Scary Movie

This film has it all! Scary Movie is a truly one of a kind watch that's also perfect for Spooky Season! The film's haunted house setting really brings back those memories of nostalgia while the plot commands your attention leading to a pretty amazing twist towards the end of the film. Huge thumbs up from me!

An unhinged young man accompanies his friends to a haunted house attraction around Halloween right as a deranged mental patient has escaped. As the night wears on, this young man starts to think the mental patient has broken into the haunted house and is going to kill them one by one.

It's amusing to see John Hawkes so young and in such an early role and Scary Movie works mostly due to his bizarre, scared rabbit performance. The Halloween visuals will give you the warm and fuzzies for all of those who love that time of year and it's fascinating to see how many films have cribbed from this later on like the recent Hell Fest and Haunt. Even at about 80 minutes, it's a little too slow and there's not a lot of terror or danger for a good majority of that run time, so less patient viewers might want to sit this one out.

This nineteen ninety one film was then nineteen year old director Daniel Erickson's first full length feature film.Producer Keith Brunson teamed up with co-producer/director/writer Erickson to bring his vision to life.They formed the production company Generic Movies LTD.to produce their one and only film. Filmed entirely in and around the Austin,Texas area,it has the look and feel of a small country town. The film centers around Warren,a paranoid young man who spends most the movie in a constant state of fear. Set in a Jaycees type of small town spook house,Warren comes to believe an escaped homicidal maniac is hiding inside! The movie builds suspense from beginning to end,you can't stop watching it!Every scene in this film works perfectly to produce the desired effect on the viewer.Daniel Erickson has created a cult classic! The movie stars a then unknown John Hawkes in his first feature film. Then Austin resident Butch"Eddie Munster"Patrick puts in a comedic performance as a spook house worker.The film also used a lot of local cast and crew,and even Keith Brunson has a cameo role as the spook house door attendant. The only problem with this film is that so few people have seen it. It never opened nationally,and was only shown in one local theater. Occasionally it is shown on Halloween in Austin,but it never got the recognition it deserves. I have the very good fortune to know the Erickson/Brunson team,and have made it my personal quest to get this film seen. I played the film on my horror host show in Austin,and have sent copies of the show to horror hosts across the country. Watch your local horror hosts show and someday you may get to see the original"Scary Movie". In summary,this is a perfect first offering from Generic Movies Ltd. it offers horror,suspense,comedy,something for everyone.It is a must see cult classic!

No need to explain the plot, but when I first saw this I wasn't expecting much. Probably some random 80's slasher flick, like the so many already existing with over-the-weekend written scripts that just find a way to get a bunch of teens nude and killed. But I was so wrong.

I quickly identified with the main character, Warren, a paranoid young man who strongly believes the escaped psychopath could be living in a haunted house.

This film really takes the time to let you get to know and feel for the characters unlike most other 80's films, and considering the budget was low and this is a hard find, it's worth a look if you ever get the chance.

Now, by looking at the title, you're probably thinking "Scary movie, as in the 2000 spoof to Scream? so wait, is this movie a spoof to the 1985 film, Scream: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086262/ ?" No, it's not. They are in no way remakes or sequels to those movies. This film stands out for its own reasons.

The suspense makes the movie very entertaining and almost impossible to look away from, like a roller coaster ride, you feel as if once you start, you have no other choice but to sit tight and watch it all the way through. I almost find it sad that hardly anyone will ever get the chance to see this great film, it's worked its way into my top 10.

If you ever find it, make sure to give it a chance. It's well worth it. this is one great scary movie.

Before there were Haunt (2019), Hell Fest (2018), and The Houses October Built (2014), there was Scary Movie (1991). As one of the early "haunted attraction gone wrong" films, Scary Movie helps sets the scene with loving tributes to retro Halloween visuals, classic horror movies, and clever whodunnits. Director Daniel Erickson's 1986 short film Mr. Pumpkin previously glimpsed his particular brand of mischievous Halloween fun, which is now on full display throughout Scary Movie. Even Butch "Eddie Munster" Patrick is on board for this campy ride!

One thing that surprised me about Scary Movie was the genuinely twisting mystery at the heart of it. I know my plot predictions were thrown off at least once during the course of the action. I was also impressed by how little profanity and adult content were used to tell the story; there is just enough edge sprinkled across the cast of characters to make them unique, without becoming overbearingly explicit. If you're looking for an edgier film with a similar aesthetic, The Funhouse (1981) is always available to view - but I personally prefer Scary Movie for this very reason, considering how seamlessly it blends with the 1980s/1990s general audience Halloween content I grew up watching on television.

Make no mistake, this is a horror film with blood in all the right places - but one which keeps you guessing and laughing all the same. I hope more viewers come to find this hidden gem for their Halloween movie nights. While I understand that it might not necessarily be a great fit for everyone, it is sure to tickle the funny bones of viewers interested in 1980s horror, haunted attractions, and lovingly-executed independent filmmaking. The aesthetic is nostalgic, the mystery is strong, and the cast delivers for an all-around Halloween treat.

SIMILAR TO: The Funhouse (1981), Hell Fest (2018), Scream (1996), Evil Dead 2 (1987)

FURTHER VIEWING: Mr. Pumpkin (1986)