Official film poster of “Scary Movie 5” used under fair use for editorial review.


Scary Movie 5 (2013): A Return to Ridiculous Spoofs and Crude Laughs

Introduction
After a seven-year hiatus, the Scary Movie franchise returned with Scary Movie 5 in 2013. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, this installment shifts away from the original Wayans ensemble and introduces new protagonists Jody Sanders (Ashley Tisdale) and Dan Sanders (Simon Rex). Targeting hits such as Paranormal Activity, Black Swan, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Inception, Scary Movie 5 aims for a modern flavor of parody—mixing raunchy humor, pop-culture shout-outs, and over-the-top sight gags. Here’s a breakdown of its plot, performances, standout spoofs, and whether it sticks the comedic landing.

1. Plot Overview

Scary Movie 5 opens with a chilling take on Paranormal Activity: Jody (Ashley Tisdale) and her husband Dan (Simon Rex) experience eerie disturbances in their new home—levitating objects, ghostly whispers, and a possessed baby. After a demonic possession subplot, they seek help from Father McFeely (Ernie Hudson) and psychic Dr. Phyllis Chambers (Molly Shannon). The story then detours into Black Swan territory when Jody joins a pirouetting dance troupe haunted by a mirror-shattering evil. Meanwhile, Dan’s misadventures spoof Inception: a dream-within-a-dream sequence sends him spiraling through absurd scenarios, from apes reciting Shakespeare (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) to slow-motion bullet-time bathroom brawls. The film culminates in a mash-up finale, where all the movie villains converge on Jody’s house for one last round of gory—but ludicrous—showdowns.

2. Direction & Modern Parody Style

Malcolm D. Lee updates the Scary Movie formula with slicker production values and split-screen smartphone gags. He plays with found-footage tropes—handheld camcorder footage morphing into cinematic crane shots—and contrasts them with polished dream sequences that mimic Inception’s gravity-defying visuals. Lee balances broad physical comedy—slapstick falls, over-animated expressions—with quick cuts to keep the pace brisk. His lens favors bright, clinical interiors for supernatural scares, then shifts to moody ballet studios drenched in red for the Black Swan parody. While some extended set-pieces feel under-explored, Lee injects enough visual variety—swirling CGI feathers, accelerated time-lapses—for a contemporary spoof aesthetic.

3. Performances

Ashley Tisdale’s Jody anchors the film with energetic reactions—wide eyes, emphatic shrieks, and a willingness to endure physical comedy (especially during demonic baby sequences). Simon Rex as Dan brings a laid-back charm, his deadpan delivery offsetting Jody’s frantic antics. Supporting turns include Molly Shannon, whose psychic spiels and over-reactions during ghost-busting scenes provide consistent laughs, and Erika Christensen as Dan’s suspicious sister, Karen, who channels Black Swan intensity with wicked humor. Terry Crews turns up in a cameo as a hardened zoo keeper battling rampaging CGI apes, delivering muscular pratfalls and grin-and-bear-it gags. The ensemble’s chemistry is uneven—some actors lean too heavily into caricature—but Shannon and Tisdale’s rapport helps hold the chaos together.

4. Standout Spoofs & Gags

  • Paranormal Baby: Jody’s infant floats mid-air, firing spit at terrified parents—an instant gross-out visual gag.

  • Black Swan Ballet: Jody’s transformation involves a tutu malfunction and a hilariously over-dramatic mirror-cracking sequence.

  • Inception Bathroom Brawl: Slow-motion fight in a public restroom, complete with spinning toilets and tumbling patrons.

  • Apes Giving Speeches: Chimpanzees reciting motivational quotes and Shakespearean monologues, spoofing Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

  • Social-Media Curses: A haunted chain-text meme spreads terror via smartphones, complete with emoji-based warnings.

These set pieces reflect the film’s ambition to lampoon both blockbuster genres and digital-age fears, though joke density can feel uneven.

5. Why It Divided Audiences

Scary Movie 5 polarized fans: some appreciated its updated references and slick visuals, while others missed the original’s tight horror-centric satire and Wayans’ irreverent edge. Its raunchier humor—demonic baby droppings and repeated bathroom jokes—earned chuckles but also critiques for relying on shock rather than wit. The new cast brought fresh energy but lacked the ensemble chemistry that made earlier entries resonate. Despite mixed reviews, the film reflects 2010s parody trends—embracing social-media satire and CGI-heavy spoofs—offering a snapshot of how comedy tackled modern cinematic and digital culture.

Conclusion & Rating

Pros:

  • Contemporary pop-culture targets with bright production

  • Solid comic turns from Ashley Tisdale and Molly Shannon

  • Ambitious dream-sequence visuals

Cons:

  • Jokes uneven; some rely on gross-out rather than clever parody

  • Lacks the cohesive ensemble feel of the originals

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Did Scary Movie 5’s modern gags work for you—or did you miss the old crew? Share your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @ReelMeetsComic!