Plot: What’s it about?
I have to think that Wes Craven really knew what he was doing when he directed Scream back in 1996. By that, I mean that he took a previously-existing genre (horror) and put a new spin on it by making fun of some of the very films that made him a noted director. Flash forward a few years and we were then presented with a film that made fun of that film (as well as others) with Scary Movie. As of this writing, more than a quarter of a century has passed and since Hollywood has gotten complacent with remakes and reboots we’ve got…Scary Movie, a modern interpretation that attempts to rekindle whatever remaining embers that were left in the franchise. Of note, this is also the first time that the Wayans are back since Scary Movie 2. If that matters to you. If not, it’s really not important in the big picture.
The masked killer, Ghostface, is back and he’s once again got his sights set on Cindy (Anna. Faris) and Brenda (Regina Hall). To add fuel to the fire, he’s also looking at their kids: Sara (Olivia Rose Keegan), Tuesday (Savannah Lee Nassif), and Dei (Sydney Meeks). If you’re in the mood for familiar faces, we’re treated to perpetual stoner Shorty (Marlon Wayans) and Ray (Shawn Wayans). And, in short, that’s it. There really wasn’t much to the Scream films (or the Scary Movie ones) other than a killer running around and killing everyone. This is done with humor, but the point of this franchise is to see how many different film references they can include. Some of note are Get Out, Longlegs and Smile just to name a few. And if you want a really deep dive, check out some of the film’s ad campaigns that have posters from this film, clearly inspired by others.
I’d recently rewatched the first Scary Movie not too long ago. I was anxious to see how this one compared. There really isn’t a comparison other than the film’s name. Some of the “magic” is gone and this one seems like a desperate grab for cheap jokes and trying to rake in as much cash as possible. The jokes are lewd and while some hit, most miss the mark by a mile. I’ve got faith in the Wayans family as filmmakers, but sometimes it’s best to leave something alone. I don’t envision seeing this one again anytime soon, but I often rewatch some of the originals – perhaps you should as well.
Video: How’s it look?
A big budget studio film that’s parodying other big budget studio films will have to look good. And this does. There are a lot of different visual presentations (depending on the scene) as the film lampoons different horror films. What I mean by that is that we’ll have a movie in the vein of Sinners, but then we’ll be right back to the “standard” look and feel the next scene. Thankfully, no matter what movie they’re making fun of – they all look great. The 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image has HDR for some extra color depth and so forth. It’s a nice, naturalistic presentation that’s sure to please.
Audio: How’s it sound?
As we might expect with a new 4K release, also along for the ride is a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that sounds pretty darn good. Admittedly, it does miss the mark on a few occasions, but by and large comedies aren’t the genre that’ll test the limits of your system. All the usual caveats are in place with surrounds offering some ambiance, a strong front stage as well as some dynamic sonics that really get the mood going. In short, it’s what one would expect from a film like this and it doesn’t disappoint.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Extended Cut* – Yeah, there’s a star there for a reason. The Extended Cut is on this disc, sort of…it’s only available via the digital code once redeemed. The Extended Cut is NOT on the disc. But it does add about 10 minutes to the film’s runtime and, as most extended cuts, doesn’t really add that much to the film.
- Scream Together – The first of two very similar features shows the cast “reunited” (and it feels so good) as they rehash some of their old films and what it’s like to be back.
- Wayans World – The men who really have been the face of the franchise get their own segment as they essentially do the same as above.
- Fresh Meat – The new faces in this installment are profiled.
- Scene Dissection – Just that. We get a breakdown of the set pieces regarding the films they spoof and so forth.
The Bottom Line
There are some genuinely funny moments in this one (as well as some cameos that had me scratching my head), but I found this one veered too much towards “gross out” comedy than the cleverness that made a few of the originals notable. But if this is your thing, this one does look and sound good and comes with some interesting features. Just remember if you’re after that Extended Cut, it’s got to be used with the digital code.
