{"id":1103,"date":"2013-04-29T10:33:43","date_gmt":"2013-04-29T14:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~reviewing\/?page_id=1103"},"modified":"2013-04-29T10:33:43","modified_gmt":"2013-04-29T14:33:43","slug":"new-films-try-to-revive-horror-parodies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=1103","title":{"rendered":"New films try to revive horror parodies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted April 29, 2013<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By NICKY DIAZ<\/p>\n

For more than a decade, the Wayans brothers — Keenan Ivory, Shawn and Marlon — dedicated their time to parodying horror films in their popular franchise, \u201cScary Movie.\u201d The films have collectively grossed more than $818 million worldwide. Although none of the movies ever received rave reviews from critics, the franchise paved the way for other parodies of horror films.<\/p>\n

\"Credit<\/a>

Photo courtesy of\u00a0 http:\/\/facebook.com\/ahauntedhouse <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Parodies, in general, satirize other genres or films for their shortcomings. Especially in horror films, the plots and characters can be unrealistic and absurd.<\/p>\n

This is one of the main reasons why the \u201cScary Movie\u201d franchise is so successful. The audiences that tend to watch these horror movie spoofs have already seen the films that are mocked in the parody; otherwise, the jokes wouldn\u2019t make sense to them.<\/p>\n

However, horror isn\u2019t the only genre that is spoofed. Every genre has been mocked by parodies. Western movies take a hit in \u201cBlazing Saddles;\u201d \u201cMars Attacks!\u201d parodies science fiction films; \u201cPlump Fiction\u201d pokes fun at several movies from the \u201890s including \u201cPulp Fiction\u201d and \u201cReservoir Dogs;\u201d romantic comedies, specifically those aimed at teens, were parodied in \u201cNot Another Teen Movie;\u201d and even Russian literature was mocked in director Woody Allen\u2019s \u201cLove and Death.\u201d<\/p>\n

These films tend to attract a positive reaction from audiences most of the time. For instance, \u201cAttack of the Killer Tomatoes\u201d \u2013 a horror comedy from 1978 \u2013 received poor reviews from critics; however, it garnered a cult following. One of the first horror comedies, \u201cAbbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein\u201d (1948), also received positive reviews from fans; the National Film Registry has even preserved it. Earlier parodies tend to be more respected by critics than current ones. Today\u2019s parodies focus on low-brow humor, trying to get laughs with bathroom humor and sexual jokes.<\/p>\n

Though it has been seven years since the last installment, the \u201cScary Movie\u201d franchise recently added \u201cScary Movie 5\u201d to the collection. And it seems like with the return of the series comes the return of horror parodies in general. So far, audiences have already seen two horror film parodies in 2013: \u201cScary Movie 5\u201d and \u201cA Haunted House.\u201d The latter is ironically produced, written and starred in by Marlon Wayans, who is no longer involved in the established franchise due to creative differences.<\/p>\n

However, the genre\u2019s comeback isn\u2019t good news. If only the popular series had put an end to its crass parodies in 2006. Saying that \u201cScary Movie 5\u201d falls short is an understatement. It\u2019s not like audiences expect to watch a movie with a smart, well-written script when they plan on checking out one of these parodies, but \u201cScary Movie 5\u201d is an insult. The film lacks a plot, prides itself on crude humor, features lackluster acting, and is built on a dull script.<\/p>\n

\u201cScary Movie 5\u201d attempts to mock \u201cMama,\u201d \u201cParanormal Activity,\u201d \u201cEvil Dead,\u201d \u201cFifty Shades of Grey,\u201d \u201cThe Black Swan,\u201d and even Lindsay Lohan\u2019s and Charlie Sheen\u2019s real-life personas; as expected, every shot taken comes up empty. The script tries to push the limits to get a laugh, but tries to reach too far. Moreover, it lacks a continuous plot; it feels more like several sketches forced together to make an 85-minute movie.<\/p>\n

In addition to Sheen\u2019s and Lohan\u2019s cameos, several other well-known celebrities make appearances in the film, including Mac Miller, Snoop Lion, Usher and Mike Tyson. \u201cHigh School Musical\u201d star Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex, who has appeared in the past two installments, star as the film\u2019s main characters.<\/p>\n

Tisdale and Rex play Jody and Dan Sanders who move into a new home after adopting three children. After experiencing some paranormal activity, the couple decides to record the events with a video camera. The rest of the film is home footage of a paranormal creature haunting them while trying to take their children. The events are narrated by a Morgan Freeman-like voice.<\/p>\n

The franchise\u2019s competition, \u201cA Haunted House,\u201d follows the same formula. It focuses on Malcolm (Marlon Wayans) and Kisha (\u201cHalf & Half\u2019s\u201d Essence Atkins) moving in together. Malcolm decides to document the couple\u2019s move, which ends up leading to some paranormal activity. The film is comprised of home footage and features cameos by Nick Swardson, Dave Sheridan and Cedric The Entertainer.<\/p>\n

Although the humor is just as aggressive and in-your-face as \u201cScary Movie 5\u2019s,\u201d it is definitely more tolerable. The acting is considerably better, especially Atkins\u2019 and Wayans\u2019 performances.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the team behind \u201cA Haunted House\u201d made the right decision in focusing on just one horror film, \u201cParanormal Activity,\u201d to parody. \u201cScary Movie 5,\u201d on the other hand, tried to tackle too many films and celebrities; it made the jokes seem forced.<\/p>\n

Most of the jokes in each film are repetitive and ineffective, like the scenes in \u201cScary Movie 5\u201d trying to prove Tisdale is a bad mother (not only does she burn the baby\u2019s head, but she smacks him against a door frame). And some form of bathroom humor is included in every scene in each movie, especially references to farting.<\/p>\n

Neither film is memorable, but what horror parody is? It\u2019s unreasonable for audiences to expect anything different. Both \u201cA Haunted House\u201d and \u201cScary Movie 5\u201d follow the same formula of past parodies: poor acting, crass humor and a scattered plot. In that sense, they don\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n