‘Creepshow’ Recap: ‘George Romero in 3D’ / ‘Baby Teeth’

11/18/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Kyra Zagorsky, Megan Charpentier, and Graham Verchere as Sarah, Dawn, and Martin in Episode 406 of ‘Creepshow’ – ‘George Romero in 3D’. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Courtney/Shudder.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Four Finale of ‘Creepshow’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

There are a great many reasons that people tune in to watch horror anthology shows. In large part, because incredible care goes into the stories. To the point where the viewer is treated to a complete and epic tale of terror. Not to mention, since the creatives behind them know they have one shot really to impress, they tend to go hard and stun us with something powerful and worthwhile. But one reason that makes them worth our while and worth tuning into that we don’t talk about enough… is that the horror anthology also serves as a place of education. Wherein legends can come back to life and be explored in a manner that helps their stories find new life and well, that particular aspect of horror anthologies is top of mind today, simply because that’s what the season four finale of Creepshow on Shudder focused upon.

In fact, this finale explored legends both modern and old, and it’s best we start with the modern one first. For ‘George Romero in 3D’ was a delightful and plucky tale that featured a family at a bookstore that was facing great strife. For their jerk of a landlord, a dude named Cooper, expected Sarah and her son Martin to start paying some ridiculous rent. Rent so high that Sarah hadn’t a clue as to how she was going to pay it. But thankfully, Dawn, the other employee at this fine establishment, made a discovery in the basement of the store. In that, old Image Ten comic books that George A. Romero wrote were hiding in a crate down there. A find that would easily save the store, save for the fact… they were cursed. To the point where the living dead present within those pages, could come to life. Which meant it was up to Martin to figure out how to stop this onslaught of the dead, and who better to solve that puzzle… than the Godfather of the Dead himself?

Which is… the perfect way to showcase the important work that George A. Romero did for the genre. After all, there’s a fair chance modern anthology horror would not exist without him, hell, this show would not since Creepshow was his and Stephen King’s joint invention. But more importantly, horror wouldn’t be mainstream without George, and well… it was just a treat to see him be paid homage to here. By way of special effects that matched what director Greg Nicotero did with Tom Savini on Day of the Dead, alongside other special effects homages to Dawn of the Dead, and Night of the Living Dead even received a few shout outs, complete with a ringer for Cooper in both attitude and Karl Hardman’s likeness, and of course… you cannot go wrong a ‘cameo’ from George himself. But what mattered most, is that a true legend of the genre was paid tribute to, and the uninitiated to his work now understand its importance and will hopefully seek it out and enjoy it as so many of us do.

Still from Episode 406 of ‘Creepshow’ – ‘Baby Teeth’ Courtesy of Michael Courtney/Shudder.

As for the second vignette, well that was the story that looked at more classic legends. Specifically, the legends of Fae’s and Changelings. Which ‘Baby Teeth’ explored through some very modern ideas. For this particular tale introduced us Shelby and Miranda, a daughter and mother that well… lived in an icy manner at home. For their family history included a fair bit of trauma and well, the ultimate trauma for them was brewing in this story. For a dark family secret that Miranda worked very hard to keep away from her baby girl, had found them at last. For the Fae that haunted the family line, discovered a loophole in resisting the magics used to keep it at bay, giving it a chance to be near a new generation at last, putting Miranda on a collision course with a monster that she hoped to never have to face.

Which really is a lovely way to explore an old legend. For we don’t think of the power of fairies and changelings and other such nightmares much anymore, and this story implies that perhaps we do not… because safeguards are now in place. Wherein generations of parents have worked hard to use magics and spells to keep such horrors at bay and that brought about… one engaging tale. One that really did ponder upon the legend at hand in a manner that was terrifying, because the arrival of the creature in question was just horrifying, but this vignette also offered up some intelligence to accompany the scares. By also exploring the horrors of generational trauma. Giving rise to a smart and sorrowful story really. One that should prompt people to explore those legends further to better understand their true horrors and unique origins.

In the end however, those two stories really did make for one amazing season finale. One that did a fine job of bringing the past into the present through that creepy little toothy nightmare in ‘Baby Teeth’, and truly reminded us of why we are here, enjoying and discussing this show now. For George Romero really is an icon, and he did so much for the horror genre during his brief time on this earth, and he does indeed deserve the tribute he received here. If anything, the only complaint that one could write about regarding this particular finale, is that it is in fact… a finale. Which means we must impatiently wait for more from this majestic world, and hopefully we get some good news about season five soon. So, we can enjoy more brilliant tales of terror from this legendary saga, born from the minds of two of horror’s finest storytellers. Until next time, kiddies.

Still from Episode 406 of ‘Creepshow’ – ‘George Romero in 3D’ Courtesy of Michael Courtney/Shudder.

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