Madea Battles Ghosts in Comedy Horror Spoof ‘Boo! A Madea Halloween’

Amanda Nolan

That wisecracking, no-nonsense leading lady gets her own scary movie in “Boo! A Madea Halloween.” The Tyler Perry creation is always involved with wacky adventures, but this time, the gun-toting granny gets a taste of horror. Madea and her crew come face to face with psycho clowns, zombies, the paranormal, and perhaps the most horrifying of all, a frat party full of disrespectful youngsters.

Perry, who writes, directs and plays multiple roles in the movie, is divorced dad Brian, who gets aunt Madea and Uncle Joe (both played by Perry) to look after his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White). He’s afraid the rebellious teenager will go to a wild college Halloween party while he’s away. Tiffany tricks her babysitters, who also include Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis) and Hattie (Patrice Lovely), with scary stories so she can sneak out, but a few ghouls won’t stop the tough Madea from a rescue mission.

“Boo! A Madea Halloween” was actually inspired by a joke in the Chris Rock movie, “Top Five,” which referenced a Madea Halloween movie. Lionsgate then asked Perry if he would consider developing one. The movie was filmed at Perry’s new studio in Atlanta.

Madea movies deliver attitude and slapstick comedy along with weightier messages. Characters usually face personal struggles, but come to a place of hope, inspiration or empowerment – with Madea’s help. In “Boo!,” horror films are hilariously spoofed while Tiffany and her dad try to resolve their relationship.

“If you look at everything I do — even in ‘Boo,’” Perry told the L.A. Times, “there’s a message, and it’s always ‘faith, family, forgiveness.’ That’s the greatest gift that I’ve been given. I can get a message to the very people I grew up with, the millions who love what I do.”

“Boo! A Madea Halloween” will be released in theaters nationwide Oct. 21.