‘Creepshow’ Recap: ‘Parent Death Trap’ / ‘To Grandmother’s House We Go’

10/28/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Chloe Babcook and Dylan Sloane as Violet and Lyle in in Episode 403 of ‘Creesphow’ – ‘Parent Death Trap’ (Photo Courtesy of Michael Courtney/Shudder.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 403 of ‘Creepshow’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Some unfortunate truths about our world that none of us like to talk about, is that there are bad people in this world, and they rarely find themselves accountable. And that isn’t something we enjoy pointing out, because it bothers us to no end… that they don’t face the justice they deserve. Because they do bad things, and they hurt people… and they tend to be unsavory individuals themselves, and it just isn’t fair that they don’t face hardships and are continued to allow to do the horrible things they do. So, in order to cope, we simply chalk it up to the fact that we live in a cruel world and there’s little we can do about it but make the best of our lives, and that does indeed seem to bring us comfort.

But what we often forget about… is the sheer fact that karma is something of a reality. Granted, it may relate more so to causality and time, but karma is out there none the less, and eventually the darkness these individuals put into the world tends to find them and hold them accountable in its own special way. Which means that we might not see how they suffer and atone for their sins, but we should take comfort in the fact that eventually, the lies will be exposed, and justice will indeed be served and well, karma is top of mind today, simply because the next episode of Creepshow on Shudder puts the wonder of karma on full display. Courtesy of two twisted tales of terror that feature… some woefully horrible people that deserve a taste of what the universe has to offer.

For ‘Parent Death Trap’ introduces us to a young man named Lyle, who while he has been born into money and everything he could ever want, is miserable. For his parents are insufferable jerks and they consistently tear him down and abuse him emotionally, and that suffering doesn’t end until the day he snaps… and kills them. Of course, he gets away with it, even when a long-lost love comes into his life, giving rise to the audience wanting to see some karma come his way, because it takes a real crappy guy to act like that. Whereas ‘To Grandmother’s House We Go’ introduces us to a gold digger named Marcia, who has fallen upon hard gold digger times. For the family of the man she married, to inherit his fortune, has denied her any funds, outside of what her stepdaughter needs, and she is miserable and eager to make some money. And it would seem a voyage to see grandma will accomplish that. For she is ill and once she dies, the money is in hand, and well… this too frustrates us because Marcia is straight trash.

Keegan Connor Tracy and Emma Oliver as Marcia and Ruby in Episode 403 of ‘Creesphow’ – ‘To Grandmother's House We Go’ (Photo Courtesy of Michael Courtney/Shudder.)

But what matters more… is that karma does indeed come into play for these a-holes. But not before we really come to hate them. Because Lyle really is a manipulative little jackass, who is eager to use the pity dear Violet sends his way to enjoy her love in every possible way. And of course, he makes sure to handle the money just right so most of it stays away from the IRS and the police, who are curious about his parent’s transactions, and that is why the ending of his tale is so satisfying. Since we learn that Violet is just as bad as he is, and out to grab his fortune because of the sins of her own trash parents and that brings about… sweet karma. Where Lyle finally pays the piper for hurting his parents and for letting wanton death be his legacy and that does indeed remind us that while it might take years, since it took four for this to happen… eventually the tax man of the universe comes calling.

Whereas Marcia’s karma is a bit more straightforward. Because she hurts a lot of people in this tale, and truly makes every effort to piss off and insult anyone that isn’t on her side or isn’t eager to pay her lazy butt a dime, and she of course treats little Ruby akin to an indentured servant, so it brings forth great satisfaction when we see her encounter great trouble on the road to collect her money. Because a werewolf finds her and Ruby in the middle of the road in the middle of the night, and she is forced to endure great fear and find survival skills she never knew she had. Which shockingly makes her victorious and safe when she figures out how to fight back against the horrible threat that surrounds her. But eventually, she gets hers in the most satisfying way imaginable when it is revealed that Ruby has werewolf blood flowing through her veins, and that too hammered home the wonder of karma.

If anything, this was just a solid episode through and through. One that reminded us that while evil does flourish and thrive in this world, its machinations don’t last forever. Which offers comfort and catharsis through a pair of episodes that also offered so much more than fine lessons. After all, the trademark dark humor that permeates this series was present in both tales’ courtesy of those ghostly parents and their fine one-liners and Marcia’s outright disdain for anything outside of herself, and the special effects were a true treat here as well. Since the ghosts were a marvelous blend of computer and practical effects and the werewolves were the stuff of nightmares, and well… once again, this is a set of stories that leave us hungry for more. Because this season of storytelling is just top-notch and engaging and smart, and that really is something we crave. Until next time, kiddies.

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