CREEPSHOW MOVIE REVIEW

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E.C. McMullen Jr.
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Forward by
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BRIANA EVIGAN,
ALEX MERAZ,
ETHAN PECK)

Production Designer

UNIVERSAL DEAD
(DOUG JONES,
D.B. SWEENEY,
GARY GRAHAM)

Review by
E.C. McMullen Jr.

STEPHEN KING
REVIEW INDEX

CREEPSHOW

- 1982
USA Release: Nov. 12, 1982
Warner Bros.
Rating: USA: R

CREEPSHOW begins with the standard Stephen King trope of a boozy, cruel father. His name is Stan (Tom Atkins: TARANTULAS: THE DEADLY CARGO, John Carpenter's THE FOG [1980], THE NINTH CONFIGURATION, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH, NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, MANIAC COP, TWO EVIL EYES, BRUISER, OUT OF THE BLACK, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, DRIVE ANGRY) and he's abusive to his wife (Iva Jean Saraceni: THE BRIDE [1973]) and son (Joe King aka Joe Hill: HORNS) in this wrap-around story of an anthology movie.

In an impotent rage, Stan loudly berates his son, takes his comic book, and dishes out further punishment.

Throwing the comic into the trash, the wind blows across the pages and introduces us to our first story.

CREEPSHOW ROLL CALL SOUND OFF NOW!

Possibly the most popular chapter in this movie is also the first: Father's Day. This is the place where we get the often used Horror trivia question, "Where's My Cake, Bedelia?". This stars a then barely known Ed Harris (COMA, THE ALIENS ARE COMING, THE ABYSS, THE FIRM, NEEDFUL THINGS, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, MOTHER!).

Then comes The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill which is nearly a one-man show of Stephen King (CREEPSHOW 2, PET SEMETERY [1989], SLEEPWALKERS) as the dim Jordy. King hams it up for this one, complete with crossed-eyes.

Third is Something to Tide You Over, starring a jovial yet sinister Leslie Nielsen (SUSPENSE [TV], TALES OF TOMORROW [TV], FORBIDDEN PLANET, DARK INTRUDER, NIGHT SLAVES, HAUSER'S MEMORY, NIGHT GALLERY [TV], THE RESURRECTION OF ZACHARY WHEELER, THE POSEIDEN ADVENTURE, DAY OF THE ANIMALS, PROM NIGHT, THE CREATURE WASN'T NICE), Gaylen Ross (DAWN OF THE DEAD, MADMAN), and a then unknown, Ted Danson. This is the one that hooked me and remains my favorite in the flick.

The Crate. With Hal Holbrook (THEY ONLY KILL THEIR MASTERS, RITUALS, CAPRICORN ONE, THE FOG [1980], THE UNHOLY, HUSH), Adrienne Barbeau (THE DARKER SIDE OF TERROR, THE FOG [1980], ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, John Carpenter's THE THING, OPEN HOUSE, TWO EVIL EYES, THE CONVENT, UNHOLY, WAR WOLVES, TALES OF HALLOWEEN), and Fritz Weaver (MARATHON MAN, DEMON SEED, NIGHTKILL, JAWS OF SATAN), this is the silliest of the comic book stories even counting Stephen's outing.

They're Creeping Up On You. This is my second favorite and a good end to the antho, with E. G. Marshall (VAMPIRE, TWO EVIL EYES, THE TOMMYKNOCKERS [TV]), as a wealthy, cruel, hypochondriac of a man who is beset with Katsaridaphobia and paranoia: the whole world is out to get him, even while he takes meticulous joy in destroying his fellow humans.

There's fun to be had here as the movie never takes itself seriously. It's doubtful you'll be scared, but CREEPSHOW is a family fun time and will remind the tykes that, where parents are concerned, they could do so much worse.

Three Shriek Girls.