Scary Movie 2 is a supernatural parody directed by Kennen Ivory Wayans and stars his brothers Shawn and Marlon, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, James Woods, and Tim Curry, among others. Scary Movie 2 follows a group of college students, their professor, and his assistant as they investigate an old mansion to examine and study any paranormal activity that might be going on at the stately home. Despite the film’s mediocre critical reception upon release, it grossed over 140 million dollars worldwide at the box office with a production budget of just 45 million dollars, thus 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 2000’s Scary Movie primarily poked fun at slasher films of the 1990s, Scary Movie 2 predominantly parodied supernatural horror films of the '70s and '80s. For our readers unfamiliar with the Scary Movie franchise, we’ll look at some of the major horror films spoofed in Scary Movie 2.
12 The Exorcist
William Friedkin’s film adaptation of the 1971 William Peter Blatty novel, The Exorcist, was a game-changer upon release. The Exorcist centers around a possessed young girl and a few clergymen’s attempts at exorcising her demon. The film is notable for its brilliant acting performances, specifically those of Ellyn Burstyn and Linda Blair, mind-blowing special effects, and its adequately moody and creepy atmosphere. With reports of a 2023 reboot of the film well on the way, it’s safe to say Hollywood is ready to frighten a new generation of horror film lovers — and we’re all for it.
In Scary Movie 2, Wayans spoofs The Exorcist as soon as the film begins. Mrs. Voorhees and some friends celebrate when her daughter Megan interrupts her mother and the guests. 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 into its style of humor.
11 The Legend of Hell House
John Hough’s 1973 gothic supernatural horror film The Legend of Hell House is based on the Richard Matheson 1971 novel simply titled Hell House. In Hell House, a massacre occurred at eccentric millionaire Rudolph Deutsch’s mansion under suspicious circumstances. Moreover, alleged ghost sightings and other supernatural occurrences have been reported on the property, thus prompting Deutsch to enlist the services of psychiatrist Dr. Lionel Barrett and two mediums to research his property.
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.
10 The Amityville Horror
Not to be confused with the Ryan Reynolds-led 2005 remake, Scary Movie 2 spoofs the Stuart Rosenberg 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. While relieving himself, he says a prayer as he deems what should otherwise be mundane as “demonic” while flies crawl around his face.
9 The Changeling
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.
8 Poltergeist
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 something many people are familiar with as this '80s classic has a staggering number of bizarre oddities and cast and crew deaths associated with the project. As unfortunate as the Poltergeist curse is, even that wasn’t enough to prevent the film from being parodied, as a particular scene involving Ray and the same clown doll that was prominently featured in Poltergeist has gone down in pop culture history as one of the funniest scenes ever filmed.
7 Bloodbath at the House of Death
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, largely due to Kenny Everett, the film’s star, making controversial comments about Russia during the film’s release. 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.
6 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
Danny Cannon’s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is the sequel to 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer, and its all-star cast consists of Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Brandy Norwood, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jack Black, and Mekhi Phifer — all of whom were still early in their careers. The film’s plot is similar to its predecessor in that a group of young people convince themselves to keep a secret involving someone’s death quiet and between themselves. While played for laughs, Scary Movie 2’s premise of young people caught in a terrifying situation is similar to Last Summer’s as opposed to lifting specific scenes.
5 Stigmata
Rupert Wainwright’s 1999 supernatural horror film Stigmata tackles themes of religion, mental health, and demonic possessions. The film stars Patricia Arquette in a role against type as Frankie Paige, a Pennsylvania woman who suffers a demonic possession, and the film grossed more than triple its budget at the box office despite being poorly received by critics. Stigmata’s aesthetic and parts of its story are the various elements spoofed in Scary Movie 2 as opposed to any one scene in particular.
4 The Haunting
Jan de Pont’s 1999 supernatural horror The Haunting follows a group of people who travel to a mansion in Massachusetts 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 manipulating people into experimenting on them is also spoofed.
3 House on Haunted Hill (1959 and 1999 Versions)
William Malone’s House on Haunted Hill is the 1999 remake of the William Castle 1959 film of the same name. The 1999 version wasn’t as well-received as its predecessor, with shoddy CGI and one-dimensional characters being sources of criticism. Additionally, this film was released shortly after The Haunting, and many critics felt that movie was the better horror film. Nevertheless, Haunted Hill’s premise and aesthetic were parodied extensively in Scary Movie 2.
2 What Lies Beneath
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 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.
1 Hollow Man
Paul Verhoeven’s 2000 science fiction horror film Hollow Man was based on the H.G. Wells 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.
While Kennen Ivory Wayans’ Scary Movie 2 wasn’t a smash with critics, it has eventually become a cult classic since its release, and it helped spawn a franchise that contributed to keeping the spoof film genre alive.