‘The Creep Tapes’ Recap: ‘Jeremy’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Mark Duplass as Father Tom Durkin, AKA ‘Josef’ in Episode Three of ‘The Creep Tapes’ – ‘Jeremy’. (Photo Courtesy of Shudder/Duplass Brothers Productions.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Creep Tapes’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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One disturbing fact that we’ve all fawned over with morbid curiosity when it comes to serial killers… is that they… ‘toy’… with their victims. Ted Bundy for instance loved to put on a grandiose act to gain trust with his victims to make the strike somehow more satisfying for his f*cked up and twisted little mind. And there are other stories about the long con that these monsters take part in to make sure they can have what they want. But knowing this, always leaves that dark little part of our brain to wonder… what those games look like and if by chance… the killer derives any joy from this or takes great pleasure in causing harm.

Because that dark little part of us always wants to know the worst possible things and well, that’s why horror is a handy genre. Since it will show us what we want and make us regret it, and that is why the next episode of The Creep Tapes on Shudder is of note. For ‘Jeremy’ answered that question in the most direct and uncomfortable manner possible, by introducing us to a truth seeker named Jeremy. Who believed he was off to a meeting with a prominent priest that would lead to a grand exposé regarding the church. The kind of moment that would put Jeremy’s web series on the map and well, he most certainly got more than he bargained for in this episode. Since, the good father, was nothing more than a devil in disguise.

For Father Tom Durkin was Josef in disguise and he was very eager to mess with Jeremy and his mission and that led to one twisted tale. Wherein we watched Josef just toy with Jeremy like never before, by pushing the envelope of his expectations of how a priest should act. Courtesy of some wicked puns and wild behavior. Wherein Josef basically mocked religion and that really did unsettle Jeremy and take him off guard, and of course, since Josef is Josef, he made sure to take the mind games one step further. By making sure to blur the line between reality and faith, mostly by bringing Peachfuzz into the equation and well, that made for some screwed up moments that of course, ended with the ultimate kill and utter fear in Jeremy’s last moments.

But it is what happened in between the scares and the mind games that truly delivered what we were curious about. Because amid every single pun, every single surprise and every single twisted moment, there was a real glint in Josef’s eyes. Wherein he took incredible pleasure in messing with Jeremy, to the point where he struggled to contain the joy. Because at times he became quite boisterous and quite giddy, because he was having the time of his life, confusing his prey, by subverting his expectations and well, it was regrettable of us to ask that question. Because the end result, only added to the horror of this story, one where we watched a stone-cold killer relish in the fun of fear and the joy of the hunt and that made for a sobering ending for certain.

One that spoke to the reality that some questions are best left unanswered, and we need not ever think again about the joy that evil finds in toying with people. Which is a testament to Mark Duplass’ work in this story. Since he sold that evil in a chilling and believable manner and really immersed us in a moment that will stay with us for some time. Courtesy of a story that once again, outright impressed us. Because we simply did not know what to expect when we saw ‘Father Durkin’ standing before Jeremy and that really did bring about an unconventional story about fear, about evil and further deepened the mythos of this incredible killer. For now, we know, he takes great pleasure in what he does and finds real joy in messing with emotions, and it will be interesting to see what other forbidden questions get answered as season one of this brilliant show continues along. Until next time.

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