Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Creepshow 2’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

​An overflow of ideas is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, we've all experienced that moment when you're on to something good, be it planning for a vacation or something special for those we love, and suddenly the ideas flow freely and you realize that you have no choice but to bid farewell to some of the bigger notions swimming about in your head, whether they were awesome or not. Simply because they’re impractical or impossible to accomplish in the moment.
 
In film, this same principle applies from time to time and in movies it can only mean one thing, that all of those wonderful and excessive ideas can be used... in a sequel. For example, this was something that happened to George Romero and Stephen King in regard to their horror masterpiece, Creepshow. Because there were so many stories to tell that they could only settle on five at the time. But the handful they left out, were just enough to help bring another comic book themed horror film to life, in Creepshow 2.

This time around, King and Romero only provide the audience with three tales of terror, each one varying in quality of course. But before we break this movie down any further, let's answer the question that is burning in all of your minds; is Creepshow 2 any good? Well, that’s a yes. But it is important to note that this particular sequel is only good, not great, and the reason that I cannot give this motion picture a glowing review is because of the inconsistency present in all of the respective stories present here.
 
First and foremost, the opening chapter in this film, ‘Ol’ Chief Woodenhead’ is a mediocre entry at best, one that offers up a decent but by the numbers affair about revenge from a statue that won’t stand for disrespect. But while one can forgive a mediocre tale, the second story in this film is what really hurts it. For while ‘The Raft’ offers up a fascinating nightmare scenario for some college students out looking for a good time, it is severely dated and out place in the modern world, complete with an uncomfortable scene that removes one from the story. If anything, the film’s saving grace is its finale, ‘The Hitchhiker’, because this one is a tour de force of terror, one complete with the twists and turns and gore that made the first entry so enjoyable.

But at times it feels like this motion picture is missing something special, and in a way it is. As since this time around Stephen King and George Romero are not quite as hands on, with King taking credit for the stories and Romero the screenplay. Which means their perfect touch is clearly missing from this film, but their involvement is what keeps it alive. But all complains aside, please give this one a look because there are definitely some creepy moments to be found in this flick, and John Harrison's direction is crisp with the scares, keeping the tension rolling after a slow start, and those components alone make for a solid little horror sequel, one that doesn't surpass the original but definitely holds its own.

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