Scare Tactics

This reboot show is not as good as the original!

As soon as someone gets scared they just end it and say "no no it's okay, you are on scare tactics" back in the day they would keep it going for so much longer and it also had better story lines.

I loved the original show, it's just so nostalgic. I saw every episode and got so excited when I found out about the reboot coming out but it's definitely a let down. I enjoyed the first episode especially the one about the "fine dining experience". They need to make the scares last way longer and maybe definitely come up with some better scary segments.

Hope they make many more seasons to come, I'd absolutely love to put someone on the show to prank them. This genre has been gone for way too long and I'm so glad it's back. Some of the pranks I feel like cut off too short after the apex of it all and by too short I mean like seconds after sometimes. But overall the set ups are fun and creative. I noticed they use a lot of the same cast to set up the pranks which could give it away for the one getting pranked as more of the public watch the show. I also noticed the group is usually wearing some sort of v.i.p. Vest which could also affect the believability for the person getting pranked. However I thought the writing was good and there's a pretty good variety of situations throughout an episode.

Reboot is a huge disappointment. The pranks are unimaginative and lack buildup. They're abrupt and feel like cheap gags you'd see on a daytime talk show Halloween segment, like Ellen. The original scares stood out for their creativity and gradual escalation, drawing the marks deeper into the scenario until they reached peak terror.

The new setup relies too much on open spaces, leading to predictable outcomes where the targets just scream and run away. In contrast, the original often made marks feel trapped. While they couldn't legally lock doors, the actors' performances and set designs convinced them they were truly stuck. This reboot lacks that edge.

They had the opportunity to do a great remake but failed in some areas. The pranks have potential and are good ideas but the delivery falls way short. The climax is over too quick. They scare the victim and then reveal they're on a show before they can even get the victim fully scared. If they'd allow the victim more time to be scared and have a genuine reaction it may be enjoyable. Even if I hadn't watched the original I'd feel the same way with this remake.

The pre-setup videos are not relevant to the story. The lead up to the scare is mediocre but does ok in getting the victim nervous. The scare happens and within seconds it's revealed they're on a show. Hopefully they will read the reviews and do better next season.

I've always loved Scare Tactics. Over the years the show has gone through a lot of different hosts, networks, etc. But it has always kept the same premise. A sadistic person puts their unsuspecting friend in a frightening situation with actors and sets/props and production scares the living stuffing out of them.

The newest version (2024) seems to be a complete revival with a big name like Jordan Peele attached to it. I'm unsure how much he's actually involved, my guess is minimal at best. While this current rendition sticks to the formula, there feels like something is lacking.

After watching the first two episodes, I'm not sure this show hits the same as the older ones. The easiest way I can express this is that the actual scary moments happen so suddenly and end so quickly that you are left wondering, is that it? I'm not sure why the scary moments are so abrupt, maybe there's worry about safety or something who knows. But they pretty much get one shock moment and then immediately stop, "you're on Scare Tactics!"

I'll keep watching the show to see if anything changes, but so far all I want to do is go back and rewatch the old ones. Even the Netflix show Prank Encounters was better than this. At least they dragged on the scary moments and got more juice out of each scenario. Unfortunately I don't think this new one will last, because it's just not memorable enough.