Creepshow (1982)

Media Reviewed: US DVD (Warner Bros.)

Director: George A. Romero
Starring: Adrienne Barbeau, Stephen King, Leslie Nielsen, Ted Danson


Penned by legendary horror author Stephen King and directed by legendary horror director George A. Romero, Creepshow is a fun, stylish collection of short horror tales made with a lot of affection for the comics of old that inspired it.

Creepshow starts with a story called Father's Day which is a simple revenge tale in which a dead man returns from beyond the grave to murder the daughter that killed him, as well as a few of her relatives. It's not got a lot going for it, apart from a couple of stylish, colourful moments (although this is present throughout the film) and is probably the weakest of the five tales on offer here.

This is followed by The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill starring Stephen King as a yokel who witnesses a meteor crashing into his land. Thinking about the financial opportunities available to him on discovering the meteor he tries to pick it up. It crumbles, spilling a strange liquid onto the land. This liquid causes quick and dense plant growth, covering Jordy's land, house and even himself. This segment goes more for a comedic feel, and works, with Stephen King putting in an enthusiastic, hammy performance. King's writing also elevates this simple tale into something more fun.

Up next we have Something to Tide You Over, perhaps the most edgy, disturbing parts of the film, which is surprising considering that Ted Danson and Leslie Nielsen play the main roles. Nielsen is excellent as the sinister Richard Vickers, who takes sadistic revenge on his cheating wife and her lover, proving that he can act in more serious roles. The main motif of the victims being buried up to their necks in sand whilst a tide slowly creeps in is one of the more effective images in the film.

The next part, The Crate, is possibly my favourite part in the film. A university caretaker finds a mysterious, old crate under the stairs in one of the laboratories. It holds an ape-like creature with rows of fangs, that tears apart anyone who goes near it. One of the university professors uses this as an opportunity to get rid of his oppressive wife. This section provides the most gore in the film and also provides a couple of humorous moments in which one of the main characters fantasises about killing his wife. The murderous creature is well executed by effects wizard Tom Savini.

The final part, They're Creeping Up On You, is about a reclusive, mean-spirited businessman that isolates himself in an expensive, supposedly germ-proof apartment. As his misdemeanours towards his fellow humans becomes apparent, his apartment slowly becomes infested with cockroaches. This leads to a gruesome finale that made my skin crawl. This is definitely the second-best part of the film, not for those who dislike insects.

Creepshow, whilst uneven at times, is an entertaining film with plenty of comic-like visual flair and because of the number and variety of its parts it remains entertaining throughout its two-hour duration. Romero and King clearly put a lot of love into this project and horror fans are likely to enjoy it.