Captain_Couth
"Low production values and minimal input from King and Romero doomed this sequel."
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A horror sequel with good intentions; although there isn't a single segment I can recommend.
-
Oct 7, 2012
- by ryguy4738
- posted in Movie Hype
Rating:
*1/2 out of ****
-3
"Creepshow 2" is absolute laziness stemmed from an absolutely inspired idea. The first "Creepshow" was an utterly fantastic anthology horror film that told three simultaneously silly, scary, and surreal tales of terror. It was collaboration between Stephen King and George Romero, and I really dug it overall. So I can understand why a studio would want to produce a follow-up; a continuation of the three-stories-at-a-time legacy. "Creepshow 2" would have been where it stopped. It's essentially a cash-grab sequel; not in the slightest a successor to the original, which is on its own a classic. Throughout the three segments, I wondered to myself why this film existed and couldn't find any reason aside from all the money it could make; because no actual imagination or ambition went into the project. It's essentially devoid of all craft and charm; although perhaps that's just a personal bias.
The first segment is called Old Chief Wood'nhead. It concerns an older couple (George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour) who run a cigar shop located in the ghost town of Dead River (fictional, of course). Outside the shop, wooden Indian chief watches over everything; including the transaction with a Native American local who gives the couple jewels, only for them to be stolen by some delinquents with sights set on Hollywood. These same trouble-makers kill the couple and ride off into the night; although the spirit of the chief will make sure that they get what's coming to them. This segment's a real snooze-fest; just like the film on a whole, it only has value if you dig bad movies. Too bad I don't, generally; especially not when they're this boring.
Second and overall best segment is The Raft, inspired by a short story by Stephen King (who didn't return as screenwriter this time around; George Romero took over this position for this outing). It's about some pot-smoking teens - two couples - who make the trip to some isolated location in order to take a swim, only to be hunted by a floating blob of blackness that swallows them whole one-by-one. Indeed, most of it takes place on the titular raft; and it would have worked marvelously had the suspense been absolutely grueling. Still, I dig the premise and there's some commendable gore/special make-up effects work here, so I'd say it's still my favorite of the lackluster three.
The final segment is The Hitch-hiker. Some people seem to enjoy this one; the story of adulteress Annie Lansing (Lois Chiles) who has an ill-fated run-in with a hitchhiker that she hits with her Mercedes on her way back home. Selfish and desperate to return before her husband does to avoid suspicion, she keeps on driving; but then, the hitchhiker suddenly appears again and says what is probably the sole memorable line in the entire film ("Thanks for the ride, lady!). Her attempts to throw him back into the streets are consistently unsuccessful, and she's in for the ride of her life indeed.
Each segment is interlude by the story of a young boy who receives a package ordered from the Creepshow magazine, delivered by Tom Savini in the role of "The Creep". The package supposedly contains Venus flytrap plants. When the kid is picked on by some neighborhood bullies, he's forced to not only evade them but find out what the order he's placed truly entails. These sequences are animated...and rather dated at that. "Creepshow 2" has good intentions all around and tries so hard to be charming little horror anthology just like its predecessor, but without the artistic vision of Romero and King, it just doesn't feel right. Director Michael Gornick just isn't a good enough replacement. Sure enough, this will have appeal with those who saw and liked it as a kid; but for new-comers out of that particular ballpark, it doesn't do shit. I don't mind "Creepshow 2" per se, but I don't like it either. I'll just let it be for now because it had no profound, long-lasting effect on me as a viewer and I'll most likely forget it in a matter of hours. This show simply ain't creepy enough.
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More Creepshow 2 reviews
review by Captain_Couth.
October 17, 2009
Creepshow 2 was a follow up to the Romero and King classic. The tight budget and the lack of input from the two creators of the first film doomed the project from the start. The problem was that it wasn't a total failure but it's just not that entertaining (especially when compared to the first film). It had potential but the uninspired acting, the mediocre writing and the tight budget kept this one from being a classic. The only tale that was fun and entertaining was the last story "The Hitch … more
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About the reviewer
Ryan J. Marshall (ryguy4738)
Ranked #3
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It's very likely that the only kind of reviews I'll ever post here are movie reviews. I'm very passionate about film; and at this point, it pretty much controls my life. Film gives us a purpose; … more
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About this movie
The sequel to Creepshow.
Due to budget restraints a fourth and fifth stories "The Cat From Hell" & "Pinfall" were scrapped.
Followed by Creepshow 3.
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Due to budget restraints a fourth and fifth stories "The Cat From Hell" & "Pinfall" were scrapped.
Followed by Creepshow 3.
Cast:
George Kennedy,
Stephen King,
Tom Savini,
Holt McCallany,
Don Harvey,
Tom Wright,
Lois Chiles,
Joe Silver,
Dorothy Lamour,
Page Hannah
Genre:
Horror,
Comedy
Release Date:
May 1, 1987
MPAA Rating:
R
Screen Writer:
Stephen King,
George A. Romero
Runtime:
92 minutes
Studio:
Laurel Entertainment Inc.
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