Open Season: Scared Silly Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A big bear terrified of a made-up monster has his friends try to scare him even *more* to cure it, which naturally brings back the angry hunter and also maybe a real werewolf who just wants to dance.

🍿 Open Season: Scared Silly: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Legend of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf

The story begins with Elliot gathered around a campfire with his woodland friends in Timberline National Forest. He recounts the spooky tale of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf, a fearsome creature said to inhabit the woods. The legend deeply frightens the domesticated bear, Boog, causing him to dread their annual summer camping trip. Boog insists he won’t go until the werewolf is confirmed to be gone from the forest.

Elliot’s Plan and Shaw’s Return

Determined to help Boog conquer his fear, Elliot rallies their animal friends. They devise a plan to expose the mystery of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf while simultaneously trying to scare the fear right out of Boog. Meanwhile, the former hunter Shaw, now working as a bitter tour guide, is also in the forest. He spots what he believes is the legendary werewolf – which is actually Ian, Elliot’s deer rival, in a disguise. Seeing an opportunity for revenge against Boog and Elliot, Shaw approaches Sheriff Gordy.

Hunting Season Reopened

Shaw petitions the Sheriff to reopen hunting season, claiming the werewolf poses a threat. Sheriff Gordy reluctantly agrees but limits the hunt strictly to the alleged werewolf. However, Shaw’s true intention is to use the reopened season to hunt Boog and Elliot as well. To assist in his scheme, Shaw enlists the help of Ed and Edna, the quirky owners of the local Poutine Palace, adding more human antagonists to the mix.

Strain on Friendship

As Elliot continues his attempts to scare Boog, their friendship becomes strained. Boog grows increasingly upset with Elliot’s antics and lashes out. Feeling hurt and determined to prove his bravery, Elliot decides to venture into the dangerous Dead Bear Gulch alone. His goal is to catch the werewolf by himself, unaware of the true dangers or who might be lurking there.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Boog (Donny Lucas): The domesticated bear protagonist who is terrified by the legend of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf and seeks to overcome his fear.
• Elliot (Will Townsend): The energetic, tale-telling deer who tries to help his friend Boog conquer his fears of the legendary Wailing Wampus Werewolf.
• Shaw (Trevor Devall): A bitter former hunter turned tour guide who seeks revenge on Boog and Elliot by exploiting the werewolf legend to reopen hunting season.
• Mr. Weenie (Lee Tockar): A domesticated dachshund who gets caught up in the search for the werewolf and humorously believes he might be the creature.
• Giselle (Melissa Sturm): Elliot’s supportive wife who encourages Boog to reconcile with Elliot when their friendship is strained by the werewolf hunt.
• Sheriff Gordy (Lorne Cardinal): The local law enforcement officer who is convinced by Shaw to temporarily reopen hunting season for the werewolf, ultimately arresting the human villains and ending hunting permanently.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Elliot: “He’s real, Boog! The Wailing Wampus Werewolf is real!” – Elliot tells the scary campfire story that terrifies Boog and kicks off the movie’s plot.
• Boog: “I’m not going camping until that werewolf is gone!” – Boog, paralyzed by fear of the werewolf legend, decides to back out of their annual trip.
• Elliot: “We’re gonna scare the fear right out of you!” – Elliot declares his intention to help Boog overcome his phobia by using shock therapy.
• Shaw: “Open Season is back, baby!” – The returning antagonist gloats after convincing the sheriff to reopen hunting season, albeit only for the ‘werewolf’.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $5,500,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $1,774,429

💥 Open Season: Scared Silly Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I decided to check out the fourth Open Season movie, ‘Scared Silly’. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much after the last couple, and… well, it met those expectations. It feels less like a movie and more like a really long Halloween special. The voice cast changes are pretty noticeable, which pulled me out of it a bit. Some of the humor felt really forced, and yeah, there are quite a few jokes that just didn’t land for me. That being said, seeing Shaw back was kind of cool, even if he felt a bit different. And the idea of the gang trying to scare Boog’s fear away had potential, even if it got repetitive. My favorite part was probably Mr. Weenie’s weird side plot; he still manages to be a highlight sometimes. Ultimately, it’s probably fine for really little kids who haven’t seen the earlier, better movies. For fans of the original, it’s a bit of a disappointment and just makes you wish they’d closed the season years ago. It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever seen, but definitely not something I’d revisit.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Young children (ages 5+)”
  • “Fans of the Open Season series (with lowered expectations)”
  • “Viewers looking for a mild, Halloween-themed animated movie”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild thematic elements (werewolf/scary stories)”
  • “Some crude humor (potty jokes mentioned in reviews)”

Professional Reviews

• FilmFocus: “This fourth entry in the Open Season franchise feels like a step back. The plot involving a werewolf legend and a fearful Boog offers some setup, but the execution is basic, leaning heavily on lowbrow humor. While the animation is functional, the energy and charm of the original are largely absent, making it a passable diversion for very young viewers but forgettable for others.
• Family Movie Guide: “Kids might get a few chuckles from the slapstick and spooky forest antics, but adults will likely find ‘Scared Silly’ a bit of a slog. The story feels stretched thin, better suited for a TV special than a feature-length film. Character voices are new, which is jarring for long-time fans. It serves its purpose as background noise for a rainy afternoon, but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

Audience Reactions

Kids seemed entertained by the animal antics and silly scares.: Younger children found the goofy humor and spooky elements fun.

Long-time fans were disappointed by the continuity issues and voice cast changes.: Many viewers felt the movie lacked the charm and quality of the first film.

Overall Consensus: Mixed, leaning negative. While young children might find it mildly entertaining, older audiences and fans of the original felt it was a weak, low-effort sequel with continuity problems and uninspired humor.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Unlike the previous theatrical films and even the third installment, this movie was released directly as a television special.”
• “The production of ‘Open Season: Scared Silly’ was primarily handled in Canada, resulting in a significantly different animation style and pace compared to earlier films.”
• “Most of the main voice cast was replaced for this installment; only Melissa Sturm (Giselle), Michelle Murdocca (Maria), Maddie Taylor (various animals), and Frank Welker (animal vocal effects) reprised their roles from previous films.”
• “The estimated budget for ‘Scared Silly’ was $5.5 million, a drastic decrease from the original ‘Open Season’s’ $85 million budget.”
• “The film contains continuity discrepancies with previous sequels, notably the absence of Elliot’s children and Giselle’s status, and Mr. Weenie’s shifting desire to return to his owners.”

🖥️ How to Watch Open Season: Scared Silly?

You can watch ‘Open Season: Scared Silly’ by streaming it on Tubi. The movie is also available to rent or buy digitally on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play. Check these services for current pricing and availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Open Season: Scared Silly, you might like these similar films:

• Open Season (2006): The original film that introduced the main characters, their dynamic, and the conflict between domesticated animals and the wild, setting the stage for the sequels.
• Open Season 3 (2010): Another direct-to-video sequel featuring many of the same characters, offering a point of comparison within the franchise’s later installments despite continuity inconsistencies.
• Hotel Transylvania (2012): An animated comedy centered on classic monsters and human interaction, dealing with themes of fear, acceptance, and family/friendship in a lighthearted way similar to the ‘scared silly’ theme here.
• Sing (2016): A major animated film released in the same year featuring anthropomorphic animals with diverse personalities, showcasing a different style of animal-centric storytelling.
• The Bad Guys (2022): A more recent animated feature from Sony Pictures Animation (the studio behind the original Open Season) featuring anthropomorphic animals in a comedic adventure with themes of friendship and changing perceptions.
• Ernest Scared Stupid (1991): A live-action cult comedy known for its goofy, low-budget approach to monster scares and slapstick humor aimed at a family audience, embodying the ‘scared silly’ tone.

🛒 Open Season: Scared Silly Related Products

• Open Season 4-Movie Collection [Blu-ray]: Own all four Open Season movies in one Blu-ray set, perfect for family movie marathons.
• Boog the Bear Plush Toy: A soft and cuddly plush of Boog, the lovable (and scared!) grizzly bear from the movie.
• Kids’ Camping Adventure Set: Get ready for your own woodland adventure with this fun camping kit, including a tent, binoculars, and flashlight.
• Werewolf Fun Costume Mask: A goofy, non-scary werewolf mask perfect for Halloween or just playing dress-up, inspired by the movie’s plot.

🎧 Soundtrack

Open Season: Scared Silly features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Wailing Wampus Werewolf Theme” – performed by Rupert Gregson-Williams
• “Forest Night Creepers” – performed by Rupert Gregson-Williams
• “Elliot’s Plan” – performed by Rupert Gregson-Williams
• “Boog’s Fears” – performed by Rupert Gregson-Williams
• “End Credits Music” – performed by Various Artists

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Open Season: Scared Silly (2015) Final Battle with healthbars

Ever wondered what a movie fight would look like with video game health bars? This clip of the final battle from Scared Silly gives it that fun, gaming twist – totally unique and gets right to the action!

The Open Season Franchise Booby Traps Montage (Music Video)

The Open Season movies are packed with slapstick and crazy booby traps, and this montage pulls together the best ones from the whole series, including Scared Silly. It’s a great way to see the comedic highlights across all films in one place!

Open Season 3 star Dana Snyder talks residuals

Ever thought about what voice actors earn? Here’s a super short, funny clip with Dana Snyder, who’s in the Open Season films, sharing a quick thought on residuals and being asked about Open Season 4. It’s a neat little peek behind the curtain!

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