FREE: CREEPSHOW DVD George A. Romero Classic

Creepshow
Reviewed by Dustin Somner

In recent years, it seems even renowned horror directors of the past three decades can't generate an ounce of creativity. Perhaps it's a direct result of the desensitization of youth, or the drying well of ingeniuty, but John Carpenter, George Romero, Tobe Hooper and even Wes Craven have been surprisingly absent from the horror genre. I'm not saying there's zero hope for a new batch of talent to take the mantle and run, but merely pointing out an observation that horror films have taken a step in the wrong direction since the invention of the teen slasher. With that in mind, I've been given the opportunity to revisit a true horror classic, appropriately named Creepshow. Originally conceived as a throwback to the horror comic books of their youth, Stephen King and George Romero collaborated on the film, presenting five short stories that range from ghastly to comical. To this day, I remember many sleepless nights in my youth that were directly related to a particular creature in a crate (courtesy of this film), but I'll save that embarassing discussion for another time.

Review - part 2

The film is broken down into five separate short stories that are introduced and closed with a tale of a father who catches his young boy reading a comic book with the same title as the film. In between each story, the live-action film reverts to animated footage that segways into the next story from the comic book. In the next five paragraphs, I'll provide a brief synopsis of each storyline.

Father's Day: Every year for the past seven years, Bedelia (Viveca Lindfors) has returned to her father's estate to sit beside his grave on the evening of Father's Day. This year, she's been joined by several family members who are aware she was responsible for her father's murder, but recognize she did them a favor in offing the crotchety old man to give them all an early crack at his inheritance. However, this Father's Day shapes up to be slightly out of the ordinary, when the graveyard comes to life with a low growl that repeatedly mutters "Where's my cake?"

The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill: Hillbilly Jordy Verrill (Steven King) is mystified by the sudden emergence of a meteor in his backyard. Believing he can make a bundle off the sale of the meteor, he attempts to cool the molten surface of the rock with a bucket of water, causing the meteor to split in half and release a glowing liquid. Inadvertantly touching the goo in his haste to grab the remains of the fallen rock, Jordy soon discovers green plantlife sprouting all over the surface of his body.

Something to Tide You Over: Richard Vickers (Leslie Nielsen) has learned his young wife plans to leave him for a younger man (Ted Danson). Unaccustomed to losing anything he considers valuable, Richard stages a revenge plot against the two lovers that involves a sand burial.

Review - part 3

The Crate: Professor Henry Northrup (Hal Holbrook) has had it with his wife Billy (Adrienne Barbeau), and her constant displays of disrespect at public functions. Dreaming of various ways he could do her in, Henry learns of a creature that's been unleashed in the basement of the University he works for, and decides it may be worth some further investigation.

They're Creeping Up On You: millionaire stock trader Upson Pratt (E.G. Marshall) is a shrewd businessman who doesn't bat an eye at the thought of walking over anyone that crosses his path. Sealed up in a germ-free apartment, Pratt suffers from a fear of bugs, germs, and anything he considers unclean. One night, his apartment becomes infested with cockroaches and he quickly realizes his mistreatment of those around him has deadly consequences.

Review - part 4 of 4

If you've seen Creepshow before, I think you'll agree with my opinion that "Something to Tide You Over" and "The Crate" are the cream of the crop. The other three stories are interesting in their own way, but lack the clever edge of Richard Vicker's torturous revenge, or the bone-chilling creature that emerges from the crate. "Father's Day" comes awfully close to generating some chills (I admittedly jumped during a scene in the graveyard despite knowing it was coming), but I can't find much horror in a zombie that simply wants a little cake on Father's Day (wink, wink). Stephen King's acting turn in the second story is surprisingly good, but the innocence of Jordy and his unlucky plight make the inevitable conclusion a depressing affair. Rounding out the plotlines, is the entirely weak entry about cockroaches inexplicably showing up in the millionaire's sealed off apartment. Perhaps I don't find bugs all that terrifying, or I simply didn't care how the bugs made their way into the apartment in the first place, but the story just doesn't generate much entertainment value. It probably doesn't help when the weakest entry follows the best story on the disc, but even if that wasn't the case, I'd still consider one or two jabs at the chapter skip button on my remote.