Scary Movie Blu-ray Review

The high definition 1080p presentation of "Scary Movie" in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, encoded with the AVC/MPEG-4 codec for its Blu-ray release by Disney/Buena Vista, delivers a visual experience that exceeds expectations, especially when considering the film's age and original visual ambition. The image quality is sharp, with vibrant and bold colors that retain their smoothness across various lighting conditions. The nighttime scenes, which make up a considerable portion of the film, are surprisingly clear, with an absence of grain and noise that rivals that of many newer releases. The print is pristine, adding to the overall impression of a meticulously restored film.

However, the preservation of flesh tones and shadow details occasionally falls short of perfection. Inconsistencies in flesh tone accuracy are apparent, alongside minor issues with shadows where details get slightly obscured. Furthermore, although the foreground details shine, particularly in well-lit scenes, some background elements suffer from compression artifacts, most notably on flat surfaces and metallic objects like in the scene featuring a stainless steel refrigerator. These faults, though few, slightly mar an otherwise stellar transfer.

Edge enhancement is present, manifesting as visible halos at times, which might distract the discerning viewer. Despite these minor quibbles, "Scary Movie" on Blu-ray stands out as a commendable catalog release. The overall level of detail achieved is such that it often resembles more recent high-definition releases, even producing a somewhat three-dimensional effect in certain scenes. This release demonstrates a careful balance between preserving the original elements of the film and optimizing its presentation for contemporary audiences, marking it as an impressive achievement for a film of its time and genre.

The audio presentation for the Blu Ray release of "Scary Movie" features four audio tracks, including an English 5.1 uncompressed PCM (48kHz/16-bit), complemented by English and French Dolby Digital 5.1, as well as a Spanish Dolby 2.0 option. The uncompressed PCM track stands out for its clarity in dialogue and precise sound placement, yet it falls short in delivering a dynamic audio experience. This is primarily due to its limited use of discrete ambient sounds and the surround channels, resulting in a soundtrack that feels lacking in depth and engagement, akin to a missed opportunity to enhance the film's comedic elements with a more immersive sound environment.

Critically, the film's audio design doesn't venture far from the conventions of a standard comedy sound mix, offering little beyond the basics with occasional rear channel activity but failing to fully utilize the potential of surround sound to create a vibrant auditory space. This lack of innovation renders the overall audio experience somewhat mundane and unremarkable, especially when contrasted with the film's impressive video transfer. The technical quality of the audio is satisfactory, with well-recorded dialogue and balanced volume levels ensuring clarity and an adequate sense of realism, yet it feels disappointingly underwhelming given the comedic and parodic nature of the film.

In essence, while "Scary Movie's" audio presentation on Blu Ray is technically competent, it lacks the creativity and expansiveness one might expect from a film that thrives on its comedic and satirical elements. The audio tracks are clear and well-executed, but the overall sound design does not live up to the vibrancy and liveliness of the visual elements, resulting in an audio experience that could have significantly benefited from a more imaginative and enveloping approach.

The Blu Ray extras for "Scary Movie" are somewhat underwhelming, echoing sentiments from its initial DVD release. Among the offerings are three high-definition trailers for other Disney movies, which, while visually appealing, feel slightly out of place. Six additional scenes and the original theatrical trailer for "Scary Movie," both in standard definition and window-boxed, add little in terms of substance or entertainment value. The highlight—or perhaps lowlight—is an 8-minute Behind the Scenes featurette that barely scratches the surface of the filmmaking process and feels more like a promotional piece than an insightful exploration. The Deleted Scenes extend to crudeness without contributing significantly to the original material. Overall, these extras seem more like an afterthought than a carefully curated collection, unlikely to demand repeated viewings.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers for Other Disney Movies: High-definition previews for "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," and "The Invisible."
• Additional Scenes: Six scenes in standard definition, offering minimal enhancement to the overall movie experience.
• Original Theatrical Trailer for Scary Movie: A standard-definition glimpse into the film’s original marketing.
• Behind the Scenes Featurette: A brief and superficial look at the making of "Scary Movie," featuring interviews with the Wayans brothers.

"Scary Movie," the Wayans Brothers' inaugural entry into the spoof genre, targeting '90s teen horror classics like "Scream" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer," packs a comedic punch with its over-the-top antics and relentless humor aimed at the absurdities of horror films. However, its reliance on crude jokes, and the overly familiar gags struggle to hold up over time, giving the film a rather dated feel. The comedy heavily leans on pop culture references of its era, which might alienate viewers unfamiliar with the nuances of late '90s celebrity and cinema. Despite these drawbacks, there's no denying that "Scary Movie" carved a niche for itself, evidenced by its impressive box office performance that surpassed the films it parodied.

The film utilizes a barrage of visual and verbal gags that often transgress the boundaries of good taste, veering into territories of sexism, homophobia, and an array of jokes centered around bodily functions. This approach, reminiscent of earlier gross-out comedies, contributes to a sensation of comedic overload, where the sheer quantity of jokes ensures that some will land despite the hit-or-miss nature of the humor. The performances, particularly from Anna Faris, are commendable for their commitment to the material, managing to salvage laughs from even the most sophomoric jokes through sheer force of will. The film finds its strongest moments when it focuses on sharply executed parodies of horror movie tropes or when it cleverly tweaks scenes from "Scream," showcasing a keen eye for details worth lampooning.

Notwithstanding these moments of brilliance, "Scary Movie" falters with its non-horror references and an uncomfortable reliance on homophobic gags that have not aged well. Its humor often feels like a relentless assault on sensibilities, which might appeal to those looking for an uncompromisingly bold comedy experience but can equally repel viewers searching for subtlety or narrative coherence. While "Scary Movie" garners some laughs and remains a noteworthy experiment in genre spoofing, its legacy is marred by elements that resonate less with contemporary audiences, underlining the film's positioning as a product of its time.

The Blu-ray release of "Scary Movie" finds itself teetering on the edge between nostalgia and obsolescence. This particular edition, released by Disney/Buena Vista, presents a film that revels in the lewd, crude humor which defined its original appeal. The laugh quotient, surprisingly, holds up rather well even after eight years, providing sporadic bursts of amusement amidst its parody of the now-vintage ‘Scream’ franchise. However, the overall presentation on Blu-ray doesn't catapult it much beyond its DVD predecessor. The video quality, while exceeding expectations in clarity and detail, serves as the primary highlight of this release.

On the auditory front, the Blu-ray disc does little to impress. The sound quality is described as only slightly above average, lacking any significant enhancement that might have provided a more immersive viewing experience. Similarly, the additional content and supplements fall short of adding value, offering scant improvement or incentive over what was previously available. This aspect perhaps cements the release as more suitable for a casual rental rather than a must-have addition to one's collection, especially for those seeking a piece of mindless entertainment without any particular expectation of technical excellence or revelatory extras.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray version of "Scary Movie" serves as a decent, if not particularly exceptional, home media release. It might find its place among those with an affinity for early 2000s comedy or nostalgic cinephiles looking to revisit this parody. Yet, for the more discerning collector or those with heightened expectations for audio-visual quality and supplementary content, this release may not quite hit the mark. It stands as a testament to the film's enduring humor but simultaneously highlights the limitations in upgrading such a product without significant enhancements beyond a fine video transfer.