‘Creepshow’ Rewatch: The Darkness Within

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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How ‘The Companion’ and ‘Lydia Layne’s Better Half’ Explore Why Some People Indulge in Their Dark side

‘I’m just uh… I’m just collecting what I’m owed.’
- Harry

'The Companion'

For the most part, modern society is a pretty civil and safe place. Because we have managed to design laws and a moral code that prompt us to think first before we indulge our temper or the dark thoughts that we sometimes have, and that’s a good thing. Because when we are genuinely angry or upset, and able to stew upon what just happened and who or what harmed us, we can go to some supremely dark places mentally. Which is something that none of us like to admit to, because that would be an admission of the fact that we indulged the darkness that resides within our souls, breaking the rules of the modern world and the morality our parents taught us, and being cognizant of that, tends to bring us back into the light.
 
But while most of us let our imagination take us to a disturbing place, one that our conscience heals and reconciles later on, there are some folks out there… who reach a point of no return in regard to the darkness. And these are the folks that we see on the six o’clock news, the ones who seem ‘normal’ and have never committed a crime in their lives, and now here they are, making headlines for assaulting or outright murdering someone they know and/or love and these are the kind of crimes that fascinate us. Because if we can let our anger burn out and step away from a decision that will we forever regret, why couldn’t that person? And it just so happens, that the next episode of Creepshow, takes the time to ponder upon why people indulge the darkness within, and what it explores in regard to this topic, is both fascinating and quite tragic.  
 
For instance, ‘The Companion’ takes the time to point out that sometimes people turn to violence and/or murder, because they are in an inescapable and hopeless situation. One where they are dealing with excessive emotional or physical abuse, or both, on a consistent basis. Something that shatters their psyche and brings them to a point so low, that if the opportunity to end that abuse in extreme fashion presents itself, they are going to take it. But while this tale prompts the audience to feel for young Harry and his horrible plight, what makes this story so powerful, is that it reminds us that man is the greatest monster of all, by putting mankind’s cruelty on display. And what is also unique about this tale is that, in a way, the Scarecrow serves as a physical manifestation of the darkness we carry. All of which makes this quite the moving and cerebral tale. 

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Tricia Helfer in 'Lydia Layne's Better Half'

​But as this series is wont to do, it also took the time to show us a contrasting situation, which made ‘Lydia Layne’s Better Half’ quite the disturbing story. For this particular tale more or less examines how the human ego can sometimes get in the way of logic and motivate us to do something supremely stupid. As evidenced by how angry Lydia became over the possibility of having her illustrious image tainted by a jilted lover named Celia, and the fact that she violently brought about Celia’s end when it seemed as though, that prospect would come to fruition. But what truly made this worth our while, is that it managed to inject a little guilt into the narrative. Something that was handled in horrific fashion of course, but it served as a fine reminder that most people aren’t equipped to mentally handle something as awful as murder, which is why so many crimes in this manner are solved easily. Since the offender can’t live with the act. 
 
Yet while all of these elements made for some powerful commentary on the human condition and the cruelty of the world we live in, we do need to take a moment and peel away from the deeper meaning of this episode and celebrate its accomplishments from a technical standpoint. Because the special effects are simply a marvel in this tale, since the Scarecrow is a horrifying creation, something akin to a nightmare. And everything that happens with Celia’s corpse in the elevator is supremely unsettling and horrifying, adding tension to a simple scene. Something that is wonderfully enhanced by Tricia Helfer’s (Lydia Layne) outstanding performance, since she sells the terror and the guilt that Lydia is currently going through as she works toward escaping her conscience and her future tomb. 
 
If anything, the episodes simply keep getting better as the season rolls on, and that’s quite the impressive feat. Because the first four vignettes in this adventure through terror were already top notch. But to offer up a pair of vignettes that explore a taboo topic is a stroke of genius storytelling wise, and it really does speak to the fact that this iteration of the series wants to do something supremely different with anthology horror, all while staying true to its roots. Because this particular tale was also quite keen on offering up homages left and right to Creepshow and Creepshow 2, which was a wonderful treat for certain. In the end however, this series just continues to impress, since it offers up the perfect balance of horror and commentary and truly, it will be quite the treat to see what concepts and notions next week’s episode is going to dive into. Until next time, kiddies.

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