drug use, violence and several scenes that push well into adult territory. The MA rating is well deserved.
At just 96 minutes, ‘Scary Movie 6’ moves quickly and never becomes dull.
Yet the constant stream of jokes, references and attempts at social commentary eventually becomes overwhelming. While a handful of gags hit their target, many others feel forced or simply miss the mark.
Fans of the franchise may enjoy seeing familiar faces return for another round of mayhem. Others may leave the cinema wondering what exactly they just watched.
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Rated: MA
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
In cinemas June 4
