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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass’s Creep, a 2014 found footage psychological horror film, sought to let the audience witness just how absurd and weird one could let someone behave. The 2017 sequel, Creep 2, took it a step further with even more abysmal humor and actions that all feel socially unacceptable.
Co-writer and lead star Duplass feels as if he has created a different type of serial killer. He’s having all the fun as titular killer Josef/”Peachfuzz”. Director and co-writer Brice plays Peachfuzz’s first on-screen victim, and there’s a sense that Josef is holding back in that first film. The sequel expanded the lore in small details, too. However, the films do so well in that there is so much mystery surrounding Peachfuzz that it almost feels wrong to know why he’s so weird. Now, Duplass and Brice have teamed again for a series on the character, The Creep Tapes.
Actual Creeps
The biggest advantage of this Shudder series is that the original creators have nearly full control in terms of both the story and the direction. Duplass and Brice co-wrote all six episodes, while Brice returned in the director’s chair. Brice also served as the series’ cinematographer as well. The fact that Creep is a found footage “universe” lends itself pretty well to some of the humor. The fourth wall breaks are always entertaining, and at times one feels like they’re watching two actual creeps.
It seems like the entire concept goes back to: just who are the real creeps here? The films and each episode mostly feature a random protagonist strapped for cash. They answer an interesting Craigslist advertisement stating in simple ways, “cinematographer needed for a full day, $1000 cash, helpful if into Donnie Darko (or some other odd and interesting film).”
With each victim, Peachfuzz usually takes their name as an alias, but it just depends. The series seems to throw that idea out entirely in favor of odd nicknames. Peachfuzz typically opens right up with a hug, and the protagonist doesn’t even attempt to stop it. With every scene, he gets more and more absurd and strange. He attempts to scare the protagonist randomly, too, without even mentioning it the very first time.
Moreover, there’s a weird characteristic in Peachfuzz, in that he almost gives these victims chances to leave without consequence. They never take it; inevitably, at the last moment, they try and run, where Peachfuzz takes their life. There are moments when some do stop and think, but then Peachfuzz offers another thousand dollars and they let the abysmal actions continue. The entire franchise begs the audience to question whether it’s truly okay to behave in such bizarre ways. Unfortunately, with The Creep Tapes, it begins to feel like an off-beat comedy bit repeating six times.
Rinse and Repeat
Much of the plot of these episodes feels so similar to the films that it gets tiring. No episode is longer than thirty minutes, though, which is to the series’ advantage. The episodes run quickly and are overall entertaining. However, The Creep Tapes oftentimes leans way too much into the comedy aspect of the execution and detracts from what could be really awesome horror pieces.
If the die-hard found footage film nerds among us are wanting more from the franchise, then the show does that excellently. The last half of the show reveals some details about aspects of Peachfuzz, but it doesn’t feel that worthwhile in some parts. Regardless, Duplass continues to have way too much fun as the titular serial killer. While he does eventually just murder these protagonists each time, thus revealing more of his cursed videotapes, it just feels somewhat bland at this point.
More Guts and Gore
The Creeps Tapes does well when leaning more into the horror aspects of the franchise. Many of the kills Peachfuzz performs in the series are different in each episode and even filmed differently in each episode. This is easily the best part of the Shudder series entirely. The films worked well psychologically and tried to keep the protagonist, and the audience, guessing. However, this is one aspect that feels absent from the show, thus leading to it feeling off.
Brice’s cinematography is a key point of the show, as it feels like they tried to frame Peachfuzz differently throughout. They attempted to really play with the camera in some frames. Many of these aspects keep the show moving as well. Overall, the shot technique is interesting enough for the show.
Final Thoughts on Shudder’s The Creep Tapes
The Creep Tapes is true to its form through and through. However, while it continues to beg the question of which of us are the real creeps in society, it feels too similar to what came before to truly stand out amongst great adaptations from film to television. It is entertaining nonetheless and continues to fill that same gap as the films did. The best part of the entire series is seeing more abysmal and strange behavior from one of the most odd serial killer characters ever.
3/5 stars.
The Creep Tapes is now streaming via Shudder and AMC+!
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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
