Scary Movie 2 is a supernatural horror parody directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and stars his brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, James Woods, and Tim Curry, among others. The movie follows a group of college students, their professor, and his assistant as they investigate an old mansion for any paranormal activity. Despite the film’s mediocre critical reception upon release, it grossed over $140 million worldwide at the box office, with a production budget of just $45 million, making it a financial success.
The Scary Movie franchise is known for its large cast of characters, potty-mouthed humor, and, most famously, the number of films and genres each installment spoofs. Whereas the first Scary Movie primarily poked fun at ’90s slasher films, Scary Movie 2 also parodied ’70s and ’80s supernatural horror films.
11
‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
‘Scary Movie 2’ Pays Homage to the Classic Tale of Possession in Its Opening Scene
William Friedkin’s 1973 film adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel The Exorcist became a definitive entry in the horror genre whose influence is still felt today. The Exorcist centers on a possessed young girl and a few clergymen’s attempts to exorcise her demon. The film is notable for its brilliant performances, particularly those of Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair, its mind-blowing special effects, and its appropriately moody, creepy atmosphere. Yet it is the film’s subversion of many conventions that has cemented it as a cultural phenomenon.
In Scary Movie 2, Wayans spoofs The Exorcist as soon as the film begins. Mrs. Voorhees is celebrating with friends when her daughter, Megan, suddenly interrupts them. After a few failed attempts to get her daughter back to bed, Megan gets possessed by a demon, wreaks havoc, and forces Mrs. Voorhees to call on the help of Father McFeely and Father Harris. Whereas the exorcism in the original film is successful, Father McFeely gives up on his duties and ends Megan’s life by shooting her. The film’s cold opening is hilarious, perfectly sets the film’s tone, and gives audiences a glimpse of its humor.
10
‘The Legend of Hell House’ (1973)
‘Scary Movie 2’ Takes Its Story Structure From This Supernatural Gothic Tale
John Hough’s 1973 gothic supernatural horror film The Legend of Hell House is based on Richard Matheson’s 1971 novel titled Hell House. In The Legend of Hell House, a massacre occurs at eccentric millionaire Rudolph Deutsch’s mansion under suspicious circumstances. Ghost sightings and other supernatural occurrences have been reported on the property, prompting Deutsch to enlist the services of psychiatrist Dr. Lionel Barrett and two mediums to investigate.
Scary Movie 2’s plot is essentially the same as this film’s while blending elements of ’90s slasher films like Scream to help give it a fresh take on the genre. Additionally, the dinner scene from Hell House is spoofed in this film during the infamous cake scene with Chris Elliott and the rest of the cast.
9
‘The Amityville Horror’ (1979)
The Famous Haunted House Movie Inspires Some Toilet Humor in ‘Scary Movie 2’
Not to be confused with the Ryan Reynolds-led 2005 remake, Scary Movie 2 spoofs Stuart Rosenberg’s 1979 original supernatural horror film, The Amityville Horror. Despite the film’s mixed reception around its release, Amityville has accrued a cult following among new generations of cinema lovers for its subversion of the horror genre. In Amityville, the Lutz family and Father Delaney are harassed by flies upon entering their recently purchased home.
Fans of Scary Movie 2 might remember the hilarious scene involving James Woods as Father McFeely using the toilet, mirroring Father Delaney’s encounter in The Amityville Horror. While relieving himself, he calls the flies “Demonic.” He recites a prayer while on the toilet, turning the eruption of flies as seen in Amityville into a crude, potty-humor punchline.
8
‘The Changeling’ (1980)
An Ominous Bouncing Ball in ‘Scary Movie 2’ Comes From This Canadian Classic
Directed by Peter Medak, The Changeling is a Canadian supernatural psychological horror film that follows John Russell, a composer who unknowingly purchases a haunted house in Seattle and is eventually terrorized by evil spirits. The film employed techniques not often seen in horror movies during its time, such as self-moving wheelchairs and self-destroying mirrors.
The basketball scene in Scary Movie 2 is a shout-out to one of the scenes in this film, where a ball suspiciously falls down a flight of stairs and conveniently lands at John’s feet. This scene has become a common trope in horror films, often used as a setup for a good jump scare, so it may not be a direct reference.
7
‘Poltergeist’ (1982)
‘Scary Movie 2’ Used the Clown From ‘Poltergeist’ for One of Its Best Gags
Tobe Hooper’s 1982 supernatural horror classic Poltergeist is memorable for many reasons. In addition to being considered one of the greatest horror films ever made, it is also often cited as one of the finest films of the 1980s across all genres. The film is beloved for its well-written script, superb acting, and ability to frighten audiences without relying too much on effects and jump scares.
However, the now-famous Poltergeist curse is well-known, as this ’80s classic is associated with a staggering number of bizarre oddities and cast and crew deaths. As unfortunate as the Poltergeist curse is, even that wasn’t enough to prevent the film from being parodied, as a scene with Ray and the same clown doll that was prominently featured in Poltergeist has gone down in pop culture history as one of the franchise’s funniest scenes.
6
‘Bloodbath at the House of Death’ (1984)
‘Scary Movie 2’ Takes Two Scenes From This Obscure Horror Comedy
1984’s Bloodbath at the House of Death is one of the more unique entries on this list, as it is the only film to fall under the category of comedy horror. Director Ray Cameron’s House of Death didn’t receive a wide release or positive reviews, primarily because Kenny Everett, the film’s star, made controversial comments about Russia (via The Guardian). House of Death features a scene in which a ghostly apparition enters the mansion the protagonists are investigating before swiftly leaving through the window before being discovered.
In Scary Movie 2, Shorty winds up in a situation where a monstrous weed monster rolls him up in a blanket, lights his afro on fire, and smokes him like a joint. Before the creature can finish Shorty off, Ray and Buddy break into the room, startle the beast, and it flees through the window a la House of Death. Furthermore, a scene with Barbara, an attractive blonde, engaging in sexual intercourse, is spoofed in Scary Movie 2 when Alex, another pretty blonde, has a sexual encounter with a ghost.
5
‘What Lies Beneath’ (2000)
‘Scary Movie 2’ Uses a Jump Scare From the 2000 Horror Movie as Part of Its Climax
What Lies Beneath is Robert Zemeckis’ foray into the horror genre. Released in 2000, the film stars Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as Norman and Claire Spencer, respectively, the perfect couple living in their Vermont lakeside home. While things are fine initially, a series of bizarre and paranormal happenings afflict the couple after it is revealed that Norman had an affair with a woman shortly before she ended her life.
Beneath’s climax features Claire in a sultry red dress as she torments Norman for his past transgressions, and it features a scene in which Pfeiffer’s face morphs into the face of the woman with whom Norman had an extramarital affair. The red dress and the creepy face morph scene were spoofed in Scary Movie 2 by fan-favorite character Ray during that film’s climax.
4
‘Hollow Man’ (2000)
‘Scary Movie 2’ Took Its Most Famous Scene From the 2000 Sci-fi Horror Film
Paul Verhoeven’s 2000 science fiction horror film Hollow Man was based on H.G. Wells’s novel The Invisible Man. Kevin Bacon plays Dr. Sebastian Caine, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who undergoes a revolutionary invisibility experiment. After the experiment goes awry, Sebastian goes on a killing spree against his colleagues to keep the news of the experiment’s failure a secret.
In what is arguably Scary Movie 2’s most famous scene, Cindy and Buddy wind up trapped in a containment room and nearly die from hypothermia. However, Buddy convinces Cindy to pleasure him since they might not survive the situation. The scene is a clear parody of Hollow Man’s when two characters are locked inside a freezer and left to die.
3
‘The Haunting’ (1999)
Gothic Aesthetics and Ghostly Forces Would Inspire the Sets and Scares of ‘Scary Movie 2’
Jan de Pont’s 1999 supernatural horror The Haunting follows a group of people who travel to a Massachusetts mansion known as Hill House to participate in a study on insomnia. However, soon after arriving, the group discovers they’re prey to evil spirits inhabiting the manor and must work together to survive the night.
The mansion in Scary Movie 2 is named Hell House, a nod to Hill House, and the premise of a deranged scientist, Professor Oldman, who is a comedic stand-in for Liam Neeson’s Dr. Marrow, manipulating people into experimenting on them, is also spoofed. Several set-pieces also echo The Haunting, including the living hallways, moving beds, whispering walls, and malevolent ghostly forces. Aesthetically, both also lean into the exaggerated gothic style.
2
‘Stigmata’ (1999)
‘Scary Movie 2’ Took Its Visual Style and Themes of Religious Horror From This Panned ’90s Film
Rupert Wainwright’s 1999 supernatural horror film Stigmata tackles themes of religion, mental health, and demonic possessions. The film stars Patricia Arquette in an against-type role as Frankie Paige, a Pennsylvania woman who suffers demonic possession, and it grossed more than triple its budget at the box office despite being poorly received by critics.
Scary Movie 2 doesn’t recreate any single scene from Stigmata, but it borrows heavily from the film’s visuals and themes. The blue-tinted lighting, quick cutaways, and chaotic supernatural attacks echo Stigmata’s aesthetic. The spoof comedy also plays with the same religious-horror tropes that Stigmata helped popularize going into the 2000s.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
