Scare Tactics (TV Series 2003–2013) Poster

(2003–2013)

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8/10
Great Show, awful host
safaah-403942 July 2019
Love the show however I cannot stand Tracey Morgan lame comments. Please change his script
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6/10
Question about cast
BrooklynRed86117 July 2020
Wasn't Eric Stonestreet in the cast? I remember a particular episode with him saying "abort" over and over. Am I in the right show?
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7/10
Short and intense pranks ... Not for kids
theforager11 July 2020
I have watched a few episodes. Each episode has 3 to 4 pranks. Pranks are short and intense in nature. But the language and some content is not suitable for kids.
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I agree "What's the Problem"?
yenlo18 March 2004
Call me sick, Call me disgusting, Call me politically incorrect. I don't care. Hidden camera shows are hilarious. Granted some of the stunts performed on the unsuspecting victims in this Sci-Fi channel show are better than others but for the most part a good laugh can be had during each half hour episode. I hear and read that people say shows like this are offensive and mean and cruel. All I can say is good grief how did we become such a dour society that we no longer can laugh at ourselves? It is also odd how people will go to scary movies and haunted houses and ride thrill rides all to be scared and they enjoy it yet when shows like this are produced the shows are labled mean and cruel!
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6/10
Has anybody noticed?
lekogoran23 January 2022
It seems that all of the "victims" have heard of Scare Tactics, because every time they hear "you're on Scare Tactics", non of them asked anything, it seemed it was perfectly clear to them...and the other thing of course is the fact that if all of them know about the show, then they must have recognized the actors, which are every time the same...the show is still fun to watch, but I think that all of the people shown are actors, including victims.
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10/10
great actors ...and is a genuine show..NOT FAKE
dameons19 October 2013
First of all , the episode with the mob hit where the young man cleans up blood does not have Vinny Pastore in it . The guy who played " Big Sausage " is Tony Campisi . If u don't believe me , check Vinny's IMDb and see for yourself . Also , there has never been a boom mic visible . In the early seasons , look at the reactions of the victims ..100 % real . They would be Oscar winners if they weren't . The episodes with wood chipper and the cleaning up of the science lab are all u need to see .If u look closely , u will see lots of mirrors in the room where the prank is taking place . That is where the 12 cameras are hidden that capture all angles .The mic is actually always seen clipped on the shirts with a wire attached , but the victim is told it is a piece of equipment necessary for the job . Tracy Morgan's Scare Tactics DVD is actually really good . get it for all the proof u need that this show was genuine ...Anyone know the name of the bald dude in the early seasons who played the cop in the '' pickle " episode ?
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10/10
Good, clean fun...
poe42628 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"Sure," you say: "It's ALL just good, clean fun- until somebody DIES..." Well, as far as I know, nobody's died (yet). Some of the scenarios are so far-fetched it's hard to believe that somebody fell for them- but I couldn't stop laughing when: a guy opened a meat freezer, found a severed head wrapped in plastic, and simply slammed the lid and stood there trying his best not to vomit; a PETA supporter found himself inside an animal research facility, terrorized by a "genetically-altered rat-man" and screamed his ****ing lungs out; a very low-key Asian assistant was confronted by the wig-wearing, lipsticked "father" of "a young girl" who wanted to get to know him better ("father and daughter" being the same hulking man); and on and on and on... If the SciFi SyFy WhyTry Channel can boast any one thing, it's that it gave us SCARE TACTICS (CANDID CAMERA for the New Generation). I'm giving it a 10 and, for those who wonder about such things, here's how I rate movies, etc., here on the IMDb: 1) Somebody forgot to flush./I think I just threw up in my mouth./I want my old life back! or Did Michael bay direct this? 2) Well, at least they (the filmmakers) were potty-trained. 3) Even the handicapped have a right to make movies, damn it. 4) At least they tried, bless 'em. 5) They was some purty pitchers (or music or fx) in that'n. 6) If only they'd just... 7) Watchable, with few regrets. 8) Watchable, no regrets. 9) I really liked that part where... 10) Worth stealing a copy. So, there you have it: my rating system. Live with it.
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3/10
Good show with a dreadful host
e-jackson198526 August 2019
Solid trashy tv show that is easy to watch.

Not sure i have ever seen such a poor host in tv history
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1/10
The fakest, most terrible prank show I have ever seen!!
cableguyjtc4 July 2019
Where can I start! This has got to be the worst thing I have ever seen in my life, the actors are absolutely shocking! I am literally lost for words! It's like they had a $5 budget. Would not recommend at all!!
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Probably the most entertaining reality show
Ghrifter20 November 2003
As everyone has become all too conscious of, "reality" tv is scraping the bottom of the bowl to come up with premises for shows now, however this is one reality show that is entertaining(at least) to watch. Honestly it's despicable, low-down, and often times in poor taste, but it is technically a TRUE reality. The fact that you are seeing people completely scared out of their mind is the only reason to watch it. These people don't have the time to connive into another episode or put on a pretty face for the camera. The poor souls on this show are sometimes so close to hysteria that the producers end the skit prematurely.

When faced with watching elimidate, survivor, or queer eye, I'd have to cast my vote for Scare tactics. If nothing else I would award it with the title of most entertaining reality show.
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1/10
What A GREAT Show...NOT!
clintstevens22 July 2019
In a word, like my title, this program is Fake! The 'victims' are paid actors (and poor ones, at that) and the story lines are ridiculous and beyond belief.

And those praising this phony hidden camera 'reality' show? Fake!
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5/10
How do they
katieeholt12 July 2019
Explain the microphone for the babysitter pranks? I get that on the others they put them in the vests but all of the babysitters are wearing mics and walkies.
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What's the problem?
crash2112 July 2003
The people complaining about this need to get a sense of humor. Friends playing jokes on each other with the help of a TV show, what's the big deal? I think quite a few of these are really funny.

It's not like they're dangerous or anything. Oh my, there's a bigfoot attacking the car... I think I'll shoot it! Right...

And most of these pranks don't even have a possibility like that. Where's the possibility of getting injured when a little girl pretends to be psychic?

It's not like they can't choose to be shown on tv after they know what has happened. People: Laugh it off, and get a sense of humor!
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2/10
It could have been great!
katie-hess3 November 2019
The show with Tracy Morgan as host could have been so good....the set ups were elaborate and interesting.....only for them to barely be in to it and they tell them they are on Scare Tactics. I mean come on!!!!
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1/10
This is so wrong
ciccowski5 September 2009
OK, I love Shannen and everything. But this show is just so wrong. Some of the victims get so scared that they cry and are traumatized for a long time. Some of them have important psychological problems after the "joke", and you don't have to be a psychiatrist to see that. Non of them are scared voluntarily. I used to like this show cos it's very entertaining, but then I started to feel more and more disturbed and guilty for those poor people, I couldn't watch it anymore. It felt simply WRONG. The jokes are very well done, but some of them are just too much. Don't be fooled. Something entertaining is not always good. And sometimes funny it's not that fun.
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Fake, fake, fake
DennisAlexis24 November 2008
Oh dear, this is one of the most worst TV shows I've ever seen. Actors are suppose to scare innocent victims while being filmed by hidden cameras. But the whole show is obviously fake. All the so- called "victims" are lame actors without any feeling at all. Can't you tell by the look of them? It obvious that they're all acting, and they're not even good at it. It's so pathetic.

The only good thing about this show is the host Shannen Doherty, known for her role as Brenda Walsh in "Beverly Hills 90210". I do love her. I just wish she would have skipped this kind of crap because she is worth so much better.

Beware of this show! It's trash! Trust me, I'm a horror fan.
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1/10
If I could vote 0/10 I would
switchmistress2 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
First off, let me establish something; I love practical jokes, and I enjoy good reality TV and good horror movies. I love theme parks, I get a real buzz out of dark humour, and I'm as politically incorrect as they come. I'm not a human rights nut, nor am I religious, and I'm between the ages of 18 and 25, so I'm neither a stupid kid nor a little old lady.

But holy Hera; what is going on in this show?! When did society become such that scaring people to this extent became funny? I've seen people in tears, I've seen people become violent, I've seen people begging for their lives...does everyone watching REALLY think that those people will walk away unscarred? Sure, most will laugh it off, and some probably know it's a set up...but seriously?

I'm now going to mention a few episode in particular, so please be warned that there are spoilers if such things are possible for this type of show.

One I watched recently had a young man believe he witnessed a murder, and then was confronted with said murderer. In that show, he tells the man "I'm just a kid!" and begs for his life, near tears. In another, a young woman is made to believe she's just been sold at auction and is about to be thrown into the back of a van by a group of men. You see her GO INTO SHOCK on screen. THAT CAN KILL YOU. Another young woman is made to believe she's just witnessed a woman die in childbirth; that woman screaming will probably stick with her for a while.

They don't use older people for the show because they're worried about lawsuits for heart-failure, but what about when someone walks away with shock, PTSD or agoraphobia? What happens when someone sets up their child, and that child loses trust in their parents? What happens when a young otherwise healthy person suffers a panic attack? In a world where 1/3 of women and 1/5 of men are victims of sexual violence, who decided it was appropriate to put young men and women in situations of perceived threat of sexual violence? What happens when they get a rape victim? What happens when they take a swing at a war vet and someone gets seriously hurt? Killed?

Car crash TV and schadenfreude are great, and making someone jump when they've had a couple of drinks is a hoot...but potentially damaging someone long term? Altering their lives, perhaps for the worse? When did we decide that was appropriate entertainment?
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2/10
Funny concept but totally fake show
dbrause-8119822 May 2022
While the concept of the show has great promise, the fact that it is completely fake and totally staged ruins it. The "locations" given are all either fake places or places that have been long abandoned. Regardless of where the episodes are SUPPOSED to be filmed, most of the "victims" and "accomplices" have obvious Canadian accents. Many of the camera shots are from places/angles where the "victim" could not help but see the camera, and they are often obviously wearing a microphone for no rational reason within the backstory. Editing is terrible, to the point where makeup effects suddenly appear out of nowhere with no possible explanation other than a cut/edit. One time a "victim" was wearing an earpiece (his backstory was that he was helping to film a "Scare Tactics" knockoff called "Fear Antics") but within what was supposed to be a single shot, his earpiece went from white, with a coiled cord to black with a straight cord for no reason. EVERY "victim" seems immediately familiar with the show after the "reveal," yet NONE of them recognize the actors, many of whom appear in literally every episode. Lastly, most of these people recover far, far too quickly after supposedly being absolutely terrified literal seconds before.
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Reality TV?
judge-gideon22 September 2011
Please understand, I am not bashing the show. It would be a great idea if the underlying premise were true: real victims scared out of their wits by a team of pranksters.

But is it real?

The "victims" are indeed actors who are also in on the prank...and thus are never scared or surprised (you can check IMDb and confirm this).

If the victims of each prank were just ordinary people, why then do they not see the three large cameras taking multiple moving shots at different angles in the room in HD (1080p) quality? Why can they not see the boom microphone over their head to capture stereo sound? (a hidden condenser mic wouldn't be capable of capturing broadcast quality sound)

The most amazing facet of this program is how the the die-hard fans cannot differentiate between a scripted, staged production and actual reality.
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1/10
Fake Fake
pcbh-5605527 January 2020
I watched this with my astute nephew, even a 9 years old could tell this was fake, scripted and the victims can't act.
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3/10
Older seasons were better.
don_juan26 September 2019
The older seasons with Shannon Doherty were better, and genuinely funny reactions from victims. The new host Tracy Morgan is terrible and not funny at all. The new episodes also seem to end the prank just when it's getting interesting.If you binge watch it, you'll notice the same people popping up multiple times as accomplices. There will be camera angles that wouldn't be possible unless the victim could clearly see the cameraman. Example, in one episode a scared "victim" runs up some stairs to get away from a killer. There is a shot with camera pointing up the stairs at him and another shot with the camera pointing down the stairs towards the killer. So this "victim" would have had to run past 2 cameramen. Also some of the reactions terrible and not genuine.
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This show is fake
L_Miller7 December 2003
They keep using the same actors over and over, yet they keep finding marks who have never heard of the show.

Evidence:

* None of the people on this show appear to have heard of the show, even though they're the prime demographic.

* They keep using the same actors and nobody recognizes them.

* A show in March 2004 featured a purported "mob hit" where one of the mobsters was obviously Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore from The Sopranos. However, this so-called victim seemed to have no idea who this person was.

* The three-camera setups and establishing shots.

* The sets that are obviously just that.

* March 2004 episode - Elk, MI and Chenault, OK do not exist.

In fact, I bet the so-called lawsuit filed by the girl who claimed to be injured in the alien abduction stunt was a fake too, filed as a publicity stunt to get attention for the show.

That being said, my favorite bit was the girl who got a job as a receptionist in a "clinic" that was really an S&M shop and when she got lured into the back and asked to help "treat" a customer, she picked up the whip with a positively disturbing degree of enthusiasm. Another Berkeley Experiment, I guess.
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2/10
Fake reactions!
mr-roboto-kilroy22 September 2019
First is all this show has been going on for years and friends or family setup their loved ones to be pranked and when the reveal happens, the victim always knows what "Scare Tactics Show" is. Therefore the victims must watch the show too. Secondly, they used the exact same actors in every season. So my question is, why don't the "victims" recognize the recurring actors when being pranked? Also, every reaction seems to be the same and each one is like, "Oh you got me". But in most cases you'd have people crying and visibly upset even after the big reveal that it is just the show, Scare Tactics. I believe that most people, if not all, know that they are going to be on the show or at least figure it out during the scene. The victim's reactions just seem too calm and fake.
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Scare Tactics: so scary, you'll laugh!
Daleylife4 April 2003
This is by far, the funniest "hidden camera" show I've seen. The plot is simple: A person has some one that they want to scare. Scare Tactics sets up the scene, as something will happen, that will scare the crap out of the victum, while making the viewer laugh so hard!

So far, the show has done:

A boyfriend and Girlfriend are set up to see Aliens come to earth, and the girlfriend nearly has a heart attack!

A man who can't speak english very well, goes to a coffin store, and his girlfriend gets locked inside, and ends up getting buried alive!

A sister sets up her brother to meet a crazed hitchicker who has a human head in his bag, which the brother sees and goes nuts.

A woman witnesses a kidnapping, and can't move afterwords.

Those are just a few. This is will make your primetime veiwing list! Scfi Ch. Friday nights, 9:00 p.m.
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Too well videographed to be true
simvernon17 July 2019
The good lighting, clear sound recording, and ability to zoom in and out on the faces of the people involved.... How can it not be staged?
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