The middle to late 1990’s was a hotbed of slasher movies. The 1996 release of “Scream” revitalized the sub-genre so absolutely, movie theaters were inundated with slasher films to the point where it seemed as if there was at least one playing at every theater every month. In 1999, brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans decided it was time to have a little fun with the glut of slasher films around them. Production soon began on what would become the best parody of the 1990’s slasher film boom. That film was 2000’s SCARY MOVIE.
It is the year 2000, and a high school is being stalked by a serial killer. Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) believes the killer is after them because of an incident that had occurred the previous Halloween. They had hit and killed a man while driving, and instead of helping, they dumped his body into a lake and swore each other to silence. Now everyone involved is being threatened by a killer in a “Ghostface” mask and is being eliminated one by one.
If this premise sounds to you like a mash-up between “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, you’d be right. SCARY MOVIE takes the plotlines of the two best-known 90’s slasher films to form the basis of the movie poking fun at the entire genre. It was an intelligent choice that feels natural, but that was not the only wise decision this film makes. Writers Shawn and Marlon Wayans (who also play roles in the film) take great care to adhere to the feel and rhythms of the slasher film. Robb Wilson King’s production design adheres closely to the sets of “Scream” and Francis Kenny’s photography reproduces the look of these films perfectly.
This is a comedy, however, and comedy is king. SCARY MOVIE is a film chock-full of devastating parody, pop-culture needling, and unrelentingly crude jokes. This is a parody of slasher movies, after all. The humor in this film could only work if it was as uncompromising as the genre it is aiming at. The script is unapologetically adult in its humor and wide-ranging in its targeting. It helps that the cast is so full of hilarious actors. The aforementioned Wayans brothers are veterans in the comedy world. Add to them Regina Hall, Shannon Elizabeth, Cheri Oteri, and even a cameo by David L. Lander, and you have a cast that can more than pull this off. The real revelation of this film was Anna Faris in her film debut. Faris carries the lead in SCARY MOVIE with a confidence rarely seen in seasoned veterans. She delivers a sympathetic and utterly hilarious performance.
SCARY MOVIE was a success upon its release in the Summer of 2000 and it spawned a franchise that has run 5 films. Though the sequels never quite reach the level of quality that the first did, they are still worthy Horror parodies, and they never seem to run out of ideas. There is a lot of source material to work from, after all – the Horror genre is always evolving and generating new sub-genres ripe for mockery. SCARY MOVIE works to this day, however, because it is a deceptively well-made film that deserves its place as a classic Horror comedy.
SCARY MOVIE fun facts – Anna Faris dyed her natural blonde hair black in order to more closely resemble Neve Campbell, who was the star of the “Scream” films.
The principal is played by David L. Lander, who is best known as Squiggly from “Laverne and Shirley”. This is a goof on the fact that the principal in “Scream” was played by Henry Winkler – best known as Fonzie on “Happy Days”.
Director Keenan Ivory Wayans plays the slave in the “Amistad 2” trailer.
The news cameraman, Kenny, is named after the film’s cinematographer; Francis Kenny.
Cindy- “Look, if it’s about that time I puked green slime and masturbated with a crucifix, it was my first keg party, Bobby!”
The Killer - “Do you know where I am?”
Cindy – “Um, you’re behind the couch. I can see your feet.”
Black T.V. Reporter – “We’re here reporting live for ‘Black T.V.’ White folks are dead, so we getting the fuck out of here!”
Doofy – “Mom said that when I wear this badge you’re supposed to treat me like a man of the law.”
Buffy – “Yeah, and mom also said for you to stop sticking your dick in the vacuum cleaner.”