CREEPSHOW

(November 1982, U.S.)

I gotta admit, after getting a little broodingly deep and personal with a movie like the preceeding CRASH, it feels good to move onto some light-hearted horror fun like CREEPSHOW. And when you combine the talents of author Stephen King with George A. Romero (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD), you know you're in for a treat.

The film consists of five short stories referred to as "Jolting Tales of Horror": "Father's Day", "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill", "Something to Tide You Over", "The Crate" and "They're Creeping Up on You!". Two of these stories, "The Crate" and "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" (originally titled "Weeds"), were adapted from previously published Stephen King's short horror tales. The segments are tied together with brief animated sequences and is bookended by scenes, featuring a young boy (played by Stephen King's own son, Joe King), who is punished by his father for reading trashy horror comics. Stephen King makes an appearance as Jordy Verrill himself. The man can't exactly act, but he is quite a trip to watch on screen, regardless. While each segment has its own elements to give anyone the classic feeling of "jeepers creepers", there are some particular parts that can just make your spine tingle. The first that comes to mind is the tasmanian devil from the mysterious crate under the stairs; his long sharp teeth, the hungry drool from his mouth and the horrible moment when he takes a huge bite out of a young man's neck (DAMN!!!). The second is, as you might expect, all of those nasty cockroaches! That final scene where they explode from E.G. Marshall's mouth and stomach is enough to put you off of your food for a week!

Romero and King approach this film with good humor and loving affection, as well as with an appreciation of the genuine macabre involved. It's also noteworthy that the film features its own carefully simulated comic-book tackiness and the gusto with which some good actors of the time assuming silly and outrageously-fun positions. CREEPSHOW is as funny and as horrible as the filmmakers would clearly love it to be for all those involved. So go ahead and enjoy it!

Favorite line or dialogue:

Doctor: "This is going to be EXTREMELY PAINFUL, Mr. Verrill!"