Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
The 2014 found footage horror-thriller Creep is a cult sensation. Created by and starring Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice, the semi-improvised film eschews physical mayhem and instead focuses on an enthralling mix of uncertainty and psychological intrigue to create an immensely entertaining and surprisingly terrifying film that generates more genuine horror than any zombie or machete-wielding maniac could ever hope to deliver. The plot is deceptively simple. Josef (Duplass), a man who claims to be dying of cancer, hires a videographer, Aaron (Brice), to shoot a video for his unborn son in a remote mountain town. Despite the myriad red flags and general state of unease, Aaron accepts the job, which turns out to be a fatal decision as we slowly discover that “Josef” is a stealthy sociopath.
Creep 2, the second installment of a planned trilogy that’s now available to rent on VOD, is an aggressively captivating sequel that sheds new light on the first film while enhancing the mystery of the enigmatic “Josef,” who in Creep 2 is going by the name Aaron. It’s a nice homage to his fallen friend… if you choose to ignore the fact that he brutally murdered his old pal with an ax.
Everything about this wonderfully crafted film engenders a perpetual state of hair-tingling anxiety. Duplass’ Aaron is once again a transfixing presence as his unique mix of destabilizing social skills and off-kilter charm will have you hoping for the best while embracing the inevitability of the worst. Creep 2 confirms what the first installment hinted at during its final moments: Duplass’ character is a serial killer (although he doesn’t love that particular nomenclature).
He admits his secret life to Sara (Desiree Akhavan), the host of an online series titled Encounters. Suffering from a lack of clicks, Sara’s web series focuses on creating intimacy with lonely men she finds on Craigslist, which is how she becomes tangled in Aaron’s web of deceit. This time around, however, Aaron (again, formerly Josef) appears to be rather forthright about his depravity — even showing Sara the video of the original Aaron’s murder — as he admits to newfound feelings of despair as he approaches his 40th birthday. But Sara ain’t buying what Aaron’s selling, refusing to believe he’s an actual serial killer, but she sticks around because the prospect of creating an entertaining episode of Encounters is too enticing to ignore.
Sara proves to be a worthy foil to Aaron as her stoic, seemingly unflappable disposition intensifies the captivating game of cat and mouse between the two. The deranged beauty of following an unreliable narrator is that we don’t quite know who’s the hunter and who’s the prey, which adds to the unsettling yet alluring atmosphere of the film. The chemistry between Duplass and Akhavan is electric as their characters share a strange, almost flirty chemistry, but you can only conceal the wolf for so long.
Creep 2 is the perfect scary movie for people who loathe traditional horror films. The psychological thriller subverts the traditional trappings of the genre and instead sets its incisive gaze on the brutal, horrifying honesty of slow-simmering cerebral combat. The film purposely destabilizes viewers by unleashing a riveting blend of folksy charm and uninhibited suspense.
If you enjoyed the first film, you’ll love this engaging sequel. If you’re looking for an innovative Halloween stream, don’t you dare sleep on The Creep franchise.
Creep is now available to stream on Netflix, and you can buy or rent Creep 2 on iTunes.
