Scary Movie 4, released in 2006, is a horror-comedy film that parodies several popular movies and pop culture references. Directed by David Zucker, the movie mocks films like The Village, Saw, War of the Worlds, Brokeback Mountain, and The Grudge.
A Brief Overview
The movie revolves around Cindy Campbell (played by Anna Faris), who is a character from the previous Scary Movie installments. In this movie, she is trying to save the world from an alien invasion while also dealing with other satirical situations.
Parodying The Village
One of the main Targets of Scary Movie 4 is M. Night Shyamalan’s 2004 thriller-horror film ‘The Village’. The opening scene of Scary Movie 4 begins in a village where people are living in fear due to an unknown monster lurking in the woods. This scene is a parody of The Village’s plot where people live in fear of unknown creatures in the woods surrounding their village.
However, as the scene progresses, we see that instead of a monster attacking them, it’s just Shaquille O’Neal playing basketball who accidentally breaks things around him. This twist on The Village’s suspenseful plotline is played for laughs and sets the tone for the rest of the movie.
Parodying Saw
Scary Movie 4 also takes aim at James Wan’s popular horror franchise – Saw. In one scene, we see Shaquille O’Neal strapped to a contraption similar to those seen in Saw movies. However, instead of being tortured or killed for his past sins like in Saw movies, Shaq gets tickled until he can’t take it anymore.
This over-the-top comedic take on Saw’s brutal and gory torture devices is both hilarious and ridiculous.
Parodying War of the Worlds
Another movie that Scary Movie 4 spoofs is Steven Spielberg’s 2005 sci-fi action film ‘War of the Worlds’. In this scene, Tom Cruise’s character from the original movie is replaced by Craig Bierko, and instead of fighting aliens, he fights against a group of rap singers in a dance battle.
This scene not only mocks War of the Worlds but also references popular dance movies like Step Up and You Got Served.
Parodying Brokeback Mountain
Scary Movie 4 also takes a jab at Ang Lee’s critically acclaimed 2005 romantic drama ‘Brokeback Mountain’. In a hilarious parody scene, we see two men portrayed by Craig Bierko and Chris Elliot kissing in a tent while camping.
This scene is a nod towards Brokeback Mountain’s homosexual romance between two cowboys and how it was received in mainstream media at that time.
Parodying The Grudge
Lastly, Scary Movie 4 parodies the 2004 supernatural horror film ‘The Grudge’. In this scene, Cindy (Anna Faris) enters a haunted house where she encounters the ghost girl from The Grudge.
However, instead of being scared or haunted by her presence, Cindy gets into an argument with the ghost girl about how she should be cleaning up her own mess instead of haunting people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Scary Movie 4 takes on several movies and pop culture references with its trademark humor. From parodying horror movies like Saw and The Grudge to poking fun at romantic dramas like Brokeback Mountain, Scary Movie 4 keeps its viewers entertained throughout its runtime.
