CREEPSHOW

Warning: This show is full of blood and gore to a level that would make even a seasoned horror fan blush. You’ve been warned!

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By John Gregory

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You ever watch Goosebumps and wish it went all out and had a campy comic book aesthetic to boot? Well do I have a show for you: Shudder’s Creepshow! This anthology series is based on the movie which was based on the classic horror comic of the same name. Each episode follows two different tales and stars horror talent in some capacity. To give you a full picture, and because I want to talk about each entry in some capacity, I’ve ranked and reviewed each episode here. Though if you’re unsure whether or not you’ll like it, here’s a quick overall review:

While there is clearly a smaller budget at play, and while not every moment works, I can’t deny how much bloody fun Creepshow is. Many anthology series such as Black Mirror are serious looks at the human condition, which has its place, but having a more insane and zany option is always nice to see. Is it Emmy worthy? No, but how many things that we love are? At the end of the day, if you enjoy monsters, gore, comedy and horror, Creepshow is here for you!

Enough talk. It’s Father’s Day Halloween season and I want my cake to rank these episodes!

Times is Tough in Musky Holler

I wouldn’t call this a bad episode. And don’t think that it being at the bottom means Times is Tough isn’t worth a watch. The gore effects in this episode are particularly fun. More that it’s flaws, namely the stretching out of the episode’s events to meet the run time, are the most apparent out of the group. David Arquette stars in it, so that’s a plus! And that’s not even to mention the other superb actors or set design. All in all, this is a fine time in the world of Creepshow. 

Bad Wolf Down

Awesome concept, bogged down by the acting and budget. Seeing Jeffrey Combs aka The Reanimator in the titular villain role was a particularly nice touch. The different types of werewolves were also fun to witness next to their impressive kills. Fun fact: the episode was directed by nerd legend Rob Schrab! Give him a Google if you got the time. Apart from those flaws, Bad Wolf Down gets two paws up. I mean, WW2 werewolves fighting Nazis? Count me in!

Night of the Paw

Solid stuff! The main actor in particular, Bruce Davidson, delivers what may be the best performance of the first season. What hurts Night of the Paw is that this is something that we’ve seen before. When you have a monkey paw story, there’s only so much you can do before it turns into “Oh no, my wish was twisted and now I wish I didn’t make it!”. That said, I love how they mixed a classic tale with the Creepshow aesthetic. I already used the two paws up line, so I’ll just say it’s a fun time and worthy of a watch. Two REGULAR THUMBS up. 

The Finger

Beautifully messed up. The deranged first person narration was a nice touch. The reason it’s in the middle of the list and not higher? When it comes down to it, I could predict where the episode was going. Even so, what we got was fun and a perfect representation of what Creepshow is all about. And that little monster is so cute despite, you know, all the murdering. 

The House of the Head

Very unique. I mean, a haunted dollhouse? That’s worth a watch based on the concept alone!  Admittedly, the ending could have hit harder. Sort of just cuts out right when you want to see what could come next. But the rest is excellent and creepy. It also has the most Easter Eggs to not only the Creepshow movie but many other horror properties. So be sure to watch it a few times over to make sure you catch everything. 

All Hallow’s Eve

What a great mystery. Drags a little bit but waiting for the answer to said mystery keeps you enthralled every step of the way. Out of all the episodes, this has the biggest Halloween spirit. All at once it’s maniacal, sad, weird and fun. All the strange things this season is all about. Put this on after a long night of wishing you could go out and trick or treat. 

By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain

Bit of a slow burn, but I like it! More about the human monster than the actual creatures they’re hunting down. Directed by horror icon Tom Savini, based on a story by Joe Hill who starred in the original Creepshow as a kid! If you liked this, watch Locke and Key which was also made by Joe Hill and even has Savini appear in an episode. To think that all of this started because little Joe Hill hung out with Tom Savini as a kid on the set of the first film. Sweet stuff. 

Lydia Lane’s Better Half

A solid thriller, though if I was forced to make a complaint then I would have to say the initial fight went on a little too long. What works best here is how you don’t know if there’s a mystical twist or if this is all in the protagonist’s head. This episode also has my favorite gore effect and final image. I can easily see this being someone’s absolute favorite entry of the first season. This episode’s director made the incredible Body at Brighton Rock which is a must watch for anyone wanting to be on the edge of their seat for 1.5 hours. Lydia Lane and Brighton Rock show there are still a ton of interesting places the genre can go. Horror never dies! 

Skincrawlers

Ooooooh boy. This was a good one! This is the goriest, most brutal entry of the bunch, which admittedly means the story gets put on the backburner in the second half. Even then, not one moment feels wasted here. One of the co writers is one Paul Dini, writer on Batman the Animated Series and co creator of the one and only Harley Quinn. There’s a playful yet messed up tone that sticks in your head long after the credits roll. Which also means you might not want to eat for about an hour after your watch. But it will be totally worth it. 

The Companion

Excellent creature effects! Amazing backstory! If it weren’t for the other two entries, this would be my favorite. Forced to make a complaint, I’d say that we could have just gotten into the action quicker with a little less backstory with our protagonist. Directed by one David Bruckner, a spectacular horror mind that has the potential to hit hard in the future. Watch his Netflix movie The Ritual if you want something in a similar vein. All in all, The Companion gets two straws up. That will make sense after you watch the episode. Sadly, it won’t make it funny. 

The Man in the Suitcase

I really liked this one. Not the darkest of the bunch but a well balanced morality play. Has a fallible yet likeable main character. Contains great monster effects. And the mystery here is probably the best since I genuinely could not tell what the final reveal ended up being until seconds before it came. That said, it would have been nice to get a little bit of an explanation when it was all said and done. Even so, The Man in the Suitcase is a treat for sure.

Gray Matter

Perfect. If there is one entry to watch, watch this. I really don’t even want to spoil it I loved it so much. Let’s just say that the rest of the series has a tough act to follow. Gray Matter also stars probably the best set of actors: Tobin Bell of Saw, Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad, and Adrienne Barbeau from the original Creepshow! Needless to say, grab a drink before you delve into this spectacular piece of horror.

If you had fun here, watch the original movie by George Romero! And the sequel. But do not touch the third one! Seriously, repeat after me: DO NOT WATCH CREEPSHOW 3! As always, be aware that they are horror movies through and through that are meant to shock and delight. Be open, be willing and I think you could have an amazing time. And if you know horror isn’t for you, have no shame. Everyone has their limits. Thanks for reading. Have yourself a safe and happy Halloween!