Introduction
On October 6, 2017, Patrick Brice’s Creep 2 was digitally released to the public.
The film, Creep 2, is a sequel to the 2014 film, Creep, although viewers do not have to be familiar with its predecessor in order to adequately view it.
Please note that the following review contains spoilers.
Review of Creep 2
Creep 2 follows Sara (Desiree Akhavan), the creator of “Encounters,” a web series that is approaching its season finale.
Having responded to various online ads from men and recorded her subsequent experiences with them, Sara realizes that her web series isn’t performing particularly well.
Determined to release an engaging season finale that will attract more viewers, Sara decides to take a risk and meet with a man that she barely knows at the site of his secluded cabin.
Shortly after arriving at her destination, Sara meets the eccentric “Aaron” (Mark Duplass), a self-proclaimed serial killer that requests to be the star of a documentary regarding himself and his previous killings.
Despite the fact that the man is clearly unstable, she accepts his request, blatantly withholding her true motives.
Although the opening of the film is a bit unnecessary — viewers watch from the perspective of a hidden camera as the man kills one of his 39 victims — the majority of its remaining duration is successful in moving the story forward.
That being said, the film manages to entertain viewers for the majority of its 80-minute runtime.
In regard to characters, both Sara and “Aaron” have their own distinct personalities, which, when brought together as a result of questionable circumstances, serve to create a darkly comical viewing experience.
Unlike the victim of the original film, Sara actively engages with “Aaron,” forming a bizarre connection with him that is central to the entertainment value of the sequel.
In addition to providing entertainment to viewers, the relationship that Sara and “Aaron” form with each other allows for the film to move beyond the potential restrictions of the horror genre.
Rather than relying on gratuitous violence and graphic images, for example, the film effectively utilizes dialogue between these characters to establish a continuous sense of uneasiness throughout its runtime.
Additionally, in a similar sense, the exchanges of dialogue between these characters provide a degree of dark humor that prevents the film from being plagued by constant tension.
Character dialogue aside, the actions of Sara and “Aaron” themselves also create the unique combination of horror and comedy found in the film, ultimately leading viewers to a twisted climax to their relationship.
Pumpkin Rating & Conclusion
Entertainment Value: 4 / 5 Pumpkins
Price of Film: 4 / 5 Pumpkins
Duration of Film: 4.5 / 5 Pumpkins
Pumpkin Rating: 3.75 / 5 Pumpkins
Creep 2 suffers from an unnecessary opening sequence and a conclusion that, while somewhat satisfying, seems fairly unrealistic; however, the majority of the film provides viewers with an effective combination of horror and comedy that is absent in other films.
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Patrick Brice Twitter: @patrick_brice
Image Reference: Film Inquiry