Scare Tactics

Reboot is a huge disappointment. The pranks are unimaginative and lack buildup. They're abrupt and feel like cheap gags you'd see on a daytime talk show Halloween segment, like Ellen. The original scares stood out for their creativity and gradual escalation, drawing the marks deeper into the scenario until they reached peak terror.

The new setup relies too much on open spaces, leading to predictable outcomes where the targets just scream and run away. In contrast, the original often made marks feel trapped. While they couldn't legally lock doors, the actors' performances and set designs convinced them they were truly stuck. This reboot lacks that edge.

I've always loved Scare Tactics. Over the years the show has gone through a lot of different hosts, networks, etc. But it has always kept the same premise. A sadistic person puts their unsuspecting friend in a frightening situation with actors and sets/props and production scares the living stuffing out of them.

The newest version (2024) seems to be a complete revival with a big name like Jordan Peele attached to it. I'm unsure how much he's actually involved, my guess is minimal at best. While this current rendition sticks to the formula, there feels like something is lacking.

After watching the first two episodes, I'm not sure this show hits the same as the older ones. The easiest way I can express this is that the actual scary moments happen so suddenly and end so quickly that you are left wondering, is that it? I'm not sure why the scary moments are so abrupt, maybe there's worry about safety or something who knows. But they pretty much get one shock moment and then immediately stop, "you're on Scare Tactics!"

I'll keep watching the show to see if anything changes, but so far all I want to do is go back and rewatch the old ones. Even the Netflix show Prank Encounters was better than this. At least they dragged on the scary moments and got more juice out of each scenario. Unfortunately I don't think this new one will last, because it's just not memorable enough.

Hope they make many more seasons to come, I'd absolutely love to put someone on the show to prank them. This genre has been gone for way too long and I'm so glad it's back. Some of the pranks I feel like cut off too short after the apex of it all and by too short I mean like seconds after sometimes. But overall the set ups are fun and creative. I noticed they use a lot of the same cast to set up the pranks which could give it away for the one getting pranked as more of the public watch the show. I also noticed the group is usually wearing some sort of v.i.p. Vest which could also affect the believability for the person getting pranked. However I thought the writing was good and there's a pretty good variety of situations throughout an episode.

This show is terrible. I wanted to give it a chance but it's the worst. Long set ups for boring, not scary, pranks. Even worse, before the person even has a chance to be scared they end the bit and tell them they are on a show. Total fail.

This show is terrible. I wanted to give it a chance but it's the worst. Long set ups for boring, not scary, pranks. Even worse, before the person even has a chance to be scared they end the bit and tell them they are on a show. Total fail

This show is terrible. I wanted to give it a chance but it's the worst. Long set ups for boring, not scary, pranks. Even worse, before the person even has a chance to be scared they end the bit and tell them they are on a show. Total fail.

I had such high hopes for this series. It seemed like it had high production value, solid financial backing, and the premise of putting unsuspecting people in situations so bizarre and otherworldly and then capturing their visceral, unfiltered reactions all seemed to point to this turning out to be great content.

It couldn't have turned out worse! As others have mentioned, the show will spend time building out a great concept, the actors play their part well, and the target is perfectly primed for a potentially fantastic reaction; yet JUST as the fun begins, the show's team almost immediately reveal it's all fake without letting the climax of the scene play out. The premature reveals are frustrating and make you scratch your head, because of all the effort that was put into the build up.

I also think most of the outros and transitions prior to or between bits are extraneous and poorly executed. They come off as corny, and not in an endearing or fun way. Also, the show's "AI host" is just distracting and adds nothing in terms of substance. Do yourself a favor and skip this, because if you're like me, you'll find yourself getting increasingly frustrated because this really could have been great if well executed. Watch Prank Encounters on Netflix instead, they achieved what this show did not.

1 star!