I have to admit that I didn't rent this video, my teen daughter did, but she liked it so much, she insisted that I watch it, telling me..."It isn't dumb, you'll like it!" She was right. We watched it together and both laughed all the way through. Since that first viewing, I've watched it a couple more times and--this is my best review of all--I found new things to laugh at that I missed the first time. We've recommended it to my daughter's friends and to my friends, and from both age groups we haven't heard anything but rave comments.
I think what's most important for its success is that Shriek is well written by script artists who have a great sense of dialogue. They've got a good grasp of the essential nature of parody and I think they must have seen every 'dead teen' horror flick ever. Because they know them so well, they've put in gags about pretty much everything related to them, instead of having to resort to being one-gag wonders.
But they don't stop with lots of in-jokes about dead teen movies--added on to that is an absurd collection of sight gags and parody-within-a- parody subplots (everything from the dance sequences in Grease to a few glimpses here and there of the Rocky Horror Picture Show).
In fact, there are so many sly asides and one-liners that I couldn't help but think "Mel Brooks" all the way through it. Of course, just like Mel Brooks' movies, this movie isn't claiming to be War and Peace or something. If you are looking for some kind of deep intellectual insight or social criticism, Shriek won't be for you...but then again, the genre it spoofs isn't about deep intellectual insights, either. Those movies are just for a thrill and this one is just for fun. So if what you're looking for is a good time and a lot of laughs, you can't miss with Shriek.
I think what's most important for its success is that Shriek is well written by script artists who have a great sense of dialogue. They've got a good grasp of the essential nature of parody and I think they must have seen every 'dead teen' horror flick ever. Because they know them so well, they've put in gags about pretty much everything related to them, instead of having to resort to being one-gag wonders.
But they don't stop with lots of in-jokes about dead teen movies--added on to that is an absurd collection of sight gags and parody-within-a- parody subplots (everything from the dance sequences in Grease to a few glimpses here and there of the Rocky Horror Picture Show).
In fact, there are so many sly asides and one-liners that I couldn't help but think "Mel Brooks" all the way through it. Of course, just like Mel Brooks' movies, this movie isn't claiming to be War and Peace or something. If you are looking for some kind of deep intellectual insight or social criticism, Shriek won't be for you...but then again, the genre it spoofs isn't about deep intellectual insights, either. Those movies are just for a thrill and this one is just for fun. So if what you're looking for is a good time and a lot of laughs, you can't miss with Shriek.