R-rated K-pop demon hunter comedy makes cinematic history for all the wrong reasons

Image: Netflix

With a legacy spanning over a decade of horror cinema, you might expect Marlon and Shawn Wayans to have exhausted their supply of tropes for the latest installment of Scary Movie. While the trailer confirms the duo is still lampooning genre staples and duds alike, they’ve veered into uncharted territory: the realm of children’s animation.

Not just any kids’ flick, either. The Wayans have set their sights on 2025’s massive crossover success: the Netflix and Sony Animation collaboration, KPop Demon Hunters. With the film now in theaters, word is circulating regarding a particularly jarring, animated sequence that targets the acclaimed musical.

As someone who frequently calls out regressive tropes, I have long viewed the Scary Movie franchise with a weary eye. Yet, I’ve never felt truly insulted by its existence, and at times, I’ve found it genuinely amusing—largely thanks to the comedic heavy lifting of Anna Faris and Regina Hall. However, this latest parody feels like a significant misstep.

The sequence in question is an animated, minute-long interlude. It features Shorty (Marlon Wayans) exhaling smoke onto three demon hunters, causing them to transform. The scene descends into an explicit, raunchy encounter that culminates in the arrival of Derpy—the beloved blue tiger from the original film—in a disturbing, bestial twist. All of this plays out against a warped remix of the song “Golden,” retitled “Tokin.”

The Scary Movie series has historically targeted live-action blockbusters like The Matrix or Brokeback Mountain. Bringing a children’s film into this crude stylistic framework feels like a desperate play for shock value, likely designed to scandalize parents who prioritize outrage over active media supervision. Given the immediate cultural impact of KPop Demon Hunters, this misogynistic “parody” feels less like satire and more like a transparent grab for relevance. To suggest I am disappointed would be to imply I held expectations for the franchise in the first place, which is simply not the case.

The Wayans have never been shy about crossing lines—recall the offensive, ableist portrayal of Doofy in the original Scream parody or the transphobic caricatures that have plagued the series. Scary Movie has always relied on the kind of “edgy” humor that appeals to the darkest corners of the internet, leveraging controversy as its primary engine for relevance.

Ultimately, this sequence will likely be forgotten, unlike the genuine artistic success of Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans’ original work. It’s a cynical parody that has left a foul taste, though I suspect it won’t hold our attention for long.

Source: Polygon