Reviews: Scary Movie 5 (2013) Movie Review / Ending Explained / FAQs
Genres: Horror, Comedy
Subgenres: Comedy, Slasher, Black Horror - Comedy, Campy
Our take on Scary Movie 5 (2013) explores its plot, scares, and horror highlights to help fans decide if it deserves a place on their watchlist.
Scary Movie 5 (2013) – A Slapstick Sequel That Falls Flat on Frights and Laughs
Scary Movie 5 (2013), directed by Malcolm D. Lee and co-written by David Zucker, attempts to carry forward the legacy of the once-popular parody franchise. However, this fifth installment feels less like a coherent spoof and more like a mashup of overused gags, pop culture punchlines, and horror references with no bite. With the absence of franchise regulars like Anna Faris and Regina Hall, Scary Movie 5 struggles to find footing in a genre that relies heavily on timing, cultural relevancy, and smart satire—all of which are sorely lacking here.
Starring Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex, the film tries to parody titles like Paranormal Activity, Mama, Black Swan, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, among others. Unfortunately, the jokes rarely land, and the horror elements are so watered down that even the genre’s weakest tropes feel more effective.
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The paper-thin plot revolves around a couple, Dan (Simon Rex) and Jody (Ashley Tisdale), who discover three feral children in a cabin in the woods. They bring them home, only to find themselves haunted by a demonic maternal figure known as Mama, who wants her "babies" back. As Dan works on a research project involving intelligent apes and Jody struggles to relaunch her ballet career, the film spirals into a whirlwind of absurd parodies and disconnected scenes.
Key Themes Explored:
Parody of horror clichés from popular franchises
Mockery of celebrity culture and parenting
Over-the-top slapstick comedy with a heavy dose of pop references
Nods to found footage, ghost stories, and supernatural thrillers
Characters are mere vessels for punchlines. Jody is portrayed as a self-absorbed dancer, Dan as a clueless husband, and the children as tools for forced visual gags. There’s no real arc or emotional investment, which might be forgivable if the jokes were actually funny.
Acting and Cinematography
Ashley Tisdale, known for her energetic performances in teen-centric comedies, delivers a performance that tries to elevate the weak script but is ultimately drowned by the film’s lack of direction. Simon Rex brings some comedic experience to the table, but even he can’t salvage the clumsy writing or awkward pacing.
The film’s cinematography is serviceable but uninspired. It mimics the visual style of the movies it parodies without adding anything fresh. Lighting and framing are competent, but never stylized or clever enough to reinforce the comedy or horror. The slapstick sequences are shot flatly, making the physical humor even less effective.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Director Malcolm D. Lee, taking over from previous series helmers, seems unsure of what tone to strike. Scary Movie 5 is a far cry from the sharper parodies of the early 2000s. The film relies on fart jokes, twerking, and celebrity cameos (like Snoop Dogg and Lindsay Lohan) rather than building clever or timely satire.
The editing feels abrupt, with scenes strung together like a sketch show without cohesion. As a result, it plays more like a series of unrelated YouTube skits than a feature-length comedy.
Strengths:
A few mildly amusing physical comedy bits
Attempts to parody then-current horror films and pop culture
Short runtime keeps the pain brief for viewers
Weaknesses:
Lack of narrative flow or comedic structure
Overreliance on dated references and lazy slapstick
No memorable characters or standout performances
Fails to generate consistent laughs or frights
Disconnected spoofs that feel randomly stitched together
Final Verdict & Score: 3/10
Scary Movie 5 (2013) is a disjointed, low-effort spoof that brings little value to the parody genre it once helped define. With uninspired writing, forgettable characters, and humor that rarely rises above cringe-worthy, it fails to meet the expectations set by earlier entries in the franchise.
While there are a few scattered laughs and pop culture nods, the film overall feels like an empty shell—capitalizing on brand recognition without delivering anything new or entertaining.
Who will enjoy it:
Die-hard fans of the Scary Movie brand who expect nothing but background comedy
Viewers looking for harmless, brain-off entertainment
Audiences familiar with 2010s pop culture references
Who might be disappointed:
Fans of the earlier Scary Movie entries expecting sharp satire
Viewers looking for smart or layered parody humor
Anyone hoping for a coherent plot or well-timed jokes
Scary Movie 5 (2013) – Most Searched FAQs and Ending Explained
**1. What movies are parodied in Scary Movie 5 (2013)?
Scary Movie 5 spoofs a variety of horror and pop culture films, including:
Paranormal Activity – The core plot involving security cameras and haunted children
Mama – The central storyline about three feral children raised by a ghostly mother
Black Swan – Jody’s ballet arc mirrors Nina’s descent into madness
Rise of the Planet of the Apes – Dan’s research involves hyper-intelligent primates
Evil Dead, Inception, and Fifty Shades of Grey – Brief skits and gags woven into various scenes
Madea and other pop culture characters are also referenced randomly for comedic shock
The film relies on quick-cut sequences, trying to cram as many references as possible without developing any of them.
**2. Who are the main characters in Scary Movie 5?
Jody Sanders (Ashley Tisdale) – A wannabe ballerina and stepmother to the haunted kids
Dan Sanders (Simon Rex) – A researcher studying monkeys for scientific breakthroughs
Kendra Brooks (Erica Ash) – Jody’s competitive and slightly unhinged ballet rival
Pierre (J.P. Manoux) – Jody’s flamboyant ballet instructor
Mama (ghost) – A spoofed version of the ghost from Mama who’s trying to reclaim the children
**3. Why isn’t Anna Faris in Scary Movie 5?
Anna Faris, who played lead character Cindy Campbell in the first four films, did not return for this installment due to scheduling conflicts and the producers’ decision to reboot the series with a new storyline and cast. Her absence marked a major shift in tone and reception for the franchise.
**4. Is Scary Movie 5 connected to the previous films?
Not really. While it’s technically the fifth in the Scary Movie series, it features no returning main characters, no mention of Cindy or Brenda, and follows an entirely separate storyline. It functions more like a soft reboot than a true continuation.
**5. Does Scary Movie 5 have any celebrity cameos?
Yes. The film opens with a parody scene featuring Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan, playing exaggerated versions of themselves in a spoof of Paranormal Activity. There are also cameos by Snoop Dogg, Heather Locklear, and Katt Williams, all used in one-off jokes that don’t tie into the main plot.
**6. Is there an after-credits scene in Scary Movie 5?
Yes. The post-credit scene features Sheen’s character being dragged back into the house, continuing the exaggerated ghost parody theme. It’s purely played for laughs and doesn’t set up a sequel or storyline continuation.
**7. Was Scary Movie 5 the final movie in the series?
As of now, yes. Scary Movie 5 is the last released entry in the franchise, and due to poor box office performance and harsh reviews, no official sequel has been greenlit. However, rumors of a reboot have occasionally circulated.
Scary Movie 5 (2013) – Ending Explained
Major Spoiler Below
In the final scenes, Jody performs in the “Black Swan”-inspired ballet, where she battles hallucinations, a rival dancer, and her own self-doubt. Amidst the chaos, Dan is simultaneously fighting off the ghostly Mama at their home, who is trying to reclaim the three kids for her supernatural family.
With the help of the puppets (yes, puppets), Dan manages to trick the ghost into thinking the children are hers, neutralizing the threat. Meanwhile, Jody’s ballet performance ends in a comedic disaster, but she somehow earns the lead role, only to be immediately fired and replaced by Kendra, who also gets taken by Mama’s spirit.
The film closes with a chaotic epilogue, revealing that the children are safe, the ghost has been banished (for now), and Jody and Dan resume their weird but happy lives—until another ridiculous twist pulls them back into parody hell. Then comes a joke post-credits stinger with Charlie Sheen being “haunted” in a drug-fueled fever dream.
Key Ending Takeaways:
The ghost “Mama” is tricked and defeated using absurd slapstick
Jody’s ballet arc ends in comedic failure
The family survives, but the threat of parody horror remains
No real resolution—just a return to the film’s chaotic, joke-every-minute tone
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Scary Movie 5 Rating Scores
- Our Score: 3/10
- Overall Score: 2.16/10
- IMDB: 3.6/10
- MetaCritic: 1.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 0.4/10
Look here for more movies starting with S and here you can find 2013 movies to watch on your favorite streaming service.